I was originally supposed to ride the train back to Moscow with Mike, JD and Pasha so that Mike could catch his flight on Monday. He was worried about there not being enough room, however (he flies on special passes) so the three boys moved their tickets to one day earlier and my ticket remained. Yesterday we sent them off on a Red Arrow train, which was pretty stinking nice. A first class ticket there costs around $550. Well, they didn't ride first class, but today I rode first class on a different train, a cooler one: the Grand Express.
After trudging around all day in the pouring rain and dragging our suitcases back to the train station, I had about a 4 1/2 hour wait after Sergey and Katya's train for mine. Max and a different Sergey waited with me at the station and we played Russian card games until I had to go. Then they escorted me to my cabin in first class on the Grand Express. So, it wasn't as much fun riding by myself in a cabin with three strange guys (in stead of Pasha, Mike and JD) but the train was great. An attendant came to our room in the evening and morning to take our orders for tea and coffee. We got fashion magazines to read, a food packet, bottled water, slippers (way nicer than the slippers on the other train), a bathroom kit, etc., etc. The cabin was a bit wider, and consequently the beds as well, than the other train. It was pretty sweet. I would never have paid for first class if it were my choice, but how often do you get to ride first class on one of the coolest trains in Russia?
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