@lewd good luck!

[mario@eupolicy.social]

@lewd glad you made it! Thank for the updates and good luck on РЖД

[tops@im-in.space]

@lewd FUERZA! Wishing you a lovely, relaxing time of it.

[tops@im-in.space]

@koevoet motes and beams, motes and beams...

@lewd

[max@peering.social]

@lewd Which nationality are you?

[lewd@zug.network]

@max I have a European citizenship.

[lewd@zug.network]

Whereas the "Aurora" did not happen for this year, the still operate their 743У "Аврора" running from St. Petersburg to Moscow as a daytime inter-city train - in good Soviet manner featuring 1st class sleeper compartments for sure.

I'm taking this train for two hours to Bologoe-Moskolkoe where I'm going to catch my long distance sleeper to the Kazakh border - further away from scary western Russia.

Surprise to my vegan soul : The menu of the first class catering includes an entire page dedicated to plant-based food and I'm looking forwards to some dinner in a moment.

#FOSSRail #TeamNightTrain

[maartje@blahaj.social]

@lewd no way the russian railways are better at veganism than SNCF….

[lewd@zug.network]

Enjoying dinner in the @diningcar service onboard of the 743У "Аврора" inter-city service on my way from Sankt Petersburg to Bologoe during my #FOSSRail trip from Brussels to Bangkok.

The three course menu includes some fresh salad with grilled vegetables, a tasty bulgur dish and some fruit pastry, served along with juice, tea, fruits and snacks.

While enjoying the tasty dinner, winter landscapes of Leningrad Oblast are passing by at -20 °C.

Stay safe, warm and take care !

#FOSSRail #TeamNightTrain #SleeperAndEater

[stadtstreunen_at@urbanists.social]

@diningcar @lewd Das Geschirr könnte ein tolles Souvenir sein

[lewd@zug.network]

Second sleeper train of my trip completed on day five. Now waiting for 15 minutes for my connecting train from Bologoe to Chelyibinsk. I booked a comfortable sleeper compartmznt for the 32 hours trip over two nights.

The Аврора service was definitely a luxury experience, the staff was very helpful with my spontaneous reschedule and helped me with everything despite no common language.

The railway station in Bologoe has a weird layout : The station building is located in the middle of a field of tracks, there are two main tracks where most trains depart and the other platforms are scrambled over the area. Access via a tunnel only.

I'm looking forwards for a comfy sleeper and finally some time to rest without any hurry for two days.

#FOSSRail #TeamNightTrain

[lewd@zug.network]

My sleeper arrived : I got a single СЛ compartment for the next 32 hours bringing me via Moscow to the Asian part of Russia in the Ural district, right to the Kazakh border.

The train is comfortable, food is provided (vegan again) and I will already switch my clock to Ural time adjusting my day-night rhythm .

#FOSSRail #TeamNightTrain #SleeperAndEater

[lewd@zug.network]

@gommehammer Yes, or if there are any problem. That's normal on Russian trains.

[max@peering.social]

@lewd @tops Yet, one can still plug a foreign card in most ATMs lol.

[artemist@social.mildlyfunctional.gay]

@lewd How did you bring money? USD cash?

[lewd@zug.network]

@max @tops No, not a single European payment card will work in Russia. The only cards still working are Russian MIR cards and Chinese UnionPay cards. Everything from western countries is strictly blocked. I had to take all my money in cash for the four days in Russia.

[lewd@zug.network]

@artemist I exchanged Russian Rubel in Estonia. Additionally I packed some spare CHF and USD as fallback.

[max@peering.social]

@lewd @tops Ah, then that's distinct from SWIFT which for almost all banks and everyone not on the sanctions list still works.

[jnhlnd@machteburch.social]

@lewd thanks for sharing. I've spent so much days and nights in Russian trains and I would love to come back one day and continue.

[tops@im-in.space]

@lewd so paper RUB, yes, but anything else no?

@max

[lewd@zug.network]

There are red Siemens Desiro and white Siemens Velaro trains outside. Chat, is this Germany ?

#FOSSRail