Author Archives: rongatesphotography

My train left Irkutsk at 8:57am and arrived in Ulan Ude at 4:22pm.  Those are times on the schedule and that was the time they left and arrived.  Russian trains are punctual.  If it appears we’re going to be a … Continue reading →

Nikita Bencharov, according to my guidebook and some of the young people who work here, is almost singlehandedly responsible for making Olkhon Island accessible to visitors.  He still lives within the compound but wasn’t here during my visit. The compound … Continue reading →

I left Irkutsk last Monday morning.  The shuttle picked me up at my hotel about 8:20 and I expected a ride of a couple of hours.  Well, two hours later…after making multiple stops at other hotels, a street side shuttle … Continue reading →

After arriving in Irkutsk yesterday morning, I headed for a couple of cathedrals near the shores of the Angara River.  The Church of Our Saviors and the Cathedral of the Epiphany.  I captured some images during the afternoon and then … Continue reading →

I’m an oddity on this trip!  I’m an American.  For me, the Trans Siberia Railway was the experience I wanted.  Along the way I haven’t shot a lot of what I’d call memorable photographs.  I have, however, enjoyed the experience … Continue reading →

Today is Thursday and I’m killing time in my hotel room before my train departs at midnight.  They’ve been nice enough, for half the daily rate, to let me stay here rather than sit on a hard chair at the … Continue reading →

I left Tobolsk Monday morning and 24 hours later I’m in Novosibirsk.  We changed time zones twice on this trip.  We’re now 12 hours ahead of the midwest.  I grab a taxi to the bus station and waited about two … Continue reading →

I left Russian Europe on Friday night.  I boarded the train at 11pm in Perm, Russia and sometime between then and 4 am when I got off in Yekaterinburg we crossed into Asia. My last stop in Europe was Perm.  … Continue reading →

I boarded my first overnight train from Moscow to Kazan on Tuesday evening.  I got to the train station very early because I needed to check out of my hotel.  The lack of English speakers is a daily challenge.  One … Continue reading →

On Sunday I returned to the Kremlin.  There were several areas that I had not seen the day before and I wanted to visit them.  As I mentioned previously, entry into the Kremlin is free but to see several areas, … Continue reading →