When I was sixteen, I took a the trans-siberian railroad from Moscow to Krasnoyarsk. It was a three day train ride- it was my first week in Russia, and I didn’t know ANY Russian. (Save: “Preevyet!”) I was quite petrified. Three friends and I had a two bunk cabin to sleep in. We spent about 6 hours playing cards, one day… the train kept stopping in funny small towns… there were all kinds of interesting vendors when we stopped. Lots of people selling entire raw fish, and milk in plastic bags.