Transiting Kranoyarsk on the Yenesei River.

7 July 2008- Monday

Breakfast was served on the train at 8 o’clock. Later, there was an excellent lecture on the emergence of the Russian empire and the crucial role of the Trans-Siberian Railway which was delivered by Michel Behar, program director: A Dutchman with very impressive credentials – knowing several languages including Arabic which he studied at the Kartun in the Sudan. Michel gave an excellent presentation, the most notable fact being that the Trans-Siberian Railroad is actually a complex of 100,000 miles of rail with 400,000 pieces of rolling stock and is the second largest employer in Russia after the Russian army. Lunch was on the train and, since this was going to be a full day on the train, we had lectures that afternoon again. This time by Michel with the discussion of the collapse of USSR from perestroika to medvedev and political economic reform. This was another good talk which put everything in perspective including the Russian politics. Dinner was at 8:00 p.m. after having more white wine that I usually have with dinner.