Finally on a train. Beijing to Ulan Bator. The train wasn’t the newest Chinese model (no A/C), but pretty comfortable. I also made my first contact with a train samovar. The train had so many Europeans, the whole 1st and 2nd class was full. 1st class btw was just 2nd class with nicer wood panels and A/C, but nothing special. All cabins have only 4 beds (2 stacked on each side) in opposite to Indian train (which had 3). I didn’t see the 3rd class, so I can’t say for sure. So yes, packed with Europeans, all bound for a vacation trip to Mongolia, in organized tours. My backpacker heart flinched a bit. 😉 Our compartment had only one quest, an older Dutch lady, traveling by herself, but not at all talkative. I mean I counted the words, she said 8.
The mountains in the Inner Mongolia were lovely, especially when you could see the Great Wall in the distance. Afterwards the Gobi Desert! I found the climate in the train rather nice, Amy on the other hand was not happy. So we were riding with open windows the whole time. Amy, the Dutch lady and me learned a valuable lesson. Train + Open Windows + Desert = Bad Idea. There was dust everywhere. Everywhere!