train tagged posts

In Europe, Eastern Europe 2002 On  03/08/2002  No comments

A minha visita a Praga foi um pouco decepcionante. Tinha ouvido muitas histórias de amigos que visitaram a cidade anos atrás. Já na chegada na estação de trem vi que a cidade tinha mudado, as placas estavam todas em checo e inglês: já estavam preparados para o turismo.

Nos três dias que passei na cidade me impressionou o número de turistas, eram ônibus e mais ônibus de turismo. Caminhando pela cidade todo o tempo encontrava com grupos enormes de japoneses, americanos, italianos, espanhóis e brasileiros. Havia horas que se via mais de duzentas pessoas na frente do relógio astronômico.

Quase todos os restaurantes tinha o cardápio em inglês e checo, alguns até em 4 ou 5 idiomas. Os preços também eram diferentes para turistas. Caminhar pelas ruas do castelo também estava claustrofóbico, grupos de turistas por toda a parte. Acho que é um dos lugares mais turísticos que visitei em minha vida, e já viajei por uns 30 países...

In Europe, Eastern Europe 2002 On  24/07/2002  No comments

I was a little worried about this trip to Warsaw, it would be a 20 hour train trip. I got a first class train ticket because it has only two beds. Almost all the short distant trains I got in Russia there was a drunk man sitting next to me. I started to imagine 20 hours smelling someone’s alcohol breath. I ends up being lucky, there was nobody sharing the cabin with me. I was by myself.

There was no passport check when we left Russia and entered Belarus. The way out from Belarus they came to see if I had the transit visa. I had to pay 45 dollar to get it in Moscow. I believe almost all nationalities need a transit visa just to go through Belarus in the evening. People say it is just for them to make some money out of the tourists.

The trains stopped for about two hours so they could check everyone. When they came to my cabin, they asked me to leave and checked every single thing. They even unscrewed the roof and wall and looked in there...

In Europe, Eastern Europe 2002 On  22/07/2002  No comments

Sorry, this entry is only available in Português.

In America, Bolivia 2001 On  08/08/2001  No comments

I arrived in Uyuni for the commemoration of Bolivia’s independence. The small town was crowed with the parade. I photographed a little until a policeman said that it was forbidden to take photos of the parade. I agreed but I continued photographing when he left. Later another policeman came to me saying the same, then I decided to stop.

There is not much to see in town. It is a starting point to the tours to the salares (salt lakes). There is a good number of hotels and restaurants, a small church, some little stores and very cold nights.

One of the attractions is the cemetery of trains. A 20 minutes walk from downtown takes you to a place full of wagons, old locomotives and tracks. It’s in the middle of nowhere. I can be seen from far away in the desert.

In America, Ecuador 2001 On  23/05/2001  No comments

I woke up early to go the famous train tour to the Devil’s Nose. The train leaves Riobamba at 7am. The tourists arrive a lot earlier to get a good place, the majority go on the roof of the cars to enjoy the landscape. It was cold and a bit rainy.

As soon as it leaves Riobamba we can see the countryside of Ecuador. Mountains squared by the plantations. Farmers working. Some people stay sitting by the railroad to see the train passing by (it works 3 times a week). Kids wave to the tourists. It must be funny for them to see a train crowded with tourists on the roof.

The train stops all the time to local people get in and off with their loads. The last stop before the Devil’s Nose is Alausi, a small town in the mountains. There some more tourists squeeze themselves to get to the roof with their photo and video cameras. The train continuous to the valley.

The way is interesting...