Journal Entry Day 5 ~ Passing Khabarovsk #transsiberianwriters #writingchallenge #woctakerussia

June 12, 2017, 3:33pm Beloved daughter, We are passing through Khabarovsk, I am staring out of the window and there is a beautiful view of the Amur River (Maferefun Ochun, Modupue) and I’m thinking of you. I am remembering how much fun we have had on our train rides. All of our adventures. I am…

Journal Entry ~ Day 4 Meeting Klavdiya #transsiberianwriters #writingchallenge #woctakerussia

June 12, 2017, 6:09PM Today is our first day on the train ride! I didn't sleep. I am too excited. This is not the U.S. and we are not in New York City. If you miss your train you’re pretty much screwed and can lose valuable travel days. I dislike rushing and being late. So…

Journal entry ~ Day 3 #transsiberianwriters #writingchallenge #woctakerussia

June 11, 2017, 10:09PM Walking around Vladivostok I am picking up on a lot… feeling so much old history. WWII history; in the monuments, the submarine museum. The architecture is stunning. I love that this is a seaport city--it feels like a taste of Newport and the ports of Latin America combined. Being near the…

Day 10: Next Stop Listvyanka #transsiberianwriters #writingchallenge #wocwriters

This morning I wake to the sad news that my beloved friend Jaime "El Maestro" Emeric is no longer with us. He was a magnificent spirit and talented poet. This is the second time someone special has passed away while I'm away on a spiritual and creative journey. My dear friend Margo died while I…

Day 9: Magical Indigenous People of Russia #transsiberianwriters #writingchallenge #woctakerussia

People are more than the costumes they wear. In my travels I have learned that visiting countries is more than taking photos with street performers. I am visiting a place where I hope to embrace and soak up as much as I possibly can from the people I meet and the food that I taste.…

Day 8: Mindfulness and Self Care in Ulan-Ude #transsiberianwriters #woctakerussia #writingchallenge

Pozdravleniya! поздравления! Congratulations! We have completed one week on this writing journey together. There is so much to celebrate. We have taken a huge risk venturing so far away from home. We have had plenty to adjust to, a new culture, different languages and customs. One of the things we have had to learn is…

Day 7: Stopping at the Trans Mongolian Junction #transsiberianwriters #woctakerussia

We are so tempted to just take the train through Mongolia and head to China. We have heard so many beautiful things about the train ride. The Trans-Mongolian Railway follows an ancient tea-caravan route from China to Russia. Sounds lovely but we've decided to stay put and continue to ulan ude. How do you deal…

Day 6: Inside the Kazan Cathedral #transsiberianwriters #writingchallenge #woctakerussia

Dubroye utro, good morning everyone. This journey has been completely breathtaking. From the architecture to the history and the stunning landscapes. It has been challenging to get focused writing done because people always want to know what you're working on, and what you've written, but these are also the moments that make traveling so incredible…

Day 5: Passing through Khabarovsk #transsiberianwriters #woctakerussia #writingchallenge

We stopped at the Khabarovsk train stop today. There are so many smokers. I miss smoking. Smoking was part of my social etiquette. Glass of wine--cigarette. Cup of coffee--cigarette. After a great lovemaking session--cigarette. Folks seem mad stressed as they pull on that cigarette like it's the last breath they will ever take. Yeah I…

Day 4: Boarding the Train #transsiberianwriters#writingchallenge

Our train departed at 13:10. It was a little stressful this morning. It's not easy organizing a large group of writers. Some folks were running behind schedule and we almost missed our train. It's not easy catching another train because the schedules run odd days. But we made it. Just wanted to drop a quick…