Trans-Siberian 11: Yekaterinburg to Kazan

"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going..." – Beverly Sills

(The friendly Russian Train Attendants)

Day 11: Sunday, 12 May 2024
Train: Yekaterinburg to Kazan (15 hrs)
Hotel: Kazan Palace Hotel by Tasigo

The alarm woke us up for subuh prayers at 0300 hrs.

Breakfast on board of train was bread with chili tuna. After a short nap and three stops away from Kazan, we packed our bags and got ready to disembark. Arrived at Kazan Train Station about 1100 hrs.

(The podstakannik or tea glass holder)

(leaving the cabin speckless before disembarking)

Kazan Train Station is a busy station. Lots of passengers embark and disembark here. The railway station serves the 36 pairs of long-distance trains as well as commuter trains and diesel trains. Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, located on the banks of the Volga and Kazanka rivers.

(Happy faces at Kazan Railway Station)

(A farewell photo with Katerina, our Carriage Train Assistant)

(Railway porters handling our heavy luggage)

(Waiting for our tour guide outside the station)

(A modern sculpture in front of the railway station) 

We waited for a while for Halona, our pretty tour guide to come. She was late. There was an ongoing marathon in town and a few roads were closed. As we were early, our hotel rooms were not yet ready. We stored our bags in the hotel luggage room then took a 10-minute walk to a nearby mall to have lunch at a halal food outlet in a Kazan Shopping Mall. We had pilaf rice and grilled salmon for lunch.

(A halal restaurant in the Shopping Mall)

(Neat layout of eateries viewed from top floor)

(Grilled salmon and Beef Pilaf for lunch)

Checked in Kazan Palace Hotel by Tasigo, an elegant five-star hotel situated within walking distance from the heart of Kazan. It was free and easy the rest of the afternoon, ample time to wash some undies.

(The belltower of Epiphany Church)

(Our hotel is next to the Belltower, a landmark of Bauman Street)

Around 1730 hrs we took a stroll along Bauman Street, the main pedestrian street of Kazan.  It starts at the foot of the Kazan Kremlin and ends at Tukay Square metro station. It is lively with musicians and various artists entertaining the crowd.

(A pedestrian street in the heart of Kazan)

(Kazan Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing bus) 

(Talented street artists at Bauman Streets) 

(A friendly Mullah and dinosaur eggs)

(Colourful and lively stores)

Tonight early dinner was lasagna and chicken teriyaki steak at the shopping mall where we had our lunch earlier this afternoon.

(Dinner at the Shopping Mall again)

(Chicken Teriyaki for dinner)

Walked back to the Kazan Palace Hotel. It was getting chillier but the crowd was building up at the Bauman Walking Street. The weather outside was 6°C.

👈👈Day 10: Yekaterinburg to Kazan, Russia🚂

Day 12: Kazan - Bolgar, Russia👉👉