Having spent over a week in a village in the countryside of Belarus, I embarked on my
solo travel from Minsk, the capital city, up to the Northeast corner of Belarus.
On today's journey, I took a small van all the way back to Minsk,
bought a ticket using the Russian language and caught a high-speed train towards the countryside.
Good morning from Krupitsa! Today I'll be leaving the village because I am going back
to Minsk. My plan is to actually go to the Northeast part of Belarus, known as Vitebsk.
Ira is taking me to the marshrutka, to the bus stop. I have this butterfly in me,
it's like meeting a date for the first time but this is because I have been staying in Ira's
house for the past week. It's just like being protected in a shelter, in a
in a room, warm and then suddenly I have to go out in the world again. Good luck!
Good luck on your way see you again! Thank you see you again! Okay, bye-bye! Bye
So it costs 2 Belarusian Rubles (BYN) = $0.80 per person for the marshrutka.
Spasibo! (Thank you in Russian)
Marshrutka, similar to a shared taxi, is a form of public transportation which was first introduced
in 1938 and originated in the USSR. It is still present in Russia and other post-soviet countries.
Well I am back in Minsk now and my next task is to go to the train station which is about
10 minutes walking distance and we'll figure out how to buy a train ticket.
Hi! Hello!
I'd be lying if I don't say that I'm a bit fidgety and anxious, a mix of excitement,
nervousness, and everything there is. Especially going back on solo travelling
again, getting onto the train, trying to figure out myself.
Let's get some water!
This is Minsk train station, central railway station. Over here there is an underpass.
It's a unique building because you have lots of glasses over here to probably see the Minsk gate.
Operated by Belarusian Railways, trains in Belarus are reliable comfortable and affordable. The train
network allows passengers to travel to various countries in Europe including Russia and Ukraine.
Learning how to decode train symbols by referring to online sources will save you time and money.
This is the main entrance.
Wow! Over here you have all of the schedules and time that indicates today.
This is fascinating so you can either buy tickets to European Union (EU) countries over here
or over here you can do it yourself. RW.BY supposedly is the railway
in Belarus and if you want to buy a ticket online you can check out the website.
(In Russian using an online translator) One ticket to Vitebsk, please!
*She was showing different schedules and was pointing at the one I asked for (3pm)*
(In Russian) 3 tickets?
(In Russian) One person.
(In Russian) How much?
16.04 BYN = $6
*She was showing me details of the train ticket*
(In Russian) Thank you. You are welcome!
If you've got time to kill, I think the train
station itself is quite fascinating to just walk around especially
with this view, you know what I mean? That's the the reason why probably they put all of this glass
so that you can take your time to appreciate the architecture of Minsk gate.
Over here you have a huge waiting room and also track which means that
probably you can get to the train tracks from here.
Oh, I think yeah that's definitely it. So you get Burger King, you get timetables.
I think there are some shops or a couple of shops that you can pay a visit.
It looks like there is a cafe behind me.
So there are so many shops like this that you can
visit if you want to get some snacks and drink even a pharmacy, if you need some medicine.
So this is on the underground floor.
I need to find track number 5.
Okay. This way!
Is it only me or anyone here who's watching also get giddy about a train?
Train tracks, train, I feel so excited! This reminds me of all of my train
journeys in Northern China where there was no high-speed train whatsoever.
What a nice memory!
So there is a useful indicator that this is platform number six,
this is Minsk to Vitebsk platform number five and that would be my platform.
This is my train! A bit more modern, of course, and faster.
Excuse me.
Next! Next? Six? Next.
This is the next one. He's so sweet! Carriage number 6.
I'm a bit confused about which one to look at.
but this is definitely the time (15:15)
and someone pointed out that this is the seat number (030).
Train in Belarus is definitely on time and there is no way that you can miss the train,
because once you miss it there is no any other way other than buying a new ticket.
Today's one-way ticket cost me about 16 Belarusian Rubles or around $6 for a three-hour journey.
This inter-regional line is the fastest train for this route and will take me from Minsk,
East through the flatlands to Orsha and then North until my final destination, Vitebsk.
Look at this toilet! This is very modern for 16 Rubles (BYN) you get
an excellent value for the train, an opportunity to see around Belarus countryside.
I'm looking for a canteen or somewhere to buy tea.
Looks like there is no canteen or cafeteria for sure on this high-speed train other than
this machine. I can't seem to find the cup, forget about the coffee, forget about tea!
I think they do have selections of espresso americano and several others from the machine,
vending machine. Other than that the countryside is excellent! So beautiful!
(In Russian) Good day!
I am such a noob! I think, I just need to enter the coins
I think this is chai or tea. This is espresso, espresso, americano, cappuccino, mochaccino, cafe latte.
These, I don't know. So if I'm taking tea this cost one ruble.
*Asking to exchange a 5 BYN banknote for coins using an online translator*
(In Russian) Yes! Thank you, thank you.
The sun was setting as the train was nearing Vitebsk. The train ride was charming, passing
by a variety of countryside and villages. It was a calming and serene journey. As I arrived in Vitebsk,
Vitali and Julia, locals I got in touch with, were already waiting to pick me up at the train station.
I have finally arrived at Vitebsk's train station and exactly after three hours
you know, they arrived, the train arrived at 6:15pm, very much on time!
The countryside of Belarus reminds me a lot of the countryside in England where there are
lots of flatlands and wetlands and yeah it's pretty!
Hello! Hello, are you Vitali? Okay
Ah, thank you!
On the next video things get more interesting as Vitali
and I set off to explore Vitebsk city, visit a local market, see soviet military tanks,
and try some more traditional Belarusian cuisine. Thank you so much for watching
today's episode. I got to experience the high-speed train a little bit.
Let me know what you think down in the comment section below.
See you again next time bye!