AN AMAZING JOURNEY TRAVELED
Carol Kutzner travels half way around the world and back

St. Basils Church in Red Square, Moscow.

Carol Kutzner of Hayesville recently completed a four week trip that took her to China, mongolia, Siberia, Western Russia, Scandinavia and England. The trip began in Beijing where a train ride took her through the northern countryside which was largely unpopulated compared to the capital. The train arrived late in Ulan Bator (capitol of Mongolia) and Kutzner missed the parade that begins the Nadaam Festival. This is a famous festival of contests in horsemanship, archery and wrestling. These activities date back to Genghis Khan. "Watching these skills was very interesting", said Kutzner.

Out on the plains and on the Gobi Deserts, many Mongolians live in gers. a is a round tent-like structure but much more substantial. Kutzner had the opportunity to visit a family in their ger and spent two days there. "It was very comfortable except for habing to go to another structure for bathroom facilities", said Kutzner.

Next came a train ride to Lake Baikal in Siberia. "The paperwork at the border took several hours but fortunately it was bedtime and one could simply lie in a bunk, waiting."

Kutzner visiting a family in a ger in Mongolia.

lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake in the world. Kutzner was disappointed that she didn't see any herpa, a freshwater seal as they migrated to another part of the lake. She enjoyed a two day homestay with a Siberian family. "The bike riding and hiking on the hills along the lake just about did me in but a visit to the sauna house in the back fixed that!"

After that Kutzner stayed with another family in a city apartment about two and a half hours from the lake. Next came a three day train trip across Siberia on the Moscow. "Fortunately the four persons in the train compartment were congenial and lots of fun. We shared games and food we had all brought aboard."

Kutzner was glad to see Moscow again because back in 1988 she found the Russians quite wary of foreigners. She was able to enter the Kremlin and see the changing of the guard. "I still think Red Square is absolutely stunning", says Kutzner.

Lake Baikal in Siberia where the water is really cold.

A short train trip took Kutzner to St. Petersburg. Again, she was glad for a return visit. "I saw so much more this time and the gardens of Petrovorets were stunning!"

The rest of the trip was almost a blur for her as she travelled by train and by ferry several times, taking her from St. Petersburg to Nelsinki, Finland, to Suseden, Norway and then across the North Sea to England. There she visited with friends and relatives in northern England and in Brighton in the south.

"It was a splendid trip, one that I won't forget!"

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