The 1,500kilometer journey from Istanbul to Kars near the Armenian border takes almost two days. It's certainly a tale of two very different cities. Kars is located within a landscape of raw beauty, an area where poverty is rife. The trains are obsolete and often face obstacles in the shape of stray animals and falling rocks. The betteroff can take the faster bus option or a plane but for some the train trip is an unbeatable bargain at at 25 euros.