Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Goodnight Tallinn
Leg 13 begins on Thursday: Tallinn to St Petersburg: a short journey by ferry to Helsinki and the high speed train to complete the journey.
Couple hours to spare in Helsinki and hoping to see some friends.
Couple hours to spare in Helsinki and hoping to see some friends.
In Cleveland?
No, but wandered around Tallinn today and happened upon the Polish Embassy and Italian Embassy, housed in the same building! Felt right at home!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Tallinn Old Town
Walked around the upper sections of Tallinn Old Town today. Much larger than Riga's, but also much more touristy.
The least touristy shop was the used record store. Spent a good half hour there.
Cold and windy today, well under 30 degrees with a noticeable wind chill.
Now, to the sauna!
The least touristy shop was the used record store. Spent a good half hour there.
Cold and windy today, well under 30 degrees with a noticeable wind chill.
Now, to the sauna!
Latvia review and Flickr update
We've updated the Flickr page with our photos from our stay at Annas Hotel in Zaube, Latvia:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37975783@N03/
Here's some travle notes on Latvia:
RIGA
--still a bit rough around the edges, but an unexpected gem of a city in a very nice country to visit;
--we always felt safe walking around, even at night, although the hotel did offer bodyguard services;
--we noticed more of a tea drinking culture here versus the coffee drinkers of Scandinavia, the Tea House in the park is a good place to spend a fall afternoon;
--walking around the canal park is really cool, you can even get into a chess match around the band shell;
--everything is a bit cheaper than Scandinavia;
--driving was easy;
--plenty of Russian-inspired restaurants around, Varzob (if you can find it) offers the best Uzbek food we ate;
--street-level apartment living rooms transformed into restaurants and bars are great finds: Buffete Un Buffette is really great (only open for lunch) and Guaja Bar were the best we found;
--take a day and skip the museums and just walk around the central market: it's full of unusual foodstuffs, then walk around and check out the art nouveau apartment buildings;
--language barrier is a bit pronounced versus Scandinavia but we rarely found it difficult to communicate;
--Riga Arena is an easy walk from the central city and tickets are fairly cheap for hockey, the national sport.
LATVIAN COUNTRYSIDE
--Annas Hotel was great: quiet, lots of easy hiking, nice swimming pool and saunas;
--as in Riga, very few American tourists (the owner couldn't remember the last time any stayed);
--driving in is crazy, very few signs and snow covered unpaved roads!
Basically, we went to Latvia with no expectations, arrived in fall, stayed for the first winter blizzard, and had a great time over a 1 week stay.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37975783@N03/
Here's some travle notes on Latvia:
RIGA
--still a bit rough around the edges, but an unexpected gem of a city in a very nice country to visit;
--we always felt safe walking around, even at night, although the hotel did offer bodyguard services;
--we noticed more of a tea drinking culture here versus the coffee drinkers of Scandinavia, the Tea House in the park is a good place to spend a fall afternoon;
--walking around the canal park is really cool, you can even get into a chess match around the band shell;
--everything is a bit cheaper than Scandinavia;
--driving was easy;
--plenty of Russian-inspired restaurants around, Varzob (if you can find it) offers the best Uzbek food we ate;
--street-level apartment living rooms transformed into restaurants and bars are great finds: Buffete Un Buffette is really great (only open for lunch) and Guaja Bar were the best we found;
--take a day and skip the museums and just walk around the central market: it's full of unusual foodstuffs, then walk around and check out the art nouveau apartment buildings;
--language barrier is a bit pronounced versus Scandinavia but we rarely found it difficult to communicate;
--Riga Arena is an easy walk from the central city and tickets are fairly cheap for hockey, the national sport.
LATVIAN COUNTRYSIDE
--Annas Hotel was great: quiet, lots of easy hiking, nice swimming pool and saunas;
--as in Riga, very few American tourists (the owner couldn't remember the last time any stayed);
--driving in is crazy, very few signs and snow covered unpaved roads!
Basically, we went to Latvia with no expectations, arrived in fall, stayed for the first winter blizzard, and had a great time over a 1 week stay.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Leg 12 transport done
Driving from Zaube, Latvia to Tallinn Estonia is done. Easy trip along the coast and through the pine forest.
Last use of a rental car on this trip.
240 miles total.
Total miles to date: 11400.
Settling in to Tallinn now, looking forward to a few days of sightseeing.
Last use of a rental car on this trip.
240 miles total.
Total miles to date: 11400.
Settling in to Tallinn now, looking forward to a few days of sightseeing.
Baltic road trip
Driving north to Estonia along the coast of the Baltic Sea.
Stopped for the first junk food in nearly 2 months, Hessburger Megaburger Complete!
Stopped for the first junk food in nearly 2 months, Hessburger Megaburger Complete!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Leg 12 begins today
Leg 12 begins today, a road trip from Zaube, Latvia to Tallinn, Estonia. The distance isn't that far, so we'll take the long way along the coast of the Baltic Sea.
Latvia has been an unexpected gem, full review and Flickr update on the way...
Latvia has been an unexpected gem, full review and Flickr update on the way...
Last full day in Latvia
Last full day in Latvia. Gray and foggy, but no wind and mid 30s. A short hike followed by the remainder of the day in the pool and sauna.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Leg 11 transport success...
Despite treacherous snowy conditions, at least 20 miles of which were over unplowed gravel roads, we have arrived at our winter home for the weekend: Anna's Hotel in Zaube, Latvia. An amazingly beautiful and seemingly remote location.
The Snow Bug proved itself a road dog equal of Bensin.
Leg 11 distance: just 70 miles.
Miles to date: 11160.
More to come...
The Snow Bug proved itself a road dog equal of Bensin.
Leg 11 distance: just 70 miles.
Miles to date: 11160.
More to come...
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Last full day in Riga
Bypassed the museums today and walked around the central market in Riga.
Plenty of typical stuff, especially potatoes and dill. But, plenty of unusual stuff as well: unrecognizable dried herbs, sea buckthorn berries, unpasterized cheeses and yogurt, Latvian wine, rye pretzels...
Plenty of typical stuff, especially potatoes and dill. But, plenty of unusual stuff as well: unrecognizable dried herbs, sea buckthorn berries, unpasterized cheeses and yogurt, Latvian wine, rye pretzels...
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
KHL hockey!
The KHL hockey league is the major league in Europe. We were able to get tickets for tonight's game: Dinamo Riga against Traktors Celabinska.
Riga day 1
Walked through most of Old Town today and for the most part avoided the tourist traps found there.
Walked as well along the canal park where the fall flowers are still in bloom.
Walked as well along the canal park where the fall flowers are still in bloom.
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