Trans-Siberian travelers look forward to Lake Baikal. It’s the gleaming jewel in the center of Siberia, the necessary stop on the long rail journey. Everyone encounters a different version of the lake, which shifts identities depending on the desires of its visitors: Lake Baikal can be an outdoor adventure, holiday destination, ecological marvel, and spiritual retreat. …
Few cities can boast as beautiful a backdrop to most any celebration as Prague can, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. Any time in Prague is special, but Winter in Prague? Oh my! On New Year’s Eve, the capital comes alive with lights, noisemakers and firecrackers, and there is no shortage of options for …
Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is a large city of almost 2 million, and it offers a wide selection of ‘where to stay’ options, from true 5-star hotels to comfortable budget accommodations. The Old Town in the Sródmiescie district is home to most of Warsaw’s popular tourist sights, such as the Royal Castle, and the …
Irkutsk makes a pretty nice exile. When Russian army officers rose up against Tsar Nicholas I in 1825, they hoped for a better Russia: land equality, more representative government. Unfortunately, the Tsar’s guards trounced the Decembrists, hanged the leaders, and sent the rest to Siberia. Packing up their wives and candelabras, the Decembrists set out for Irkutsk. At …
Between Moscow and Lake Baikal lie over 3,000 miles of track. The Trans-Siberian railroad winds through lowland plains and mountain ranges, chugging away from Russia’s urban centers and slowly out into the unknown. Or at least, that’s how it feels to a traveler, as the suburban brick and concrete fades into a pastiche of birch and …
Where to Stay in Budapest – Editor’s Picks A city of almost 2 million, Budapest, Hungary is a great European cultural and financial center that offers a fantastic selection of hotels. When choosing where to stay in Budapest, note that the forint-to-dollar exchange rate works in the dollar’s favor, and many hotels come at an exceptional value. …
Exploring the downtown area of Chisinau, the capital of the Republic of Moldova, you may start wondering why other national capitals need to be so big. This city of less than 700,000 people has a center that offers the grace and grandiosity you’d expect of any European metropolis, but laid out on a compact, easily …
Slovakians inherited some of the best aspects of its five border neighbors: they enjoy Czech-style brewing, Polish diligence, Austrian architecture, Ukrainian good looks, and Hungarian stews. The one thing Slovakia can claim outright is the fact that it’s an undiscovered travel jewel. Culturally and geographically diverse, it’s simply a beautiful bargain. Want to experience classic …
Steaming red brick; gold-leafed towers; thumping nightclubs; shady parks: it’s hard to pin down Russia’s capital. Moscow juggles between two identities, as a thriving symbol of the new Russia and the historical center of the old. The Trans-Siberian journey begins in Russia’s capital city. Moscow is big and bold and definitely differs in tone from the …
“It’s worth a trip to Ukraine for the food and beer alone!” – was my husband Rick’s continual comment throughout our visit. Cosmopolitan Kiev and touristy Odessa offer a large selection of cuisines and price ranges, but our choice was to seek out restaurants serving up home-style Ukrainian fare. Traditional Ukrainian cuisine is rich with …