Eastern Euro Expedition
Sep. 2nd, 2013 02:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
peacetraveler22
It's autumn and time to hit the road! In a few weeks, I'll meet up with my buddy
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macos in Moscow, hop in the car and journey to Eastern Europe. The approximate route is here on the map. Along the way, we'll explore the rural areas of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia. A huge amount of miles in about two weeks. I'm sure there will be many "interesting" roads on which we'll travel. Start and end point will be Moscow, but I'll only be in the city for one night each direction and probably won't have time to meet with readers. If plans change, I'll be sure to make an announcement. However, I'm certain I'll return to Russia later in the winter and will try to arrange a gathering then.I don't know any points on our route except the countries and some cities, so I'll simply arrive in Moscow, jump in the car and be surprised along the way. All part of the adventure. A few years ago, I traveled to Slovakia but only spent about a 1/2 a day in Bratislava in transit. I was with my male cousins at the time, and they simply wanted to lounge in cafes and drink huge amounts of beer. Below a few photos. What I remember most about Slovakia is the beautiful women! Just stunning, with dark black hair and very natural appearances. Less made up than Russian women. And wonderful statues throughout the city, like the one in the photo. It was very easy to find English speakers in the main part of the city, but I suspect it will be different in the villages.
Knowledge of the other countries is limited. Of course I know most are former Soviet bloc countries but detailed history of each country is beyond my frame of reference. I'll be sure to study up on the countries before the trip. Or, you can share interesting facts in the comments.
Now the main task is to figure out how to get a visa for Belarus. I need one, even though we will only transit through the country on the return. It's the same bullshit as Russia where you need an official "invitation" letter from a tour company or hotel authorized by the government. Tonight I'll search the Internet and find some company that generates such letters for a fee, which is how I also got my Russian invitation. Why do countries do this? Make solo or independent travels so difficult? I don't believe you need an "official" invitation for an American visa. My understanding is that you simply provide an address where you will stay on the form (either someone's home or a hotel). I know for certain that once you enter the country you are free to roam it from coast to coast as you please. The way it should be.
Also, I'm not certain how to handle the Russia situation. Has anyone traveled outside Russia with a foreigner via car, and then returned through the border? In general, it's necessary for Americans to register upon arrival in the country but there's no registration requirement if your stay is less than seven days. I will only be in Russia one or two days each way, but given that there are no borders in the EU nations in which we'll be traveling I'll have no passport stamps to prove this. Thus, I think I should still register to avoid any problems when I cross back into Russia. I don't wish to deal with Russian officials, be detained or pay some ridiculous bribe to enter the country again. Thoughts?
I'm very excited for the trip! Certain to be an interesting and unique journey. I will likely have a free day in Frankfurt, Germany on 23 or 24 September. If I have readers in the city who have free time to meet for coffee or take a quick walk, please send me a message.
Now the main task is to figure out how to get a visa for Belarus. I need one, even though we will only transit through the country on the return. It's the same bullshit as Russia where you need an official "invitation" letter from a tour company or hotel authorized by the government. Tonight I'll search the Internet and find some company that generates such letters for a fee, which is how I also got my Russian invitation. Why do countries do this? Make solo or independent travels so difficult? I don't believe you need an "official" invitation for an American visa. My understanding is that you simply provide an address where you will stay on the form (either someone's home or a hotel). I know for certain that once you enter the country you are free to roam it from coast to coast as you please. The way it should be.
Also, I'm not certain how to handle the Russia situation. Has anyone traveled outside Russia with a foreigner via car, and then returned through the border? In general, it's necessary for Americans to register upon arrival in the country but there's no registration requirement if your stay is less than seven days. I will only be in Russia one or two days each way, but given that there are no borders in the EU nations in which we'll be traveling I'll have no passport stamps to prove this. Thus, I think I should still register to avoid any problems when I cross back into Russia. I don't wish to deal with Russian officials, be detained or pay some ridiculous bribe to enter the country again. Thoughts?
I'm very excited for the trip! Certain to be an interesting and unique journey. I will likely have a free day in Frankfurt, Germany on 23 or 24 September. If I have readers in the city who have free time to meet for coffee or take a quick walk, please send me a message.
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Date: 2013-09-02 08:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-02 06:51 pm (UTC)I am going to visit Poland this autumn myself too :-)
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Date: 2013-09-02 07:48 pm (UTC)Visiting Toruń, Poland is a very good choice: it's an amazing collection of Gothic buildings, and generally very beautiful little town. Check out their cathedral if you go: built in 1236, still intact.
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Date: 2013-09-02 08:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2013-09-02 07:51 pm (UTC)You have a nice hat :)
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Date: 2013-09-02 08:48 pm (UTC)Good luck!
P.s. Pardon for my English, I just learning.
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Date: 2013-09-02 08:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2013-09-02 09:53 pm (UTC)I live in Frankfurt! I'd love to meet up but I will already be in India :( Have fun in Europe and take care!
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Date: 2013-09-02 10:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-02 10:04 pm (UTC)Good luck !
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Date: 2013-09-03 12:32 am (UTC)GOOD LUCK!
Date: 2013-09-03 07:30 am (UTC)Re: GOOD LUCK!
Date: 2013-09-03 07:40 am (UTC):-))))))))))))))))))))))))))) No comments !!!!
Re: GOOD LUCK!
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Date: 2013-09-03 07:42 am (UTC)Roads in Lithuania are also dramatically better than Latvian ones. For Latvia, do not plan marching speeds over 80 kph unless you're riding a fullsized SUV :) In general, Lithuania is much nicer-looking and cozy compared to the two other Baltic neighbors of hers. IMHO, of course.
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Date: 2013-09-03 12:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2013-09-04 03:56 am (UTC)It's must be interesting trip:)
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Date: 2013-09-04 06:28 pm (UTC)On travels don’t forget south of the border. Not many in LJ traveling there and there are lots of interesting places. Been to Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica… Well, Mexico is kinda powder keg now, but back when I was a kid up to early 90’s my dad would fly us all to San Diego, we’d get a cab from airport directly to the border and walk across to Tijuana then go with my dad for his Cubans to some tobacco store there, from there we’d get a ride to Cabo. We’d get a house on the beach in some fishing village along Baja coast, no TV no locking the doors, and spend a few days there going out in the ocean on small fishing boats helping them with lobster traps and lines. Then come back and going with fishermen to their bodega for fresh mariscos, langustas, camarones with cold cerveza and tequila chasers… Staying there late listening to some old guitar and watch the sun fall into Pacific. I did that couple of times later with my friends but probably not in last more then ten years now. Mexico is spasming pretty badly.
But if you’re into diving, Belize is a great place and English speaking for that!
Not without problems but not dangerous. Costa Rico altogether is a jewel. Rainforest is great if you get someone who knows what they’re doing not your tourist guide. We went with guy who owns a ranch in the middle of a jungle… Open Jeep thru creeks and growth with machetes . Smelled a jaguar who was chilling somewhere in tree branches and had a .40 caliber ready, monkeys and parrots waking entire forest with first glimpse of sunrise. And then driving thru countryside to coast for a dip in the ocean… effing paradise!
East Euro is getting old with all its idiosyncrasies… Belarus? Isn’t it euro version of North Korea, wanna feel how they torture little Yankee girls..? I'm probably a bit behind the 8ball here, they might’ve just become a shining city on the hill for all I know.
but I’d read the rest of the story, and yeah you need to deliver on your readers’ interests,
y’ know… ;)\
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Date: 2013-09-04 06:54 pm (UTC)Yankee girl? You see, I'm a hippie at heart! :) I would love to go to Costa Rica! Maybe in the New Year.
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Date: 2013-09-04 08:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-04 08:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-04 11:46 pm (UTC)Shannon, are you sure that it is a country-side trip for visiting rural places? It looks like most of towns are former Soviet military bases. I was wonder about Haapsalu and Paldiski in Estonia. I know nobody will visit these towns unless he or she is interested in military history. For rural tours I would prefer something like Rakvere, Pjarnu.
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Date: 2013-09-05 12:13 am (UTC)