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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Aug 25, 2016 06:00 PM Bla bla to Kaliningrad
There is Russian bus going daily from Gdansk to Kaliningrad, but it goes early in the morning and sometimes is cancelled so I de idet to try for the second time Bla Bla car institition. Russian drivers are bringing people to Gdansk airport an they are ready to take you back to Kaliningrad for the price of the bus or even lower. My driver -Victor was 30 min late and he arrived to railway station instead bus station but fortunately We contacted by mobile. For the first time I was crossing the border in Grzechotki crossing point -recently opened, but completly empty. No waiting at all!
Once in sunny Kaliningrad I left my backpack in the junk left luggage locker box at the bus station (buy tokens for 150 rou in the information window) and went to the city for the long walk. I found the money changer giving the best rate for USD - 64,40 roubles. I enjoyed adain well-know places - cathedral on the river island converted to museum (entry fee), nice parks and new sobor on the central square.
In the evening I took the bus to the Khabrovo airport (buy 80 rou ticket in advance in the window) and pay extra 20 rou for the luggage to the driver). Normally it takes 40 min to the airport, but due traffic jams wecwrere traveling 70 minutes. KGD airport terminal is still miserable. No space, crowd, long line tomthe only security stand -allow a lot of time! But the fares from here are domestic fares - that' why I use this route!
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Aug 23, 2016 06:00 PM I pack my backpack again!
Summer is not over yet, but I already start a new journey. This is because the route leads up to the Arctic Circle, where it is cold now, and later it will be VERY cold. I want to sail on the old river boat down Irtysh and Ob to Salekhard - lying on the Arctic Circle, and from there - the next boat will take me even further north - to the regions inhabited by Nenets tribe. After returning train take me to the infamous Vorkuta, V. Ustiug and Arkhangelsk. Then I will fly back to Kaliningrad. This will be another interesting trip - to the areas in which I have not been yet.
It was not easy to prepare this expedition. The main problem was how to book the space on the ship. Russians do not allow to book the tickets online! You must be there and stay in the line in front of the ticket office exactly the month before departure! Fortunately my friend helped me...
I hope that you will keep fingers crossed for me! :) Short messages from this route you will find in my travel log.
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Jul 31, 2016 06:00 PM Travellers in Wojtkówka
June, July and August I always spend in my dacha located close to Gdansk airport. I have plenty of visitors this summer, including my friends and guests from international organizations. That's because this is exactly the time when you can find me in Poland. In June, for the first time I hosted in Wojtkówka friendly Russians from Moscow: Katia, Kristina, Maja and Misha. Imagine that they came from Kaliningrad by bikes, checking by the way, that the border crossing Mamonowo - Gronowo do not accept pedestrians, but cyclists are allowed to cross the border. I offered them "what Wojtkówka is rich". We talked about travel, about Russian music, I like so much and about their plans. All of this group were in Gdansk for the first time so I had the opportunity to show them the most interesting objects in the city, to tell about its history and today. Few hours walk around the Old Town required fitness, because it was an extremely hot day and the temperature exceeded 30 degrees. Tight schedule did not allow them to stay longer, which is a pity, because we had a lot more to talk about.
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May 14, 2016 06:00 PM Vilnius to Gdansk
On Sunday early morning in Vilnius buses to the airport start operate after 6 am. For my low-cost flight I should be at the terminal before 6, so I was forced to order the taxi. Fortunately Vilnius airport is not far from the city centre. I paid for the ride only 6 euro.
The guy at security control asked me twice after X-ray screening if I have any liquids in my backpack. -No! So they probably do not trust this sophisticated machine.
Then we were walking about 200 m to the wizz plane. Take-off and after 1 h 20 min in the air I landed in Malmo. I like this little airport. It is clean and quiet, offers good and free internet connection and if you have the connection there is no need to go off and in again.
I am waiting for the flight to Gdansk. The another short voyage to the countries of Eastern Europe is almost over. I had excellent weather (except one day), I saw new places and I had a chance to meet interesting people. OKAY, now my Wojtkowka is waiting for me :)
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May 13, 2016 06:00 PM Baltic coast of Lithuania
Lithuania has only 99 kms of the sea coast. The most attractive for the tourists is Couronian Spit - a long and narrow peninsula protecting very long lagoon. The peninsula (southern part belongs to Russia/Kaniningrad Oblast) is famous for the beaches and sand dunes. Two ferries sail there from Klaipeda. I took passnenger-only ferry from the old town. It costs 0,80 euro and in 5 min will take you to the other side of the lagoon. If you are lucky the bus will wait on the other side to take you 44 km south to the nice fishermen village Nida (3,40 eu). Just few kms south of Nida is Russian border and this is the dune area. They planted vegetation on the rest of the dunes - regarding landscape it is disappointing.
Back in Klaipeda I took in the afternoon marshrutka (1,40 eu) to the seaside resort town of Palanga -25 kms away. Apart from the wide beaches it is famous for the Amber Museum located in the former palace of Polish comte Tyszkiewicz. The palace is surrounded by beautiful park. For sure worth to see!
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May 12, 2016 06:00 PM By train to Klaipeda, Lithuania
Lithuania isn't a big country. I decided to go to the coast of Baltic Sea to see the Lithuanian port Klaipeda. Lithuanian railways offer 3 trains per day from Vilnius, it takes around 4 hours to reach the destination. I found the website of LR, made a choice of the train. They made me happy announcing, that I will get an extra discounts for buying ticket via internet and for buying round-rtip in advance. I proceeded to the payment keeping in hand my 3 different credit cards. Can you imagine how angry I was when they announced that I cannot use ANY card to buy their ticke online - you have to have an account in Lithuanian bank. Finally I jumped on the trolleybus going to the station. I did not get there any discount and I spent extra 2 euro for trolleybus.
This was the fast train. There were only 3 carriages and the conductor in every carriage. I reached Klaipeda after 2 pm. Klaipeda has a kind of ols Prussian charm with many cobbled streets, old theatre on the square near the port and two-storey houses. I stay in the outskirts of the center in the little pension "Varsutine 9". The old lady -the owner is exceptional host: she is welcoming guests not only with smile, but also with chocolate candies, cakes and coffee. I am impressed.
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May 11, 2016 06:00 PM Giving lecture in Vilnius
Sometimes the life surprises you. Can you imagine: today in front of the Vilnius university located in the heart of tge old town I met by strange coincidence Vilius - Lithuanian traveller. Some 5 years ago we met in Siwa Oasis in Egypt to travel toogether through Sahara Desert! Vilius took me to the interior of the university (normally they charge 1,50 euro entry fee) and ornate St John church - it still works like univerrsity church. Then we have a look of presidential palace - just nearby -see the presidential palace gardens on the picture. What a nice and surprising meeting after years!
For centuries - until the second world war there was a strong union between Poland and Lithuania. Many Poles including Polish biggest poet Adam Mickiewicz lived and worked here. I found the monument of Mickiewicz in front of St Anna church. On the local cemeteries I saw many graves with Polish names. But now the friendly locals speak rather English then Polish.
I have been invited to give the lecture about the world and my traveling in Polish Institute in Vilnius, located just near the city hall. The biggest room of the institute was full and instead planed 60 minutes I was talking more than 2 hours... Many questions... Big satisfaction for the lecturer.
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May 10, 2016 06:00 PM Vilnius - the biggest Old Town in Europe?
Old Vilnius enchanted me again after some 35 years. They write that it forms the biggest in Europe complex of old architecture. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. With many churches reopened after the soviet period, nice public buildings, fountains and monuments it gives the tourists a chance to stroll around hours and hours. I was climbing the hill with castle tower for the excellent view of the city. It is free to climb the hill. Another option is TV tower, but it is far from the center. They have good tourist info office in the city hall. Old Vilnius lies beetweem two rivers. You will find here many street cafes, the delicate green of the spring... The sun is shining. I have a good time in Vilnius!
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May 09, 2016 06:00 PM Flying to Lithuania
Kiev - the capital city of Ukraine has 3 mln inhabitants and there is a lot to see. On my last day I took a long walk to famous Lawra monastery. It is like city in the city. Thre are caves with the gaves of the holy monks, but the most impressive are of course the golden-domed churches. With the chestnut trees in blossom spred around the view was beautiful.
But it was time to say goodbye to Kiev and my friends. In Kiev Borispol airport I (and more then thousand other passenger) we were waiting more then an hour before security control because the false alarm. When they finally opened the door a huge crowd was pushing us... no police, no security to keep everything in order... miserable...
I landed in Vilnius wth the delay. In front of the airport terminal there is a city bus stop. Bus 3G took me for 1 euro to the city center. Welcome back to Vilnius!
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May 08, 2016 06:00 PM Pirohovo - worth to visit
Pirohovo Museum of National Architecture is located on the outskirts of Kiev. To get there take the subway to the Ipodrom station and change there to the trolleybus 11 - conductors sell tickets on the trolleys for 3 hr. Then you have to walk about 2 kms to the entrance and pay 40 hr for the ticket. They put there houses from all regions of Ukraine. Wooden churches, water- and windmills, village houses. It is spread out on the big, hilly area, so allow a least 4 hours to see everything. Many houses are open to see the interior and in one orthodox church there was a service - I enjoyed especially their singing.
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