I have a love/hate relationship with rail stations. I like to call them “bahnhofs,” since we have been in primarily German-speaking countries for the last few weeks. “Hauptbahnhof” (main rail station) just rolls off my tongue now! As we’ve been on the road for almost 60 days and have taken 31 trains, I feel somewhat knowledgeable about navigating rail stations. Your average bahnhof ... View Post
On the Road – Part 2
Again, these questions are from our Facebook page where I asked people what they wanted to know about our trip... Q: How much pre-planning went into each destination? A: Pre-planning started last fall, so I gradually made reservations based on how far out things were. Airline tickets don’t go on sale usually more than 9-11 months before, so I had to wait to buy them ... View Post
On the Road – Part 1
Last week I asked for any questions about our trip that I could answer. I got some good ones! I may divide them up into a few posts as I am always rather long-winded... Q: (I'm) Very curious how you manage to move so quickly with bags, clothes, gear, etc. A: I'm going to answer this with some details about what exactly we are carrying first. Figuring out what to use for luggage and what ... View Post
Staying in Hostels
Many people asked me where we would be staying while we are travelling around the world. My main answer has been “Hostels.” This sometimes elicited a raised eyebrow or a “Hmmm” response. I honestly did not know what to expect before I stayed in our first hostel of the trip. I just knew that I needed to save some money somewhere, and I can usually stand a crappy hotel or bad bed for a ... View Post
Russia – Palaces, Churches and Museums, Oh MY!
Peter and Paul Cathedral One of the first locations we visited was the Peter and Paul Cathedral inside the Peter and Paul Fortress. It was amazing with gilt decor everywhere and large marble sarcophagi near the front on the left and right sides. All of the czars are buried here. There are a few exceptions (non-imperial family) that are buried in the back in a special chapel built in the 20th ... View Post
Tour Guides in Russia
So, I decided to go to Russia. Now what?! After thinking about it for 30 seconds or so, I realized I needed to book a tour to see all the sights that interested me. I looked online and found several companies that offered tours. The interesting thing about these tours is that they are all for small groups of people. Not a group of 20-30 people in a bus, but a private car with a ... View Post
