When I penned my 2013 travel wish list back in December, I truly had no idea which of those six sexy destinations would invade the pages of my passport this year.
A five-month battle raged until, finally, one emerged victorious…
For the record, I wish it didn’t have to be this way. Just thinking about visiting any of my wish list destinations generates an excitement usually reserved for Victoria’s Secret models. But I’m neither a trust-fund traveller nor a full-time blogger (although one who’s afflicted with a slightly perverse lust for new places), and I can’t do it all.
A choice had to be made, and here it is: Russia, Belarus, and the Baltic States.
Huh? Or; Why in God’s Name Would You Visit Belarus?
Russia escapes travel plans more often than it graces them, and after deciding to embark to Eastern Europe’s final frontier, I now see why.
Entering the country isn’t as simple as hopping on a plane and lining up at immigration. And yes, Russia’s famously complicated visa process is no myth: it’s a thriving beast that torches all but the most diligent and patient of travel planners.
But hundreds of dollars devoured by embassy fees, visa agent services, tourist vouchers, and postage didn’t stop me (more on all of this in a future post), and with a passport now adorned with some surprisingly odd Cyrillic transliterations of my name, I’m officially ready to head to the country that has captured my attention since perestroika and glasnost were fashionable political buzzwords.
While in Russia, I’m planning to spend a few weeks between St Petersburg, Moscow, and the Golden Ring town of Suzdal, stumbling through (not in the literal, pounding-too-much-Russian-vodka sense, but figuratively) and soaking up as much of these fascinating areas as I can.
From Moscow, I’m riding the old Soviet rails into lesser-known Belarus. A certain mystique hovers over this enigmatic country, and I can’t help but be drawn to it knowing how few travellers it actually sees. Stepping away from the tourist crowds is something I love, and if there’s any opportunity to do it this summer, it’s in Belarus.
Like Russia, getting into Belarus is not a smash-and-grab job like the rest of Eastern Europe, but leaping over the few stumbling blocks in the Belarusian visa application process is relatively painless, especially when compared to Russia.
After hanging in and around the Belarusian capital of Minsk, I’m working my way through the Baltic States—Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—starting in Vilnius, Lithuania’s ancient capital, and ending in Helsinki, Finland, where I will catch my flight back home.
In true travel planning ninja fashion, I’m leaving much of my itinerary up in the air after Russia and Belarus (which, by the nature of the beast, required more planning than my minimalist trip planning style normally allows).
And now it’s your turn!
Have you been to Russia, Belarus, or the Baltics? Tell me about it in the comments below!
I want to hear all of the juiciest travel tips you can muster up… What would you recommend doing or seeing? Are there any must-eat dishes, must-drink beers or wines I simply need to try? What types of things do you want to hear about or see on Treksplorer during and after the trip?
Drop me a line below with your recommendations or requests for Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
Until next time, safe travels!
