Sagadi Mois – an Estonian Gem

The beautiful Sagadi manor is called “the most manorial manor” in Estonia. The manor consists of several buildings with white arcades surrounding a large square, a gorgeous 18th century manor house and a lovely pond.

Estonia: Rakvere – The medieval Castle and open air Museum

Estonias Rakvere – The Medieval Castle and open air Museum When Krista took us to the Rakvere castle, she gave us an opportunity to visit the past, the mysterious middle Ages. The castle is located half a way between Tallinn and the Russian border. It takes about an hour and a half by car.

Krista, our favorite Estonian Guide

Though Estonia is the country best adapted to the new rules and western values that appeared after the collapse of communism, it is still a very good idea to find a local guide to show you around.

Croatia and the Krka Waterfalls

…Or Hrvatska i Slapove Krke Krka is a river in the Dalmatia region of Croatia,it is famous for the numerous waterfalls. The river is 73 km (45 mi) long running from the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Dinara moutains and into the Adriatic in the town of Sibenik. Vis større kart The best known sites on the river path […]

Kiev/Ukraina – summing up.

The three days in Kiev were very well spent, the City is surely worth a visit. In many ways, of course, thanks to our eminent guide, Oksana. That we accidentally were there during VictoryDay we can only be grateful for. It was absolutely amazing to see how the nation has thrown off the Soviet heritance […]

Day 3 – VictoryDay in Kiev

On the third day of our visit to Kiev, it was VictoryDay, a day of national celebration and fiest. The city was teeming with life from the early morniing ang all the way into the small hours. We started our day with breakfast on the mini-balcony outside our rooms, overlooking the military parade on the Khreshchatyk […]

The Pirogovo Open-Air Museum

One of the most popular museums in the Kiev area is “Pirogovo – the Museum of Ukrainian Folk Architecture, Rural Life, and Folk Art”. It is  located southwest of Kiev in a picturesque setting. With its more than 150 hectares, this open air museum is divided into seven “villages” representing everyday life between the 17th and 20th […]

Day 2 – a trip to the Ukraina countryside

On the second day of our stay, Oksana took  us on a drive through the countryside, south of Kiev. We drove through miles upon miles of flat, fertile farmland. It was plain to see that Ukraina once had had, and is rapidly regaining the position of Europe’s main producer of grain.  We passed through small […]

Three days in Kiev, Ukraine

This spring brought three very pleasant days in Kiev, the capital of the Ukraine, or Ukraina as the ukrainians themselves say. Purely by chance, it turned out that the third day of our visit was on the Ukrainian National day ot Victoryday on may 9th (A real stroke of luck) This beautiful city is situated […]

Kiev Pechersk Lavra

  Kiev Pechersk Lavra or Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Kiev Monastery of the Caves, is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery and has also given  name to one of the city districts where it is located in Kiev. Since its foundation as the cave monastery in 1051 the Lavra has been a preeminent center of the Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe. Together with the Saint Sophia […]

Going to Kiev, Ukraina

Day 1:  A Kiev city walk We arrived late last night, installed ourselves in the excellent apartment and went straight to bed. The apartment is situated on the main street of Kiev, the Khreshchatyk street close to the main square. Hired through www.bestkievapartment.com, it was very good value for money. The Guide, Oksana Tsupko showed […]

Kiev and the Ukraine – a short history

Kiev is one of the oldest cities of Eastern Europe and is believed to have been founden in the lte 9th century The origin of the city is obscured by legends, the most famous one is about a Slavic tribe leader named Kyi, who, together with his brothers Shchek and Khoryv and his sister Lybid […]

Your favorite Kiev / Ukraine Guide – Oksana Tsupko

Without a basic knowledge of the Cyrillic alphabet, a visit to Kiev (Kyjiv) or the Ukraine can be quite  a challenge. There is a definite need for a guide ! A quick Google-search will produce a number of personal guides in and around Kiev. Choosing one at random or by intuition led me to book […]

Prague; Eating at the Blue Duck

U Modré Kachnicky

  U Modré Kachnicky, Prague U Modré Kachnicky (The Blue Duckling) offers an elegant setting for delicious food. Located at no.6 Nebovidská Street in the Malá Strana. The interior gives an air of times long forgotten. It’s like entering a patrician home of the 1800’s. As the name indicates, the main dish served is duck, […]

Moscow with a Guide

Moscow with a Guide There are quite a few difficulties facing anyone who comes to Moscow as a tourist. The major one is, to my experience, the language. Not only is it impossible to understand what they are saying, it is also impossible to read any sign. Because Russians use the Cyrillic alphabet, it is […]

Kremlin, Changing of the guards

The Changing of the Guards

Inside the Kremlin An event not to be missed when inside the Kremlin is the changing of the guards. It is quite a spectacular event, with horses and guards, guardsmen firing guns in the air and the only sound drowning the yelling of the commander is the clicking of cameras from the huge crowd of […]

The Kremlin

The Kremlin The Kremlin is a city within the city. It is the mythical power center of Russian federation as it was in the Soviet era. Surrounded by big walls it has also got the characteristics of a fortress. As the power and dominance of Kiev was crumbling under the Mongol invasion in the 11th and […]

Wieliczka SaltMines, Cracow

Wieliczka SaltMines   The SaltMines of Crakow is surely a sight not to be missed. It may sound a bit strange to visit a mine but it is certainly worth the effort. Getting there can be a challenge but all of the tourist bureaus can arrange it for you. We did, however act upon an […]

Elena – The best Moscow-guide

—-If you ever decide to go to Moscow you will probably need a guide. First of all; evrything is of course written in Cyrillic letters here and they are quite impossible to read. Second; you need to be acompanied by a certified guide to gain access to places like the Kremlin, which of course is […]