The Dudutki Open Air Museum

Dudutki is a museum complex of ancient crafts and technologies. It’s a fascinating journey into the world of the old life and professions, tasting original dishes, tasting homemade liquer and watching old crafts performed live. The museum is located 40 km from the city of Minsk, in the Puhovic District. Located in a picturesque location […]

Minsk – a brief introduction

Minsk – a brief introduction Belarus is nicknamed the “Last Dictatorship in Europe,” and it’s often described as a vestige of the Soviet Union, a sort of museum piece. But a visit to the country quickly gives you a different impression. Beyond the airport, there are few signs this is the kind of place that […]

The Masca Trek – Tenerife

The Masca Barrancho – viewed from the top After several trips to The Canary Islands, it is my view that Masca, Tenerife is one of the most remarkable places to visit. It is located in the north- western corner of the island and it clings to the mountain side like an eagles nest. The views […]

Prague – a City Walk

Karoly Most or the Charles Bridge

Prague, or Praha as the czechs themselves call it is the capital of the Czech Republic. It is visited by more than 8 mill tourists every year and that is a lot for a city of 1,3 mill people. As one shopkeeper told us: In this town you’re surprised if yo meet any locals. The Scandinavians […]

Gran Canaria – A Road Trip

A spectacular view from El Roque Nublo

The island of Gran Canaria is commonly associated with crowded beaches, towering hotels and frantic holiday makers, but there is a different side to it as well For those of us seeking an alternative experience, the interior of the island offers a serene beauty, some spectacular panoramic views and remnants of the original “Islas Canarias” […]

Amalfi – where the real Italy begins

The Amalfi Coast

Driving along the “SS 163 Amalfitana” or “Amalfi Coast route” from Positano to Salerna is a spectacular experience. Though the whole area is like a crowded amusement park you still get an impression of its stunning beauty. From the steep streets of Positano to the spectacular views from Rafaello.   Italy begins at the Amalfi coast There […]

Amalfi – a severely crowded beauty

An Amalfi drivers nightmare

The popular Amalfi Coast route (SS 163 Amalfitana) run along the coast from Sorrento south to Salerno. It is highly recommended to avoid going there during the tourist season as the roads are crowded with tour buses, mobile homes and tourists. From mid-September to October and also in May, it is far less crowded and […]

Cyprus – a brief history lesson

The Cyprus Flag

Cyprus officially the Republic of Cyprus  is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, off the coasts of Syria and Turkey. Cyprus is the third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean, and a member state of the European Union. It is located south of Turkey, west of Syria and Lebanon, northwest of Israel, north of Egypt and east of Greece. The earliest known human activity on the island dates to […]

Estonia – in transition from the East to the West

Tallinn Main Square

Our trip to Estonia revealed a small but proud nation – making a peaceful transition from Soviet rule to western democracy. In 1989, during the “Singing Revolution“, in a landmark demonstration for more independence, more than two million people formed a human chain stretching through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, called the Baltic Way. All three […]

On the Normandy Beaches

The American Cemetary at Colleville-sur-Mer

The Normandy Beaches are a full size open air museum The Normandy beaches stretches from Utah Beach in the west to Sword Beach in the east. Everywhere you’ll find a WWII monument, a museum, a cemetary or some other kind of remains of the D-Day invasion. All designated to the memory of and a tribute […]

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 […]