view by: | gallery | slideshow

‹ previous entry | 1 of 45 | next entry ›

While in Havana, Cuba I was constantly amazed at the number of big beautiful old (pre-1960s) American cars. They were in various states of repair but each of them reflected an era when American cars had flashy and unique designs. They fit in so well with the old (never changing) Havana cityscape. Grand cars in a grand city!

see other users' ratings and comments for this photo ›

Big American Car in Havana
by Joseph King, Vancouver, BC

Joseph's Dream Trip
A month in Russia

With the summer solstice approaching, my journey begins in Moscow, a city that has always fascinated me, especially the colorful "onion domes" of St. Basil's Cathedral. I'll endeavor to discover Moscow's Tsar and communist past and its post-Soviet style. Centrally located, I'll explore Red Square, the Kremlin and the opulent Metro stations. From Moscow I'll then board a luxurious riverboat for a journey along the Volga River, through the Russian countryside, to St. Petersburg.

I'll arrive in this pre-revolution Russian capital in time for the White Nights Festival celebrating almost endless daylight. Most of my time will be spent leisurely exploring the Hermitage Museum, the city streets and enjoying a Tchaikovsky concert. I must also sample some Russian vodka with friends and take a boat trip on St. Petersburg's canals and waterways of the Tsars. From here, I'll board a train and travel to Helsinki, Finland.

While in Helsinki, I'll stay at a character hotel with a view over the harbor within close proximity to the many historic sites. Departing Helsinki, I'll head west along the coastal roads to Turku. In Finland's oldest city, I'll enjoy a cold beer on a patio overlooking the Aura River. I'll then island-hop through the Turku Archipelago, enjoying the various island communities and their slower pace of life. Returning to the Finnish mainland and to Helsinki, a ferry will then take me across the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn, Estonia.

With a flexible itinerary, I'll visit the three capitals of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius, but will allow for unknown and unplanned destinations. While in these capital cities I'll spend my days exploring their historic city centers and my nights enjoying fine meals and lively venues. From Vilnius, Lithuania, I'll depart for home with everlasting memories of Russia, Finland and the Baltic States.

Joseph's Travel Tips

• Accept Change: For many of us, the purpose of traveling is to explore and experience different cultures, traditions and ways of doing things. Accept the fact that many times while traveling, local customs and the way of doing things will not be the same as they are at home, so don't get angry, and don't get frustrated. Just accept that some things are different and acknowledge that this is the reason you are traveling in the first place. It is often the differences we experience while traveling that make our journeys more memorable, and not the similarities with home.

• Secure Travel Information: Before each trip make a list of all your important travel documents and contact numbers, including passport details, consulate information, credit card and personal contact details. Prepare this as an electronic word document and email it to your personal email account before departure. If you lose, misplace, or have any of theses items stolen while traveling, you can then find the nearest Internet connection (hotel, cyber café, police station) and have this important information at your fingertips.

• Smile Often: For many of us who are unilingual, the most important way to communicate with the local population is to smile. Smiling is a wonderful international greeting that crosses all borders, cultures and ages. Even if you don't speak the local language a friendly smile opens many doors and signals a willingness to interact.