I will be the first to admit that some of the places I will visit on this trip that I am now calling “My Soviet Sojourn” are somewhat obscure and people may not have a great sense of where exactly I am or where I’m going. For that reason, I have created this handy map […]
My Soviet Sojourn: The Route Read More »
I first thought of taking time off from my career to travel back in 2006 – a full five years before I finally made it a reality. When I got serious about planning my current trip, I had never even heard the phrase “career break.” I didn’t know anyone personally who had done anything similar
E-Book Review: How to Take a Career Break to Travel Read More »
While losing your passport on the road is probably a traveler’s worst nightmare, I would guess most would agree a lost ATM card is a close second. I experienced that sinking feeling last week. I nonchalantly inserted my Capital One debit card into a Russian bank’s ATM machine in the center of St.
A Traveler’s Second Worst Nightmare: The Lost ATM Card Read More »
Traveling on a budget, I am always looking for a deal. So when I read that the State Hermitage Museum – probably the most famous attraction in St. Petersburg – offers free admission on the first Thursday of each month, I decided to postpone my visit until the first Thursday in October –
Free Day at the Hermitage Read More »
I bit my upper lip and turned my face away from the driver as he announced that we had arrived at the house I would call home for the next month. I didn’t want him to see my disappointment, although when I snuck a glance at his face, I could tell he felt bad for
A Rough Start in Russia Read More »
My Big Adventure (or perhaps, more appropriately, my “Soviet Sojourn”) has been two years in the making. Along the way, I developed a mental list of the experiences that I absolutely had to include along the way. I meant to post this prior to my departure but, well, life got in the way. So, better
My Soviet Sojourn: What I Don’t Want to Miss Read More »
Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and a European Capital of Culture for 2011. As the second stop on my big adventure, it brought me one step closer to Russia but was also a delight to experience in its own right (when I wasn’t busy getting lost). It was easy to choose my five favorite
Five Favorite Things in Tallinn Read More »
Wow, has it already been a month? In some ways, it feels like the last month has flown by. In other ways, it feels like it has been forever since I was in Chicago, enjoying last meals of Mexican food and margaritas and tapas and sangria. If you haven’t been following along
One Month on the Road! Read More »
As an animal lover, I often make a point to stop by the zoo in any major city I visit. Yes, I know the idea of zoos can be controversial to some, but I think generally the positives outweigh the negatives. I had the opportunity to visit both the Helsinki Zoo and the Tallinn Zoo
Helsinki vs. Tallinn: A Zoo Showdown Read More »
I discovered a new game while I was in Tallinn. It’s called “How Many Times Can Katie Get Lost in One City?” I have always prided myself on having a very good sense of direction and being able to read a map quite well. Typically, when I visit a new city, I get my bearings
How Many Times Can I Get Lost in One City? Read More »
