After finding Helsinki to be heaven for those who are gluten intolerant or have Celiac Disease, I was a little concerned that my first stop in the former Soviet Union – the true kick off of my year traveling through the former USSR – would be a bit more difficult. I was partially right about …
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 …
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 …
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 …
When I signed up for the Tallinn Marathon last spring, I promised myself I would run it just for fun. I wouldn’t worry about my time; I would just enjoy the scenery and the experience of running my first international marathon. Nonetheless, I trained hard over the summer – at a faster pace than in …
I have a confession to make. Before this trip, I never stayed in a hostel. And to be honest, one of my biggest fears before starting this trip was how the whole hostel thing would go. Ever since I can remember, I have pictured hostels as loud, crazy places where drunken 18 …
