Author archive
20 August 2016
Above: Vernazza on a postcard. We didn’t have time to scale the hills to get such a vista. It was great to have a hotel next to the train station that goes straight to the airport. The train goes every 20 minutes and I just missed that one at 0600. I got to the airport […]
19 August 2016
I walked to the train station and took the train to Helsinki airport. There was no queue at check-in. The kiosk wouldn’t through-check me or my bags to Milan probably because I had 20 hours in Copenhagen. However, I asked at the counter and that was done easily for me, leaving me a little lighter […]
18 August 2016
Today was my day for mushroom picking with my old friend from Yemen days, Sami. The weather was wet. Sami wasn’t free till early afternoon as he had doctor’s appointment. When the rain eased I wandered out back to Market Square and visited Market Hall which I had missed yesterday. It wasn’t a true market […]
17 August 2016
I had tried to change my 1200 ferry to 1000 so I’d have a little extra time in Helsinki. As I had bought a very good promotional fare, the fare difference to pay on changing it was too huge so I left it. I walked to the ferry terminal about 1030. I didn’t want to […]
16 August 2016
Yep, the forecast was right and it turned out to be a wet day. Disinclination and sloth meant that I didn’t make it to the KGB museum or any other museum. I did go out to get my laundry done to avoid the higher prices in Italy. And while waiting I went into a mall […]
15 August 2016
After breakfast, I explored both the upper and lower parts of the old city. My thinking was that the free walking tour at midday might cover some alternative sites or the weather may turn. As it turned out, the free walking tour covered much the same areas but I got a little more insight into […]
14 August 2016
Today I bussed from Riga to Tallinn in Estonia. The 1000 departure meant that I could have a leisurely start, walking from the hostel to the station at 0930. The 4h30 Lux Express bus ride was smooth and went quickly with two movies. Surprisingly the entire journey was on 2-lane roads (one in each direction) […]
13 August 2016
The Kalnciema Street Market across the river came highly recommended so I decided to make my way there by bus after breakfast. Buses, trolleybuses and trams were all free today (and tomorrow) due to the city’s festival day. The weather was drizzly and I needed my poncho. The market was more intimate than I had […]
12 August 2016
As in Lithuania, I made myself a breakfast of fruit, muesli and kefir. I wandered out to the Central Market housed in blimp (zeppelin) hangars bought from post-war Germany which needed money. I enjoyed the variety of food in there and it gave me an insight into the local cuisine and specialties. Mushrooms are in […]
11 August 2016
I had been undecided about walking 30+ mins to the bus station or taking a taxi. I’ve read that hailing a cab here leads to a rip-off and one should really book it online, using the app or call up. With the wifi at the gueshouse down, the decision was made for me. Fortunately the […]