There’s a marked difference between the prosperity in Poland and Lithuania . As soon as you cross what
used to be the border, it becomes a lot more rural, until you hit the capital
of Vilnius where all the money is, and it shows, large cars, and around the hotel
where we stayed, some expensive shops.
We stayed in an old Monastery (again) which was right in the
old town and while the GPS was having fits about where we could and could not
go, I ignored it and drove straight through the no entry signs to the place. I
still don’t think they apply to motorcycles anyway.
Vilnius Cathedral
Like in South America this was a country a day through the
Baltic the next being Riga .
The high temperature we had all through Austria
and Poland
disappeared and the rain came too, not constant but some heavy showers that
managed to soak us. We had chosen a nice hotel about 6km out from the centre on
account of the fact that the centre hotel prices in Riga can rival the best in
Paris or London, I kid you not! $160 for a crappy one bed room with a shared
bathroom, up to $5000 for two nights in the better ones. We caught the bus into
the city the next day and were pleasantly surprised at the old town centre
again.
Riga Old Town
Statues of days gone by
Yesterday we started on the final leg up to Tallinn . No rain this time, in fact glorious
sunshine most of the way but the temperature was only about 14 degrees and with
the wind coming off the Baltic Sea it felt
even colder. This hotel is only 100m from the ferry terminal and about 500m
from the old town centre again. Although we were tired we made the effort to
walk into town last night and we were both glad we did. I think Tallinn old town centre
is the best we’ve seen yet with a lot of Medieval cobbled streets and spires.
We found a nice restaurant in the centre of the old marketplace and after a
good meal and a glass of red we wandered back to the hotel and flaked out.
Tallinn old town
The town hall
Time for Dinner
Originally Medieval, noice!!
Chris (& Claire),
ReplyDeleteLooks like you are having a great time discovering some of the nice stuff in the Baltics.
Isn't "BALZAM" medicine. Looks like you've been quaffing the cough medicine, yet again! No wonder it tasted like it. Had I known this was really your preference, I would have avoided buying the expensive bottles of red I bring over from time to time... I was thinking that maybe you are REALLY preparing for Russian Vodka - it has to be better than cough medicine.
I hope today isn't too wet to do some decent sightseeing. It looks like Tallinn is the pick of the Baltic capitals. Helsinki is fantastic too (just a ferry away), with a mix of ultra-cool modern stuff and classic ancient buildings - maybe another time.
I can't believe you've forgotten the GPS map SD (left in Melbourne, Brum or Paris?), just as well you have them backup up on the PC. Haven't you remembered the Cyrillic for "Moscow"? Just follow the Москва signs! Don't all roads in Russia lead to Moscow, eventually?
Don't sink the boat or ride the bike off the ramp into the Baltic. Sleep well while rocking around in the bed (more than usual). I hope the boat trip is smoooooth for you. The border crossing will be fine. Don't forget to ask if you need 'border entry' docs for the bike (you may need them at the other end). Enjoy St Petersburg, and I will pray the rain & chills stay away for the trip south to Москва. If you find the GPS files and the hotel address, just follow the little purple line and hope like hell!
Rgds,
Mike H