Autumn is one of our favorite times to visit Europe, and this week we’re heading out again. We plan to visit 3 new (to us) countries: Ukraine, Poland, and Slovakia, and to return to Hungary and Austria.
Last fall we took a fascinating ramble through the Baltic region, visiting Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. We plan to use one of our favorite strategies on this trip. That is, rent a small studio apartment in each place for a 5-7 days, then explore and day-trip from this hub.
One of the enjoyable things about this part of the world, is the ability to travel relatively short distances, and experience very different cultures. It’s also interesting to see the impact that the former Soviet Union had on societies.
Of course, we’ll be posting from the road using our trusty little iPad. We hope you’ll join us.
Peaceful Trails,
Terri and James
Photo Credits:
1, 6. By Alexander Noskin via Wikimedia Commons
2. By komrath
3. By drotmalac
4. By biberta
5. By Frettie via Wikimedia Commons
GALLIVANCE 
Have a great trip! I’ve really enjoyed all those countries. Don’t miss Lviv in Ukraine, or the Crimea. Do you have your accommodation lined up? If not, I have a great recommendation for apartments in Budapest.
Hi Kathy, So glad to hear that you’ve been to these countries. Everything we’ve read and heard sounds fascinating … and we’re definitely looking forward to some cooler weather. We’re all set for an apartment in Budapest, but it always helps to have a backup just in case. We haven’t been back in a long time. Can’t wait to see it again. ~Terri
I’ve been to Budapest three times and would be happy to go again. This is the link for the apartments I used last time: http://budapestvacationrentals.com/Six_Very_Special_Apartments_in_the_Heart_of_Budapest/Six_Very_Special,_Very_Central_Budapest_Vacation_Rentals.html
The owners are Americans who are in love with Budapest and provide loads of info on the city plus lots of amenities in the apartments – a bottle of wine, a Nespresso machine, the freshest eggs…. I was in Liesel but I think any of them would be great.
BTW, for my trip that included Ukraine and Slovakia see http://wilhelmswords.com/eur2006/index.html
Thanks so much Kathy. I should have asked you in the first place! 🙂 I just checked out your journeys on your other site. Wow! Great adventures! ~Terri
Happy travels! Haven’t been to Easter Europe, but always wanted to. Looking forward to your inspirational photos and travel tips!
Many thanks I*KAN. We were in the Baltic region last year and enjoyed it so much we decided to explore further. Should be fun! 🙂 ~Terri
Sounds like a great trip! We took a whirlwind jog through on our way somewhere further East and always said it would be nice to come back, so it’ll be great to follow your travels.
Thanks B. We’ve been traveling around the US for the past month, and it will be nice to park the car and pick up the suitcase. Our journey starts in Kyiv, which looks like lots of fun. We’ll keep you posted. ~James
Can’t wait for the off! So jealous 🙂 Enjoy!
Thanks Jo. We’re very excited and are ready to roll (well almost). Our Baltic trip was fun and educational, and we expect these countries to be the same. ~James
I could use a 5 week vacation right now! Sounds excellent!
A nice, long trip sounds good to me as well Melanie. In addition to the cultural experience, I’m looking forward to a bit of cooler weather. Today’s high on St. Simons Island is 88 (with 90% humidity). In Kyiv, it will be a delightful 66. I love winters in the south, but by this time of year, I’m so over summer that it’s not funny. We’ll keep you posted. ~James
Looking forward to this trip just be careful out there.
Hi Joyce, Thanks for the well-wishes. We’re really excited and will stay in touch. Love, T & J
We’ll be eagerly following along!
Great Tom! And when do you depart for your fun in the sun – I know it’s soon? ~Terri
Terri – we’ll spend six months in Puerto Vallarta starting September 28. After that, it may be Dubrovnic for the spring. That’s why I have so much interest in your upcoming Eastern Europe trip.
You do know that Dubrovnik is unundated with cruise ship passengers much of the time? My last visit I had to queue up to get into the old town. A day or two should be plenty. There’s no shortage of other places along that coast, or even inland.
Thanks for the tip. I’ve been reading Rick Steves, who says pretty much the same thing.
Really nice, and beautiful pictures as always.
Thanks Steve … and I am totally loving your photos from Kolkata. You have really captured the essence of the place. Do you know how long you’ll be traveling in India? ~Terri
June was my first visit to Vienna and I loved it. Have a great time on your travels!
Thanks Terri. We haven’t been back to Vienna in years. I always joke that I went there to see the Lipizzaner horses, only to discover they were touring in the US! 🙂 Hopefully I’ve done my research better this time! ~Terri
wow, really beautiful photos. that one, st. michael’s cathedral just looks magical even from my laptop, i feel like i could touch it (i am not exaggerating!). you’ve taken them so beautifully!
Thanks Kate. I just love St. Michael’s style of architecture – we saw some of it in the Baltic and I just couldn’t get enough! And then there are the gold domes. I’m a sucker for those. 🙂 ~Terri
happy travels… sounds great… lots of sausages and pork meat in those countries… enjoy and we will be reading.. 🙂
Thank you! In addition to studying up on the history and culture, we’ve also been checking out the food! 🙂 It looks marvelous! We have a friend whose family is from Slovakia and she’s been tutoring on how to request all these great dishes. Of course she started us off with “Two beers, please” in Slovak! ~Terri
That architecture looks amazing- you are going to have a great time!
Thanks Stephanie, we are totally pumped and heading out to the airport as we speak! So glad you stopped by. ~Terri
Enjoy Poland.. . Although the weather is not very welcoming… .
Thanks, we’re really looking forward to it. I doubt that the weather will be as warm as what you have in Malta. 🙂 ~Terri
Looks beautiful. Eastern Europe has always been high on my list, these photographs definitely don’t pull it down any spots. Enjoy the trip!
We’ve traveled Eastern Europe from Bosnia in the south, to Finland in the north, and enjoyed every country. It’s been a real education because we learned so much of the history that we previously knew little about or were totally unaware of. You won’t be disappointed Sally, so just pick a few countries and go for it. Three of our favorites cities so far are Tallinn, Wroclaw, and Prague.~Terri