Destination Eastern Europe: Timeless, Mysterious, Reborn

The Re-Emerging Cultures of Eastern Europe

It is a miracle what can come and go in a single century. As Eastern Europe emerges from the rule of the Soviet empire, each country is re-discovering it's own identity, dusting off their art, showing off their churches, their food, their identity, their freedom. Come to Eastern Europe. Re-discover what has been lost for a hundred years. The ports in this region house some of the most exciting opportunities of this region so by land or cruise, Eastern Europe's rich heritage will amaze you.

Famous 'Cascade' fountains at the Peterhof Palace

St. Petersburg Russia

The Height of Culture

The history of Russia is rich and deep. No where else on this planet has such a treasure trove of art, palaces, culture been sequestered for nearly a century.

Founded by Czar Peter the Great, St. Petersburg is a city of European Facades, Palaces, Museums, and 5-star hotels. Intended to be be Russia's "Window on the West" no expense was spared to build a show piece that would say to the rest of the world: No place is Grander.

The Hermitage is one of the largest meums in the world.

Peterhof the luxurious royal estate of Peter the Great, includes one of the most well known fountains in the world, the Grand Cascade. The fountain travels downhill from the palace to the Baltic Sea. So many palaces - so little time! The Winter Palace, the second most well known palace in St. Petersburg was destroyed in WWII. It has since been meticulously restored, and is a must see to believe.

The Hermitage Museum is one of the largest in the world. Not only are lost Russian treasures displayed there, but much of the art which was thought to have been destroyed in World War II. In the mood for a ghost or two? You can stand in the room where Rasputen was poisoned, while looking out at the river he ultimately drowned. St. Petersburg is the perfect venue when historical and cultural exploration is desired.

Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia

The Baltic Melting Pot

These three are the largest of the Baltic states. The culture here is a melting pot of the nationalities that have conquered it from the Teutonic Knights, the Polish, the Swedish, and ultimately the Russians. The history is rich; the customs quirky and endearing.

Give the South Beach Diet a rest. Here you will enjoy hearty dishes of lamb goulash, haunch of venison with honey roasted pears and sour cherries and steamed mussels with bacon and beer. Eating is to be savored and enjoyed.

The landscape, architecture, and entertainment cover all bases. From the medieval spires of Tallinn, through the funky bars of Riga and on to the Baroque-styled quirks of Vilnius in Lithuania, hidden treasures abound.

Home to almost two and a half thousand lakes, twelve thousand rivers and hundreds of miles of unspoiled beaches, Latvia is an amazing destination. Experience the nature of this wonderland hiking through its forests and hills, staying at its quaint country inns, and enjoying water sports. When you've had your fill of the great outdoors there are plenty of castles and museums to satisfy your intellectual palate.

Prague

Old Europe's Hub of Cultural Excitement

Looking for a hard day of cultural emersion followed by a feisty exchange over some excellent beer? Prague will not disappoint on either count. It is home of two world famous pilsners, Pizen and Budvar, brewed here since the tenth century and home to a plethora of intriguing sites to excite the mind, eyes, and heart of the traveler.

A labyrinthine city of unbelievable beauty, Prague is breathtaking. Very little is needed in the way of maps or directions as you can see a continual stream of mediaeval architecture, ancient churches, and hidden courtyards just casually strolling through its main historical district. You may feel the urge to dress in renaissance garb as you seemingly pass through time. Prague was built in the ninth century, on land that even at that time had ancient Celtic and Germanic beginnings. It is one of civilizations first urban cities. During the 14th century, it's beloved King Charles IV, developed a rich culture of courtly music under composer Guillaume de Machaut, which in turn influenced the development of early dance music. This love of music and dance persist in Prague's culture today.

One of Prague's most romantic sights, a stroll on Charles Bridge presents fine views of Prague Castle, the Vltava River and many of Prague's famous riverside attractions. In strikingly modern contrast to Prague's historic architecture is Dancing House. La Perle de Prague, one of Prague's leading restaurants, offering fine French cuisine & magnificent city views is located on the top floor of Dancing House.

Budapest, Hungary

Old world charm and cosmopolitan living

With its multifarious and often embittered history, incredible architecture and rich cultural heritage, Hungary's capital deserves its reputation as the 'Paris of Central Europe'. It has a complex identity, somewhere between Western luxury and simple traditions.

The city straddles a gentle curve in the Danube. It has broad avenues, leafy parks and elaborate bathhouses. It also has a turn-of-the-century feel to it, for it was then - during the industrial boom and the capital's heyday - that most of the city was built.

Budapest averages 2000 hours of sunshine a year, among the highest in Europe, providing many opportunities to visit Budapest in reasonably fine weather and avoid the madness and expense of Europe's high season. Both spring and autumn are glorious in Budapest, with plenty to see and do, and the winter cold doesn't really hit until mid-December when many museums and tourist sights close. Often, even in winter there are spectacular blue skies.

The Black Sea

Romania, Ukraine and Bulgaria

Silently watching the Black Sea has watched the birth of man-kind and civilizations come and go. Boats as old as 2500 years only recently found in her depths. Even now on some of its shores people live in villages the way they did centuries ago, without electricity or any modern conveniences. This part of the earth is a study in contrasts. This same sea laps its waves on primitive and modern alike. Romania, the Ukraine, and Bulgary huddle against its shores holding past secrets and reveling in their re-birth and connection with the world.

Romania

Dracula romanticism and a country on fast-forward.

Romania has the majestic castles, medieval towns, great hiking and wildlife, and cheap skiing of much of the 'undiscovered' former Eastern Bloc. You'll be floored at how different it is, but you'll almost certainly see signs that it's chasing the dreams of the rest of the West.

Horse-drawn carts jostle for space against fast cars whose drivers are talking money on mobile phones; farm workers watch Baywatch on satellite in their medieval farmhouses. Romania is clawing itself forward, slowly and surely sloughing off the remnants of the Ceausescu era.

The Ukraine

Spruced up and ready for the future

Ukraine's Orange Revolution has ushered in an new era, and a rousing sense of rebellion and thirst for change still lingers in the air here. In the frenetic capital, Kyiv, citizens flaunt bold fashions and fresh attitudes as they smoke, drink, dance and sing wherever and whenever they want.

Bulgaria

Plummeting into the Future

Bulgaria has changed swiftly over the last decade, though in the villages you can still find folk who ride the donkey to work, eat home grown potatoes and make their own cheese. The difference now is that they wash it all down in front of a satellite TV.

When Bulgaria ran away with the topsy-turvy capitalist circus, no-one told its people they were swinging without a safety net. But what the visitor encounters now is a country struggling valiantly to adapt and people who remain remarkably hospitable in the face of social and economic chaos.