St. Petersburg -> Riga -> Warsaw, Poland
Pictures: Craig's / Mary's
After a good 6 days in St. Petersburg, Craig and I were off to a new location again, this time to Riga, Lativa. We decided to take the overnight bus there - which probably was a big mistake. We didn't realize that 2am was going to be the time in which we were going through the Russian/Lativan border. We all got off the bus, took our belongings and had them scanned, then went through the process of being questioned. Craig and I had heard that it's a lot harder to leave Russia then it is to enter it, so we were prepared with all our documents, old Trans-Siberian train tickets, our stamped Visas, and our arrival slip which had to be registared at every hostel we stayed at in Russia. The customs officers didn't speak any English, but luckily a German man (or woman, Craig and I still aren't sure) interpreted all the questions. Of course, we created a stir - I don't think many Canadians under the age of 30 decide to go across that border at 2am by bus. The customs officer went on asking questions like "What country did you come into Russia from?", "What has been your route since Canada?", "What are your travel plans after Russia?" "You were born in '81, don't work currently, but you have been traveling for 5 weeks? How?" I didn't know Russia needed to know all that, but I'm guessing the customs woman was nosy at 3 in the morning.
Craig and I made it to Riga, Lativa - swearing not to get on another bus again (we didn't get any sleep). But the next bus to Warsaw was in 2 hours so we took a deep breath, and boarded that bus to Poland. The 2nd-13 hour bus ride of the day wasn't as bad as the first. Since we were traveling during the day, the sights through Lativa and Lithuania were beautiful and it was perfect weather to watch from the window.
By the end of the 26 hour bus ride, Craig and I had been through 4 countries - and happily received our passport stamps, knowing we won't go through anymore questioning and visa hassles again, like we did in Russia.
After a night in one of the nicest hostels we've been to yet, Craig and I explored the city today. We hadn't heard many good things about the city, but I was quite impressed. I found it had a newness and a freshness to it - yet still having an old European city feel. We just walked around the city and viewed the busy streets from a restaurant window and it was great way to enjoy the city.
An interesting thing we've seen here is that they have the option to put a sweet syrup shot in your beer (I think they normally use jam). Craig opted for it at the restaurant, but didn't like it as much as it sounded - too sweet for the beer and got a second round without it. But, I actually liked the taste of it.
We explored the Palace of Culture & Science, going up the 30 floors (in 20sec) to get a view of the city as well as taking in the sights in the Old Town of Warsaw. It's quite touristy, but I liked the old cobble-stone roads and the musicians playing in the street.
After a good 6 days in St. Petersburg, Craig and I were off to a new location again, this time to Riga, Lativa. We decided to take the overnight bus there - which probably was a big mistake. We didn't realize that 2am was going to be the time in which we were going through the Russian/Lativan border. We all got off the bus, took our belongings and had them scanned, then went through the process of being questioned. Craig and I had heard that it's a lot harder to leave Russia then it is to enter it, so we were prepared with all our documents, old Trans-Siberian train tickets, our stamped Visas, and our arrival slip which had to be registared at every hostel we stayed at in Russia. The customs officers didn't speak any English, but luckily a German man (or woman, Craig and I still aren't sure) interpreted all the questions. Of course, we created a stir - I don't think many Canadians under the age of 30 decide to go across that border at 2am by bus. The customs officer went on asking questions like "What country did you come into Russia from?", "What has been your route since Canada?", "What are your travel plans after Russia?" "You were born in '81, don't work currently, but you have been traveling for 5 weeks? How?" I didn't know Russia needed to know all that, but I'm guessing the customs woman was nosy at 3 in the morning.
Craig and I made it to Riga, Lativa - swearing not to get on another bus again (we didn't get any sleep). But the next bus to Warsaw was in 2 hours so we took a deep breath, and boarded that bus to Poland. The 2nd-13 hour bus ride of the day wasn't as bad as the first. Since we were traveling during the day, the sights through Lativa and Lithuania were beautiful and it was perfect weather to watch from the window.
By the end of the 26 hour bus ride, Craig and I had been through 4 countries - and happily received our passport stamps, knowing we won't go through anymore questioning and visa hassles again, like we did in Russia.
After a night in one of the nicest hostels we've been to yet, Craig and I explored the city today. We hadn't heard many good things about the city, but I was quite impressed. I found it had a newness and a freshness to it - yet still having an old European city feel. We just walked around the city and viewed the busy streets from a restaurant window and it was great way to enjoy the city.
An interesting thing we've seen here is that they have the option to put a sweet syrup shot in your beer (I think they normally use jam). Craig opted for it at the restaurant, but didn't like it as much as it sounded - too sweet for the beer and got a second round without it. But, I actually liked the taste of it. We explored the Palace of Culture & Science, going up the 30 floors (in 20sec) to get a view of the city as well as taking in the sights in the Old Town of Warsaw. It's quite touristy, but I liked the old cobble-stone roads and the musicians playing in the street.
posted by Mary | 9:03 PM
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