remembering

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of when I departed for a truly kick-ass 2 ½-week vacation in Finland, Estonia, Russia, and Iceland. Oh, for the love of Shiloh Pitt, a year has passed already?? It’s hard to believe. This was a trip that required much financial saving, much planning, and much hoarding of my vacation hours at work, but it was worth it all.

On June 2, 2005, I flew out of BWI on Icelandair, landing in Iceland on the morning of the 3rd. From there I headed to Helsinki and met up with my friend Richard, who is another good pal of mine from my Goldsmiths days.

Richard and I were in Helsinki until June 6th, at which point we took a 90-minute hydrofoil trip across the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn. On June 10th we took a 9-hour bus ride from Tallinn to St. Petersburg. On June 14th we traveled by train from St. Petersburg back to Helsinki. On the 17th Richard returned to England I headed to Iceland, where I stayed until the 20th.

It was an amazing trip on so many levels. It wasn’t perfect—we hit some snafus here and there, which is par for the course when traveling abroad—but in the end, I really wouldn’t change a thing. Should you be inclined to do so, you can see a few of my Finland pictures, Estonia pictures, Russia pictures, and Iceland pictures online.

Also, I wrote some restaurant reviews for the top places I ate in three of the countries; you can read them here on my friend Debbie’s fab foodie website.

Right now I’m in the beginning stages of sketching out a plan for my next two tentative trips (all of which could change if/when I finally manage to buy a house, because god knows that will drain me dry). The first trip would involve spending two weeks driving the perimeter of Iceland (sticking to the Ring Road, for the most part) with my dad. The second trip entails spending a few days in Prague or Budapest with a friend, then taking a train or bus to Krakow, spending a few days there (including a day trip to Auschwitz), and then traveling to Kiev by train or bus. We’d take a day trip to Chernobyl (several Chernobyl/Pripyat day tours operate out of Kiev) while there. From Kiev we’d return to Prague/Budapest and fly home. And since I haven’t been back to my beloved London in seven!years!, I am tossing around the idea of blowing a freelance check on a long weekend in London. I’d go off-season to get a cheap flight, then stay in a grotty hostel to save even more money. I’d hit my old stomping grounds in SE London and swing by all the things that have only sprung into existence since the last time I was there; namely, the Tate Modern, Princess Diana’s memorial, the animals in war memorial, and the London Eye. And of course I’d have to skulk through Camden Market, too, mooning over all the items I can’t justify buying! Last, but most certainly not least, I’d like to return to Scotland and drive around as much of the country as possible: coast, islands, everything. I got a delicious taste of it in 2003 and I’m salivating at the thought of returning.

In other news...my department at work had a b-day party for me this morning. We indulged in a dreamy chocolate and peanut butter cake from Whole Foods, which I gobbled up even though I’m doubled over with cramps (priorities, man). My group card was funny (it shows, like, the Virgin Mary standing in flames, looking angry, holding a knife in one hand and a human heart in the other, and it says “Mary, Mary, quite contrary. Holy Mary, Mother of God! Another birthday!”) and my gift from my boss was awes (a black t-shirt that says “01-20-09: Bush’s last day”). Yeah!!


song heard most recently before posting: The Walk —Imogen Heap