http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Marta S/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Marta S en-us Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:17:13 BST Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:17:13 BST Sorry for the lack of stories hopefully the pictures say enough http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Greece/Attica/Athens/blog-106936.html This city was steeped in steeples literally From the moment we walked through the gates of Historic Vilnius I was overwhelmed by the sight of churcheshellipMedieval and Gothic and Renaissance OH MY 15 out of the 20 churches in the old town were actually closed down or turned into warehouses during the Soviet period resulting in the disappearance of much of the valuable pieces of art but http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Lithuania/Vilnius/blog-103212.html First day in Riga got off to a rough start. We got off the train and onto the platform to discover that it was not only MUCH colder than it had been in Minsk didnrsquot think that was possible but that we were in fact in the middle of a blizzard. Foolishly I tried to quicken my step in an effort to escape the sheets of falling snow which resulted in me slipping on the top step of the downwa http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Latvia/Riga/blog-101940.html I must admit when the idea of going to Belarus first cropped up my initial thoughts were ldquoummhellipno wayhellipitrsquos too dangeroushellipitrsquos too communistic.rdquo Strangely enough the longer I mulled it over the more excited I became and decided that this was just too good of an adventure to pass up. Well fast forward two weeks laterhellip train tickets purchased an http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Belarus/Minsk-Voblast/Minsk/blog-101546.html I woke up in the morning to a very unfamiliar sighthellipsnow It was the first of the season and it was beautiful. Of course I probably had that opinion when I was admiring it from the comfort and warmth of my flathellipIrsquom sure it will be quite a different story when I am freezing at the tram stations in the middle of a snow storm. Anywayhellipso I decided to hang out my window to http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Poland/Masovia/Warsaw/blog-100049.html We arrived in Bratislava in the early afternoon and immediately headed towards the oldtown. I must say this city kind of surprised mehellipit manages to integrate the oldword with chic modernity. Right in the heart I saw some of the coolestswankiest bars and lounges outside of Miami. Our mission was to slow our pace and just stroll the streets. The city felt a bit sleepy so our main source http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Slovakia/Bratislava/blog-99520.html 930PM we boarded our night train to Vienna and took our seats in good spirits and excitement. That in and of itself was quite an accomplishment considering we were stuck in a steamyhot compartment along with four other grumpy Polish people with no hope really of getting a single wink of comfortable sleep. Emily periodically throughout the 8hour ordeal stepped out into the corridor for a b http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-99477.html Let the traveling BEGINIn the next few months I along with my travelmate and flatmate Emily will be making our way around Eastern Europe. We have a very ambitious travel planitinerary in the works but I am convinced that itrsquos doable. We have very carefully researched and selected some of the most beautiful infamous remote interesting aweinspiring places on this side of the Euro http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-97591.html To sum it up Polish food is hearty tasty and PLENTY of it. It is the star and centerpiece at every gathering be it big or small. Not mention its prominence as favorite pastime. Sure this has me a little worried seeing how itrsquos impossible to deny yourself of any of ithellipbut hey you only live onceOne of the most familiar and delicious is the Polish Pierogi. These raviolilike dum http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Poland/Masovia/Warsaw/blog-97585.html I enjoyed a week of downtime before the Warsaw University semester began. Admittedly I was enjoying my vaca so much that the thought of actually going to school putting the study in studyabroad didnrsquot seem right. Turns out the university is not only ascetically stimulating but the lectures professors are wonderful. Not to the mention the hundreds of international students from all c http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Poland/Masovia/Warsaw/blog-97574.html Woke up bright and early the next morning threw on my Pumas and hit the pavement I thought it only appropriate that I property acquaint myself with the neighborhood and the surrounding areas. Itrsquos strangehellipI can remember coming to this part of the city the old town since I was a little kid yet its all seemed to look and feel more personal some how.Like and old acquaintance yoursq http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Poland/Masovia/Warsaw/blog-97480.html Yes it was a bit sad leaving for the airport without any one at home to say goodbye to. Of course I understand there are circumstances in life that are both unforeseen and unavoidablehellipbut still. So I zipped up the last of my cherryred Samsonite luggage weighed it one final time and headed out for the first leg of my trip. It deserves to be noted I have never had a smoother journey All http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Poland/Masovia/Warsaw/blog-97472.html