Blogs from Russia, Europe - page 2

Most of you know that I love train travel. I have taken Amtrak's cross-country trains, as well as the Trans-Siberian Railway. I try to use public transportation whenever I can, particularly in Japan, Europe, and here in the U.S. Along the way, I have met some of the most interesting people. And what better way to really see the country you are visiting? Let's explore some lesser-known facts about train travel. You might be surprised to hear that the US has the largest railway network in the world, and by a large margin. With a total route length over 155,342 miles (250,000km), it's two-and-a-half times longer than the second-largest network in China. It's the US freight rail network that makes up 80% of the staggering length while passenger rail, run by Amtrak, is comprised of m ... read more

You wake up on the 24th of February finding that 2022 would be a very different year than what the world would have anticipated. No, it's not happening, and it's not happening this way. But the reality is yes it's happening, and nothing can change the will of one single soul. Sad. Then you think. I've been more than once in places where I should not be....where the international news show you people being gunned down between where you are...and your local airport. So first thing first...do not let run your emotions...analyze...and your few moments of thinking do not send you straight to the airport...but tell you to be patient. You are not changing the course of history...and you are not making any difference as of this morning! Well, this was 24th of February in St ... read more

A friend posted this first photo. And, naturally, it got me thinking. I have been so fortunate to travel the world. There are so few trips or experiences I would never do again. But there are a few: I probably would not take the Trans-Siberian Railway again. It is a long trip, covers one third of the earth's surface, the food is horrible, and the taiga and tundra are endless. And you know I passed on a "free" trip to Kiev, Ukraine! TSR facts: The TSR is the world's longest direct train service. With two scheduled trains, an express departing once every two days and a regular service departing daily, the url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Ftravel%2Fmaps-and-graphics%2FWorlds-longest-train-journeys%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C3dca477b386a4d46225208d9f093a53e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637805339198551602%7CUnknown%7C... read more

I have been to some of the most beautiful metro stations in the world. Europe definitely has the best, followed by Asia. The US is a distant LAST! Syntagma metro station, Athens, Greece A transfer point between Athens Metro lines 1 and 2, Syntagma is not your average station. Considering the city's illustrious history, it maybe won't come as a surprise that the station is part museum. Located beneath the Syntagma Square, there are many antiquities on display at the station that were found during the construction. Aside from the ancient artifacts, there are also works from many contemporary Greek artists. The problem? It is a major transfer point, and everybody is running around like a Greek chicken with its head cut off!Szent Gellért tér Station, Budapest, HungaryAuthorities don't always​ need to spend ... read more

http://www.heygo.com St. Anne’s Church, or Annenkirche, is a large Lutheran cathedral in the heart of St. Petersburg. It stands out among the other buildings with its semicircular rotunda with columns. This evening Anna was able to take us inside to meet Katya who is a guide for this remarkable building and to learn of its history. As we entered the church resembled a set for a post-apocalyptic movie. Annenkirche was built in 1779 by architect Yury Felten and is one of the oldest churches in St Petersburg, it was originally built for the German community. During the 19th century the church used to be the spiritual home of many famous city dwellers, for example Carl Fabergé. Not only was it a church, but it also functioned as a hospital and a shelter. In Soviet times, the ... read more