All right you world travelers…let’s see how much you know about the major cities in Continental Europe. To take the quiz, try to identify the city where each of the following seven photos were taken. Enter your answers as a comment or in an email to John@BlueOrbTravel.com. All contestants with five or more correct answers will be noted on Blue Orb Travel with a link to their website.
Whether this is your main destination or you are just passing through, St. Louis, Missouri is a great place to visit, especially in the Spring and Fall. Situated on the west bank of the Mississippi River, St. Louis was founded in 1764 by Pierre Laclede and named after Louis IX of France. To this day the French influence can be seen everywhere throughout this beautiful Midwestern city, as evidenced by the ever present fleur-de-lis. There are many cultural, historic and architectural points of interest that you will want to see during your visit and most of them are either within the city or just a short drive from St. Louis. St. Louis is home to Busch Stadium and the St. Louis Cardinals, the internationally acclaimed St. Louis Symphony, the world class St. Louis Art Museum and one of the finest Zoos on the planet. There are many other areas to visit during your stay, including the ginormous Forest Park, the Italian restaurants on The Hill, shopping at St. Louis Union Station and the beautiful campus of Saint Louis University in midtown. And you won’t regret splurging on a stay at the historic and beautifully renovated Chase Park Plaza Hotel.
The St. Louis Gateway Arch in FallThe Old Courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri Where the Dred Scott Case Was Heard
Historic St. Louis
The St. Louis region was an active center of Native American culture dating back to 900 AD and a side trip to Cahokia Mounds across the river in Illinois is a must. The United States acquired St. Louis along with the rest of Missouri from France in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. A year later, Lewis and Clark embarked on their expedition of exploration from the fledgling metropolis of St. Louis. Soon after, steamboats began plying the waters of the mighty Mississippi, making this region a major hub of commerce and the starting point for many pioneers heading west. A self-guided walking tour down by the river will take visitors to the Gateway Arch, constructed in 1965, the Eads Bridge completed in 1874, the riverboats moored nearby and the old courthouse where the historically pivotal Dred Scott Case was heard.
The Beautiful Campus of Saint Louis UniversityThe Italian Neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri Known as The Hill
Day Trips from St. Louis
Just outside the city you can visit the cabin built by Ulysses S. Grant in 1855 on land that he was given by his bride’s family as a wedding gift. The area is now known as Grant’s Farm and is a reserve for animals, including the awesome Budweiser Clydesdales. Just west of St. Louis there is the Museum of Transportation, most notable for its outstanding collection of locomotives and rail cars. Just a few miles further west across the St. Charles River is the Daniel Boone Home and Heritage Center in Defiance, Missouri. Boone was in his sixties when he moved to Missouri and he died in the house in 1820, although the actual location of his grave is somewhat of a mystery. A scenic 116 miles drive north along the Mississippi River brings you to the quaint little town of Hannibal, Missouri, the boyhood home of Mark Twain. In addition to Twain’s home, there is a replica of Tom Sawyer’s fence and several other period buildings. Walking up the nearby hill affords a wonderful view of the Mississippi River. As you can see, there is much to see and do in St. Louis and Eastern Missouri, so what are you waiting for!
General Ulysses S. Grant’s Cabin Near St. Louis, MissouriTom Sawyer’s Fence in Hannibal, MissouriUnion Station Shopping Center in St. Louis, Missouri with Gateway Arch in BackgroundThe Mighty Mississippi River Near Hannibal, Missouri
One of the many reasons trains are just about my favorite way to travel is the interesting traveling companions you meet onboard during the journey. Several years ago I was boarding an overnight train from Budapest, Hungary to Brasov, Romania where I was looking forward to visiting Dracula’s castle at the nearby town of Bran the next day. As the sole occupant of my carriage, I settled into my seat for what I thought would be a restful night. Looking out the window I could see a large group of animated middle school students with several teachers standing on the platform several cars away from mine. I had already had a busy day exploring Budapest and it didn’t take long for my eyelids to start feeling heavy. Just as I was drifting off to sleep, the door at the far end of the carriage opened and about forty students burst into the aisle and filled the seats all around me.
Hungarian Parliament Building across the Danube River from the Buda side of Budapest
Boys on a Train
I could see that the boys were looking at me, wondering who this lone traveler was, where he was from and what language he spoke. Before long one of the teachers came along and whispered something in Hungarian to the boy sitting on the aisle. He then promptly held out his bag and offered me some of his candy. When I said ‘thank you’, all three perked up and began speaking to me in very basic English. From then on they never stopped talking, each one trying to outdo the other with a question for me, such as ‘Do you like this sports figure?’ or ‘Do you like that movie star?’
My Traveling Companions on a Train Trip through Hungary
A Wonderful Experience
This went on until 2 AM when we finally arrived at a sleepy little town in the middle of Hungary where anxious parents were waiting on the platform to welcome their children home from their field trip. The three young fellows along with the entire car full of students bid me farewell as they piled out of the train. I settled back into my seat, suddenly wishing it wasn’t so quiet. I now look back on this as one of those wonderful experiences where you get a glimpse into the lives of people from another country and a different culture and realize just how much we all have in common. I’m so grateful for the warm welcome these middle school students gave to a visitor from another country.
Sandwiched between Russia and China, now fiercely independent Mongolia is a country on the verge of becoming an economic power and a force to be reckoned with. Its remote location makes it a little difficult to get to, but for travelers on the Trans-Siberian Railway it is a refreshing stop on the nearly 6,000 mile journey from Moscow to Beijing. The moment I boarded the train in Ulan-Ude, Russia heading for Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, I began to sense the genuine friendliness and innate hardiness of the Mongolian people. I had the opportunity to meet a number of them who were returning home from business trips or vacations and it was a great introduction to this wonderful country.
Ulaanbaatar, City of Contrasts
On arrival in Ulaanbaatar I was able to easily walk across the city from the train station with my backpack to the centrally located UB Guesthouse, one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in (see below). First time visitors to Ulaanbaatar are immediately struck by the architectural contrast of ultra-modern buildings intermixed with yurts, temples and gray, cement monstrosities left over from Mongolia’s nearly 70 years as a satellite state of the Soviet Union, an unhappy period which ended in 1992. In the pleasant June weather I visited many of the major sights on foot and was surprised to see so many nice shops and restaurants along the way. Some of the ‘must see’ attractions include Sukhe Bator (the main square), the National Museum of Mongolian History, the Parliament Building with its free museum, the Choijin Lama Temple and the fabulous temple complex at Gandan Khiid.
The UB Guesthouse
The UB Guesthouse came highly recommended by other travelers I met along the way and also in the guidebooks that I brought on the trip. It is ideally located in the center of the city near the main square and was a fairly easy walk from the train station. It is one of the larger city hostels I have stayed in and had numerous rooms, some private and some dormitory style. The common areas were a great place to chat with other travelers and the clean, well-equipped kitchen was well stocked with free breakfast food. The staff could not have been more friendly and helpful. They assisted me in getting one of the limited train tickets to Beijing and planned a three day excursion to the Gobi Desert and national parks. I paid $8 per night for a comfortable dorm bed. The UB Guesthouse was clean and safe and run by a friendly, helpful staff. All this, along with the great location and reasonable fees, make it one of the best sleeps on our list of Awesome Accommodations.
One of my favorite cities along the Trans-Siberian Railway journey is Irkutsk near Lake Baikal, deep in the heart of Siberia. It is an easy walk or trolley ride from the Irkutsk Railway Station across the Ankara River into the city center, where I stayed at the popular Baikaler Hostel. The friendly, helpful hostel staff arranged a two night excursion to Olkhon Island on Lake Baikal where I stayed at Nikita’s Homestead, a rustic lodge with all the conveniences of home. The round trip bus ride to the village of Khuzhir and two nights at Nikita’s, including meals, cost just a little over $50. Now that’s what I call a bargain!
Olkhon Island on Lake Baikal, SiberiaWaterfront Scene in Irkutsk, Siberia
Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal, which means ‘nature lake’, is the deepest and the largest fresh water lake (by volume) in the world, containing 20% of the world’s fresh water. It was formed by a rift which is still growing and its clear water and surrounding mountains make it a spectacularly beautiful place to visit. Olkhon Island is easily accessible by bus and ferry and the three day diversion from the Trans-Siberian Railway journey is an experience not to be missed.
Leaving Nikita’s Homestead for a Tour of Olkhon IslandMy Room at Nikita’s Homestead, Olkhon Island on Lake Baikal, Siberia
Nikita’s Homestead
The laid back, friendly atmosphere at Nikita’s Homestead makes it the ideal place to meet adventurous travelers from all over the world. The family style dining room serves up some delicious Russian meals and doubles as a gathering place for evening entertainment. Each afternoon we walked down to the little store in town to buy some beer and after dinner all the guests gathered together outside to watch the sunset over the lake. The staff at Nikita’s can arrange tours of the island and I had the good fortune to join two young ladies from Austria for a fun day, traveling to the top of the island and back. By the end of each day I was ready to hit the sack in my comfortable little cabin. Nikita’s Homestead is definitely one of my favorite sleeps and it has earned its spot as an Awesome Accommodation on Blue Orb Travel.
Riding the subways of Moscow, Russia can be quite a challenge, to say the least. But it can also be an adventure and it is definitely a great way to mingle with the friendly people of Russia. Some of the subway routes are complicated and even duplicated, which is probably why I never seemed to go the same way twice to and from my hotel. Some of the personnel stationed in cubicles at the bottom of each escalator do not seem anxious to answer questions, probably because they don’t speak English. In fact, the language barrier is one of the greatest difficulties when traveling anywhere in Russia and can be particularly vexing when using the train or subway systems. Almost everyone else, including the roaming uniformed police knocked themselves out to try to help when I asked them for directions.
The Subways of Moscow, Russia
Steeped in History
The Moscow subway or metro was built in 1935 and now has more than 200 miles of track, mostly underground. It is one of the deepest subways in the world, with the deepest section more than 240 feet below ground. You will definitely get a feel for this when you are riding one of the interminable escalators deep into the ground below Moscow. Many of the stations near the center of Moscow are considered architectural marvels, displaying high ceilings, beautiful chandeliers and marble walls. Riding and exploring the Moscow subways should definitely be a part of any visit to this fascinating city.
The Subways of Moscow, Russia
An Embarrassing Moment
I had a funny incident occur when I arrived late in the evening on my recent trip to Moscow. After taking the last airport train to the city center I transferred to the subway to go to my hotel. It was only three stops away, so I didn’t take my backpack off when I sat down on one of the benches near the doors. The train was still crowded at that late hour and a young man who got on at the next stop sat down next to me. As we approached my stop I got up and grabbed what I thought was one of those steel poles to help get myself up with my pack still on. It turned out that I grabbed the hockey stick the young man next to me was holding. I nearly fell over and felt like a complete jerk. After looking at me like I was crazy for a moment, he and the rest of the passengers broke out in a good natured laugh. Fortunately, no one could tell that I was an American, but I was awfully glad when the doors opened and I could get out.
