The Rocky Mountains of Colorado or Terelj National Park, Mongolia?
If you didn’t look closely you might mistake these photos taken in Terelj National Park, Mongolia for the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
Colorado or Mongolia? Read More »
Clifden, Connemara, Ireland
Galway was one of my favorite places in Ireland. Not only is it a beautiful city, but there are some interesting sights nearby. I took the bus to Clifden and fell in love with the spectacular scenery of the Connemara region on the West Coast of Ireland. On my walk I passed this wonderful garden gate and ever since then have wondered what was on the other side.
A Garden Gate in Clifden, Connemara, Ireland Read More »
A Favorite Photo from Sligo, Ireland
I saw this beautiful cat sitting next to a globe in a cottage window in Sligo, Ireland and imagined that he was dreaming of traveling the world. This photo was taken near the grave of one of Ireland’s most revered poets, William Butler Yeats, near Ben Bulben, a striking rock formation that dominates the landscape around County Sligo.
The New Fifty-two Page U.S. Passport
Several years ago when I had to renew my passport, I debated whether to get the standard 25 page passport or the new 52 page passport, both of which were the same price. Being a frequent traveler, my old passport was nearly full and I could definitely see the advantage of having the additional pages. My only concern was that it might be too thick and bulky and more difficult to carry and use. In the end, I went with the larger passport and have never been sorry. While it is a bit thicker, it is not noticeably so and knowing that I have plenty of room for the stamps and visas that I will obtain over the next ten year period makes it well worth it. In the near future it may be the only option, but in the meantime, if you are a regular traveler I would not hesitate to order the 52 page US Passport.
The passport is actually quite beautiful with background scenes of America in lithograph style on each page, accompanied by an appropriate quote by a well-known American. As it happened, the first time I used my new passport was on a trip to Russia and the first entry was the awesome new ‘three year’ Russian visa. It is quite common for hotel staff to copy the information page with your photo when you check in and I had an amusing experience at one hotel, where a young lady disappeared into a back room with my passport for quite a long time. I was beginning to get nervous, wondering what they were doing with it. After all, only six of the 52 pages had anything on them. I was having visions of my passport being caught up in some international intrigue when the young lady finally returned. When she handed me my passport I could see she was holding a copy of my entire passport, including the 46 blank pages!
My Fifty-two Page U.S. Passport Read More »
A Beautiful City Just Outside the Golden Ring
The Sunday morning train ride from Vladimir to Nizhny Novgorod took a little over two hours and cost about $30. While this was only a small step eastward on the Trans-Siberian Railway, the short ride meant more time to explore this beautiful city. Nizhny Novgorod turned out to be one of my favorite stops on the entire cross county trek and I highly recommend planning a visit here, even if it is just a side trip from Moscow 250 miles away. Nizhny Novgorod is located at the confluence of the Volga River and its largest tributary, the Oka River, making it an important hub of cargo and passenger shipping. The charm and beauty of Russia’s fifth largest city today belies its dark past during Soviet times.
Where the Oka River Meets the Volga
Nizhny Novgorod straddles the Oka River which divides the city into the eastern and western sectors. The main train station is on the western side, while the most popular attractions are on the eastern side of the river. Before leaving the train station I booked my seat on the train to Perm for the next day for about $96. Even with my backpack I enjoyed the long walk from the train station through the bustling streets and over the bridge crossing the Oka River, meeting friendly locals all along the way. I got a nice room with breakfast included at the Hotel Troitskaya for about $84. Located right in the historic district, the hotel was the perfect jumping off place for walking excursions to the main attractions.
Main Points of Interest in Nizhny Novgorod
From my hotel in the historic district I took a walking tour of the eastern sector that encompassed many of the significant sights in Nizhny Novgorod. The route I took was essentially a large circle and in only a few hours I was able to really capture the essence of this wonderful city. The hotel was located just off ul Rozhdestvenskaya, a cobblestone street dating from the 18th century. On this street you will find the Church of the Nativity, one of the most beautiful churches in the city, built by the Stoganovs under Peter the Great. A walk up the hill takes you to the Kremlin which dates back to the 16th century. With its 12 towers and spectacular view of the surrounding area, this is surely the main feature of Nizhny Novgorod. And admission is free! You can walk around the Kremlin walls and then once within the walls you can visit the City Hall, the Governor’s mansion, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and the State Art Museum, all punctuated by beautiful gardens. You can also access this bluff by climbing the Chkalov Steps, a serious climb, rising from the banks of the Volga River. At the top you will come to Bolshaya Pokrovskaya, a beautiful pedestrian street lined with interesting buildings, shops and markets. At the end of the street is Gorky Plaza with a statue of the famous Russian author, Maxim Gorky. As you complete the circular walking tour, you come to a beautiful green belt overlooking the Oka River with a spectacular view of the western sector.
Hotel Troitskaya
Recommended in the Trans-Siberian Handbook by Bryn Thomas, the Hotel Troitskaya could not have been in a better location. The long walk from the train station on the other side of the Oka River gave me a good orientation to the city layout and once in the eastern sector the hotel was easy to find. On my return trip the next day, the hotel manager personally walked me to the tram that went directly back to the train station. For about $84 I had a large, well-appointed room at the Troitskaya Hotel with private bath, television, refrigerator and large, cheery windows. The hotel was clean and safe and was operated by a friendly, helpful staff who went out of their way to accommodate their guests. The breakfast the following morning was prepared individually and was outstanding. Considering all that I got for about $84, the Hotel Troitskaya was a good value and rates the designation as an ‘Awesome Accommodation’ on Blue Orb Travel.
Nizhny Novgorod, Russia Read More »
Russia in Springtime
Spring is a wonderful time to visit Russia. The Russian people are serious gardeners and cherish everything that has to do with nature. They seem to have a particular interest in cultivating flowers and as a sideline, beekeeping is quite popular there as well. One of the most spectacular displays of Spring are the lilacs of Russia, which reach their peak blooming period about six weeks after lilacs bloom in North America. As you travel through this fascinating and beautiful country you will see everything from formal public gardens to the country gardens that grace private homes. Even the lowly dandelion is treasured as a ground cover in Russia! Here are a few of my favorite photos of Spring blossoms in the Russian Federation.
Russia in Springtime Read More »
