Two stone behemoths have faced off for centuries as countless battles were waged over a very contentious border. Narva Castle towers over the Estonian side, while Ivangorod Fortress sprawls across the Russian bank. Between them runs the Narva River, which connects Lake Peipsi to the Gulf of Finland. Historically, whoever controlled the Narva River also […]
Europe
Old Believer Villages of Lake Peipsi, Estonia
Old Believers first settled in Estonia in the mid 1600s. Major reforms were taking place in the Russian Orthodox church at that time, and not everyone was on board. Those strongly opposed to the reforms were dubbed “old believers” and denounced by the church. Many fled the religious persecution and sought refuge across the border […]
The Ultimate Riga, Latvia Museum Guide
Do you like to go to museums when you travel? I often seek them out in an effort to dig deeper into the cultures of the places I visit. What major historical events shaped the current society? Who were the best local artists and what did they create? Museums help me answer these questions, plus […]
Mostar and Pocitelj: Two Can’t-Miss Towns of Bosnia and Herzegovina
As captivated as I was by Sarajevo, I was delighted when the friends I was visiting suggested a road trip. We headed south for Mostar and Pocitelj, two gems of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). While it’s possible to visit both as a day trip from Sarajevo (or Dubrovnik, Croatia, which is equally close), we opted to […]
Surprising Sarajevo: Three Days in the Bosnian Capital
Growing up in the 90s and watching disturbing coverage of the Bosnian War on television, Sarajevo was not a destination I ever thought I’d visit. Yet a mere 20 years later, I found myself walking down the street once known as “Sniper Alley” in a city under siege. It’s incredible how much things can change […]