17 Days of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Belarus

行き先について: ヨーロッパで最も魅力的な都市の1つであるタリンは、中世と現代の完璧な融合であり、バロック建築で満たされた狭い石畳の小道と野生のナイトライフがあります。エストニアの首都は「ニュープラーグ」と呼ばれていますが、この都市はそれ自体で際立っています。世界遺産に登録されている旧市街には、最も緊急の旅行者でさえ気を散らすものがたくさんあります。タリンの刺激的な旧市街は徒歩で探索するのに最適で、城、ロシア正教会、ドミニカの修道院がたくさんあります。これらの歴史的な宝石は、古い商家や中世の集会所と通りを共有しており、訪問者は、吹きガラス、織り、陶器の何世紀にもわたる職人の伝統を示す地元の人々を目撃し、独特のお土産を家に持ち帰ることができます。夜になると旧市街が変貌します。その古代の壁の中で、旅行者は朝の早い時間まで、蒸し暑いナイトクラブ、セクシーなラウンジ、外国人バー、そしてカラフルなゲイクラブでパーティーをすることができます。中世の地区の外には、見るべきものがたくさんあります。古い自治区の周辺には、きらめく新しいホテル、オフィス、たくさんのレストラン、カフェ、ブティック、ナイトクラブが並ぶ新しい地区が出現しています。古いソビエトブロックの灰色の街のアイデアを持ってタリンに到着した人は誰でも、魅力的な古いコアと同じように、この新しいスカイラインに驚かれることでしょう。タリンはその古い魂を誇りに思っていますが、流行に敏感で、活気があり、カラフルで、文化的でワイルドです。

行き先について: 「タルトゥはエストニアで2番目に大きな都市であり、エストニアの政治金融の中心地であるタリンです。タルトゥは、特に国内で最も古く、最も有名な大学であるタルトゥ大学の本拠地であるため、国の知的中心地と見なされることがよくあります。エストニア最高裁判所と教育研究省があります。主な観光客の魅力•タルトゥ大学の本館•旧市街•市庁舎広場•スープ地区。すべての通りがスープの材料にちなんで名付けられている地区。•旧ソビエト飛行場。•Ahhaaサイエンスセンター。」

About the destination: Riga is the crown jewel of the Baltic States and it’s the region’s cultural, educational, political, financial, commercial and industrial epicenter. Charmingly divided by Daugava River, it presents itself as a city of colours, church spikes and beautiful nights of yellow lights. Even though the city is rapidly overflowing with a collage of glass and steel skyscrapers, it is still defined by its stunning chocolate box old town that Disney executives can only dream of. Art-Nouveau is also a big thing in Riga. The city’s notable art nouveau district was declared World Heritage Site and it is commonly regarded as the finest and best-preserved collection of art nouveau architecture in Europe. Aside from its toy town cuteness, this city is funky and vibrant with a big city soul. The Latvian capital is the perfect fusion of old and new; visitors will find the trendiest club inside a spectacular art-nouveau building. The city has been dubbed “The Second City that Never Sleeps” and rightly so; in Riga one can go out every night of the week until the early hours of the morning and there are even 24h restaurants to satisfy anyone’s appetite at any time. With its timeless elegance and its cosmopolitan ambitions, Riga has been declared European Capital of Culture for 2014. The city is now chic, lively and green, parks cover a fifth of the capital, and has left its grey past behind and has no intention of looking back.

About the destination: This Baltic capital is bizarre, decadent, eccentric and bewitchingly beautiful. Located at the confluence of the Vilnia and Neris rivers, Vilnus preserves its medieval soul. Its astonishing Old Town, one of the largest in Europe, was declared World’s Heritage Site. Church spires dominate the city as there are 65 churches in Vilnus. The sight from the city’s castle is dazzling and is the best place from which to appreciate a magnificent panorama of this green metropolis. Vilnus has big plans for its future and is becoming a cosmopolitan city. Quirky bars are found inside the dark medieval courtyards. Užupis, declared the bohemian sector of the city, is booming with art galleries and workshops. In its main square there is a statue of an angel blowing a trumpet that represents artistic creativity and freedom of expression. On the north bank of the Neris, a new Vilnius is taking shape, a 21st-century skyscraper skyline is being developed to accommodate the emerging business community, a symbol that the city and Lithuania are moving forward and ditching its Soviet past. The Lithuanian capital will seduce visitors with its exciting, spirited and charming personality.

About the destination: "Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the centre of a county in Trakai Municipality of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. It is the capital of Kaunas County, the seat of the Kaunas city municipality and the Kaunas District Municipality. Kaunas is located at the confluence of the two largest Lithuanian rivers, the Nemunas and the Neris, and near the Kaunas Reservoir, the largest body of water entirely in Lithuania. Kaunas has several districts and sites interesting for tourists. The Old Town is the area mostly built between XIV and XVII centuries, resembling buildings in Gothic, Renaissance, and, Baroque architecture. Open spaces, parks, and places of interested are in the compact New Town. A walking tour is the best way to see the Old Town of Kaunas. A lot of guided excursions are available at Kaunas region tourism information office. You can also get a free tour from a local guide. Also, Kaunas boasts around 40 different museums of art, nature, literature, history, science, and sports as well as historical and memorial museums."

About the destination: The image of Warsaw as a grey concrete jungle, a wasteland of homes in the Soviet era, does not correspond with the reality of the last 15 years of this vibrant city. This metropolis has much more to offer, many things to visit, an impressive cultural scene and a lively nightlife. Warsaw is looking ahead leaving its Soviet past in the past where it belongs. At the end of World War II, 85% of the city was in ruins and the city had to undergo a major reconstruction. The successful reconstruction received recognition in 1980 when UNESCO declared the Old Town of Warsaw World Heritage Site. Located in the Mazowieckie province, in central-eastern Poland, the city is unevenly divided by the Vistula River. Most tourist attractions are on the left bank of the river, while on the right bank we have the up and coming elegant district of Prague. The epicentre of Warsaw for visitors is the so-called Royal Route (Trakt Królewski), which runs north-south from the New and Old Towns, past the elegant Nowy Swiat shops, palaces that survived the war and the royal gardens Lazienki Park, before arriving at the Wilanów Palace, to the south of the city centre. The city also has many green spaces with lush lakeside parks where rowing boats sail during the sunny summer days and where visitors can find plenty of al-fresco cafes. In the parks, free classical music concerts are also held, with big audiences, a scene that is far from the somber images of communist-era Warsaw. Today the city offers an amazing nightlife, young locals dress elegantly to head to the cool bars and groovy clubs in the city. It is definitely a city that vibrates as soon as the sun goes down. Although some people claim that Krakow has the beauty, Warsaw has the culture, the energy and the action.

About the destination: Krakow is beautiful, a jewel among European cities. People have been living and building here since the 9th century. The Old Town historical district in Krakow’s heart is actually the medieval city established in 1257. Krakow remains the undisputed architectural capital of Poland and home to one of Europe’s oldest universities. The many parks and the Planty, the green city belt surrounding the city centre, make Krakow, a wonderful city to visit. Krakow’s entire stare miasto, old town, is lovely, every street worth a slow stroll. At its centre is the Rynek Glowny, one of the most beautiful market squares in Europe. The Kosciol Mariacki in its northeast corner, is a richly decorated cathedral, with a 500-year-old carved altarpiece. Diagonally across the square stands the lonely town hall tower spared when the rest of the building was demolished in 1820. Sitting on the Wista River, is the Wawel Castle, the finest surviving piece of Renaissance architecture in Poland. The castle was the royal seat of Poland, and is the city's main tourist attraction. The grounds consist of the palace, a huge Cathedral and a large garden. The Royal Cathedral dominates the complex of Wawel. It was the coronation site and burial place of almost all of monarchs of Poland. Built in the early 11th century in Romanesque style its tower offers a splendid view of Krakow. The beauty of its old architecture, the ambience of great culture, art and literature, the charm of its numerous cafes, bars and pubs, always full of locals and tourists, makes this city one of world's best tourist destinations.