Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia & Tallinn, Estonia
OK, we’re about 70% decided that this will be our 2009 summer trip.
Leave STL on 17Jun. Arrive in Helsinki 18Jun.
Apartment rental. No car.
Eight nights in Helsinki. (The Midsummers Eve festival which will be on Seurasaari Island appeals to us.)
Overnight train to St. Petersburg on 26Jun.
Eight nights in St. Petersburg. Apartment rental. No car. (The White Nights Festival will be going on while we are here.)
Overnight train to Tallinn on 15Jul.
Eight nights in Tallinn. Apartment rental. And, maybe a car rental for trips into the countryside.
(The Ollesummer Festival will be in full swing while we are here.)
Ferry to Helsinki on 14Jul.
One night in Helsinki near airport.
Fly back to STL 15Jul.
I’d love to hear from anyone with thoughts on this plan. Suggestions on these cities. And especially apartment rental experiences.
I’d also be happy to have people offer alternative ideas. I’m well known for being easily influenced to change not only the small details but entire country destinations.
Sounds wonderful! Did you plan your dates around the festivals or was it just pure coincidence?
Deborah responds: Our travel time is limited to mid-June through mid-July because of my job. But, I did plan the order of our destinations as best I could around the festivals.
The great thing about always travelling this time of year is the mid-summers eve festivals that happen all over the world.
Helsinki and St. Petersburg sound exciting!! I know nothing about Tallinn but am looking forward to learning.
Of the three (well two since as I mentioned Tallinn is new to me) I have always wanted to visit St. Petersburg. My great-grandmother was from Russia, although I don’t know where. She was Jewish and the records have been difficult to trace but when I was a little girl, I always dreamed about her being from St. Petersburg.