Six flights, one train, two coaches, three boats and one gondola later and I’m sat back where I started – home.
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks with what feels like a little bit of everything thrown in. I’ve been to three beautiful countries, each of which taught me a little something about keeping hope and faith in the face of overwhelming adversity. This has been a unique travel experience visiting countries all with long histories, much of which is still visible today. Yet due a succession of invasions and occupations followed by independence within the last generation; they each feel incredibly young and full of energy & optimism, whilst still baring scars of brutal regimes and some of the worst of humanity.
These are not dour places stymied by the weight of history. These are colourful, characterful places moving forward at pace and ready to challenge perceptions.
Any of the Baltic countries is deserving of a high placing on the list of any potential travellers. They each offer a fantastic experience, but taken together as an example of how countries can each retain what makes them unique, whist forming a close relationship aimed at boosting each other they are a must-see destination.
Ironically it is a phrase I heard many, many times throughout my time in South-East Asia that best sums up this part of Eastern Europe – ‘Same, Same… But Different’.
DigiDonkey 