Expatiperro

We just arrived in Helsinki, Finland, earlier this afternoon, meaning that we've finally ended our Trans-Siberian route, a trip of nearly 5,500 miles that took us three weeks to complete. This last ride, from St. Petersburg, was one of the most painless ones we've had- just 6 hours, an entire car practically to ourselves, and zero hassles from customs officials. It's hard to believe that as recently as 20 years ago Soviet and NATO forces were facing off against each other across the same strip of land that we passed through without a hassle in 20 minutes. History moves fast.

Now that we're out of Russia and off the train, it's time for the next phase of our trip. In a couple of days, we'll take a ferry from Helsinki to Estonia, where we'll (knock on wood) buy a car and spend six weeks making our way from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean. Along the way, we'll take in the Baltic states, the WWII sites in Poland, Kiev and Chernobyl, Vlad the Impaler's Transylvania, Post-Soviet Bulgaria, and Northern Greece. And instead of staying in hostels, we'll be trying our luck with Couchsurfing, a community of travelers who offer free accommodation and a chance to learn about a city from someone who actually lives there.

Like usual, we have no idea what to expect, but whatever ends up happening will be an adventure. If you'll be in this part of the world and want to share the experience with us, send me a note!