Introduction: you can plan it, but you have to go

This route has been planned in advance together with a dear friend. Since it was only vacation for my friend, there was a fixed time schedule. The journey started at the arrival of Helsinki Airport and ended at the departure of Vilnius Airport. Its basic idea was to explore the largely unknown Baltic states and to visit the allegedly beautiful St. Petersburg. In preparation we needed an Auto-Tourism Visa for Russia. The two of us did not know what would expect us.

Finland: first they marry, then they run

Coming directly from the North Cape, my first step was the Helsinki Airport. After three weeks traveling by myself, I received my second travel buddy. Together we explored the capital of Finland and some of its staggering 315 islands. We learned that the Baltic Sea in its current form is only 4'000 years old and is a relic of the last ice age. From the very first day, we learned two things about the baltic culture: they like to marry and to run (not away, but in circles). During the entire journey, we saw at least one wedding a day and in every major city we came across a marathon. In comparison to other places, Helsinki was moderately interesting.

Russia: beautiful heritage of the Tsars

Passing the Russian border took one hour, but was easier than expected. The process of paperwork was not very clear to us, but the friendly customs officer were very helpful. After about ten official stamps, I was allowed to drive my car on Russian ground. Which is not very spectacular by the way. In general, the streets are in a good condition and very wide. The only unusual behaviour to us, was the occasional creation of an additional, unofficial lane between two cars. St. Petersburg is a large metropolitan city and full of life. The city centre is strictly kept in its original baroque style with little soviet influence or post modern buildings. The centre lacks of diversity, yet its abundance of beauty can be overwhelming.

Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Independent countries (again) since the singing revolution in 1991. I did not know much about the three baltic states before arrival, but this was about to change. On our journey, we have had a fair mix of urban lifestyle and peaceful countryside. Besides passing by wast area of farmland, we also enjoyed some of the many protected nature parks. They offer a variety of beautiful forests, bogs (moor) and scenic coastlines. In between, we explored the upcoming capital cities and learned much about their moving history. Tallinn (Estonia), Riga (Latvia) and Vilnius (Lithuania) are all different, but equally rich in culture and worth a visit. The Baltic region has a lot to offer and is genuinely underrated.

Summary: there is always more than you know

Our Baltic journey across 5 different countries was a rich experience in every sense. There was much to see and learn in untouched nature as well as vibrant cities. The soviet history is still present, but western influence is becoming stronger every day. The regional kitchen treated us with delicious specialities and rarities like reindeer, bear, moose and wild boar. We certainly only caught a fraction of what the region has to offer and there is much more to explore.

My special thanks goes to my travel buddy, we had a wonderful time together.