Scandinavia and Russia

This trip has been the most challenging of our big adventures to plan...most expensive part of Europe; long distances between sites; trains, boats and planes for transport; a venture into Russia and the need for a visa...it was all we could do not to give up mid-stream. And then, once we thought we had it all down, an email arrived cancelling our 18 hour ferry from Norway to Denmark. And if you think it's easy to get from Bergen, Norway to Hirtshals, Denmark via other transport, it's not. So back to the drawing board to re-book the same ferry for the next day and that meant changing accommodations too. Add increased tensions in Russia and the closing of the American consulate in St. Petersburg, and this trip is shaping up to be pretty challenging before we have even left the ground. But time marches on, and with it, the possibility of not being able to tackle this adventure ever if we don't do it now while we are still able. So, i's a go!

Based on the really cheap fares we snagged from Boston to Oslo and a return from St. Petersburg, Russia, we're praying that neither part of this round trip excursion involves arm flapping to get us over to the fjords of Norway and back from Mother Russia.  If so, we're screwed.  Stay tuned!Read more