Kirkkonummi, Finland – For the first time, we celebrated the summer solstice, aka Midsummer in Finland. To our credit, this holiday in Finland looks very similar to the Midsummer feast we have when we’re home. Hyvää Juhannusta!
Hanko Front Museum
Hanko, Finland – We stopped at the Hanko Front Museum for a history lesson. The Hanko peninsula was the focus of the Continuation War between USSR and Finland in 1941-44. The museum is an excellent introduction to the conflict. Would-be…
Vanha Porvoo
Porvoo, Finland – Old Town in delightful Porvoo, aka Vanha Porvoo. The Finnish national poet, Johan Runeberg, is from Porvoo. Signs all over town commemorate this fact, including this one.
Riding the Lev Tolstoy
Helsinki, Finland – And… we’re in Finland! We journeyed from Moscow to Helsinki riding the Lev Tolstoy, a repeat of the overnight train journey we did three years ago. Our compartment was cozy. The twins stayed up late reading. They…
Kids in Moscow
Moscow, Russia – While in Moscow, we have had a wonderful babysitter who has taken the twins on adventures all over the city. Sometimes I wonder if those kids haven’t seen more of the city than I have on this…
Kids’ Books About Russia
Moscow, Russia — Reading enhances travel, that’s no secret. Personally, I love to read novels that are set in the place I am traveling. Russia is good for that, as the national literature is among the world’s richest. And yet,…
Moscow Kremlin & Armory
Moscow, Russia – Daddio has been waiting a long time to take the twins to the Armory in the Moscow Kremlin. Seven years, to be exact. So here we finally are, on a fabulous sunny day in June, introducing the…
Lenin’s Mausoleum
Moscow, Russia – So we know the twins are into mummies, but they have never seen a real one. Until now. On this day in history, the twins saw the real and true mummified remains of the founder of the Soviet…
Moscow Madness
Moscow, Russia – Back in the day, the Soviet state awarded the title of “Mother-Hero” to any mum with 10 children or more. My criteria may not be as difficult, but I think Daddio deserves the title of “Father-Hero”. After being…
Ultimate Travel
Somerville, Mass – For those of you who like to make lists and check them twice, here’s a handy reference: Lonely Planet’s list of the 500 best places to see. In the world. And they are ranked. When you get this…