Europe - Eastern Europe & the Caucasus
Messages: 53,627 - Threads: 9,198
May 17, 2013 4:43 PM
zauberberg
last reply
May 22, 2013 1:36 AM
zauberberg
4 replies
174 views
location:
Turkey
Ramazan
I understand Ramazan starts this year on 9 July. Are opening times to sites, museums etc. restricted
during this period or is it business as usual? What about consulates? We have to apply for our visas
at the Uzbekistan Consulate in Istanbul. Thank you for any advice...
May 17, 2013 1:20 PM
aki2006
last reply
May 21, 2013 3:31 PM
GuidesCamp
4 replies
144 views
location:
Georgia
Krubera Cave
Hi everyone,
does anyone know if it is possible to visit the Krubera Cave (deepest known cave in the world) in Abkhazia / Georgia if you are NOT an elite speleologist but just a reasonably fit tourist?
Any information regarding feasibility of a visit or about guides who could take me there is greatly appreciated.
May 17, 2013 12:05 PM
SDahlinger
last reply
May 19, 2013 3:32 AM
maenad
8 replies
211 views
En route from Istanbul to Budapest
Hey all,
I will be traveling the Black Sea with a friend until June 30th, ending in Istanbul. I'll be traveling solo for the following 11 days until starting an art residency program in Budapest on July 11th. I decided not to buy any extra plane tickets and will likely be traveling via bus/train/boat to get from Istanbul to Budapest.
Any recommendations for a few must see sites along the way? I've been looking at Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Greece, Czech Republic, or Croatia as possible destinations.
Background info: 25 year old art grad student with traveling experience to W. Europe (2x) and Turkey (3x), First time traveling solo. Cheap accommodations/destinations preferred.
Thanks guys! I'd really appreciate any feedback!
Cheers,
Sarah
May 17, 2013 10:32 AM
mananath
last reply
May 22, 2013 10:36 AM
South_of_60
2 replies
105 views
location:
Ukraine
early morning flight from Kiev
Hello --
Early next month I have an early morning (06:40) international flight from Kiev. What are my options for getting to the airport? Is a taxi the only way? Am I able to flag taxis down on the street? or do I need to book one in advance?
thanks
Michael
May 17, 2013 9:51 AM
renko
last reply
May 24, 2013 4:30 AM
Black_Garden
1 replies
81 views
location:
Armenia
Road from Karabakh to Lake Sevan
Dear Community
I am planning to cycle around Armenia this summer. On my map there is a second road connecting Karabakh to "Mother Armenia"; from the north of NK across to Lake Sevan.
Could anybody offer any information as to whether it is likely to be able to get through? It would be a pain to have to bike from the north of NK all the way back to Stepanakert and westwards to Armenia again.
Many thanks in advance for any concrete advice.
May 17, 2013 9:09 AM
babyintow
last reply
May 22, 2013 11:23 AM
babyintow
3 replies
138 views
location:
Turkey
Saklıkent Gorge
We're visiting in late June and wondered about the water level and if we need a guide's help to walk the gorge? Normally we prefer to explore on our own. My husband and I are fit and brave about cold water, but we will have our 9-year-old child. Thoughts? Also, before Saklıkent we will be driving from Pamukkale via Fethiye to Kabak. Is it better to drive via Çavdır or Gölhisar? The road splits and we wondered if it makes a difference in time or curves or scenery to stay on the highway or not?
May 17, 2013 8:28 AM
h23032
last reply
May 17, 2013 8:28 AM
h23032
0 replies
36 views
location:
Russia
Novodivirchy Convent
Has anyone visited Novodevirchy recently? Is Smolensk Cathedral open? I have tried to visit this building roughly once a year for the last ten years, but it seems to be under more or less permanent restoration.
Heatwave in the Baltics
Its been about 25-30 degrees every day for the last week in Tallinn Riga and Kaliningrad!
Is this normal or is it a heatwave?
PS- Tallinn old town is much better than Riga old town!
May 17, 2013 8:00 AM
papadon
last reply
May 18, 2013 2:38 AM
WILLEMSPIE
2 replies
164 views
location:
Croatia
accomodations: book in advance or play room roulette
First time in Croatia. Single older male. I have been using pre-booking for hotel rooms in Turkey and Greece for the past four months.
On-line rooms are pretty pricey in Dubrovnik and Split in June. Am I better off just showing up on the bus and seeing what the tourist bureau has to offer. I understand the risks (I do NOT want to carry my luggage more than 300 meters) and I will pay for flexibility but I don't want to be shut out or have to pay 50 euros a night because I didn't book in advance.
Recommendations?
May 17, 2013 6:35 AM
Circumnavigators
last reply
May 19, 2013 3:46 AM
maenad
4 replies
174 views
location:
Romania
Bus from Istanbul to Bucharest
Hi everyone
We're planning the final leg of our RTW surface travels and need to get from Istanbul to Bucharest. We won't fly, as the whole point of our trip is to travel surface. We've looked into getting a train between these two cities, but at the moment there is a bus replacement on the Turkish side of the border, which kind of negates the point of the train, so we are thinking about getting a bus. We've done the usual google search, but haven't been able to find out much. Has anyone done this bus journey? The key things we would like to find out are:
Which companies do this route?
When do the buses leave?
Where do they leave from? Is it the main Otogar?
How long do they take?
Is it possible to book tickets in advance? How?
How much does it cost?
Any help or information would be much appreciated.
May 17, 2013 6:34 AM
Circumnavigators
last reply
May 17, 2013 11:17 AM
sarikanarya
3 replies
153 views
location:
Turkey
Bus from Istanbul to Bucharest
Hi everyone
We're planning the final leg of our RTW surface travels and need to get from Istanbul to Bucharest. We won't fly, as the whole point of our trip is to travel surface. We've looked into getting a train between these two cities, but at the moment there is a bus replacement on the Turkish side of the border, which kind of negates the point of the train, so we are thinking about getting a bus. We've done the usual google search, but haven't been able to find out much. Has anyone done this bus journey? The key things we would like to find out are:
Which companies do this route?
When do the buses leave?
Where do they leave from? Is it the main Otogar?
How long do they take?
Is it possible to book tickets in advance? How?
How much does it cost?
Any help or information would be much appreciated.
Croatia first time visit
I am looking for suggestions for an itinerary for a trip to Croatia. I would be spending one week with my boyfriend and then one week on my own. So far I have only thought about flying into Zagreb and out of Dubrovnik or vice versa.
If anyone has any suggestions of an itinerary or places to visit I would be very grateful. I am a well travelled person but just not around Europe so roughing it and long journeys arent an issue. I would be looking to see/ experience a variety of things with no particular focus or 'must sees'.
Any help would be greatly recieved.
Thanks
May 17, 2013 4:14 AM
baczarz
last reply
May 23, 2013 6:53 AM
baczarz
7 replies
190 views
location:
Czech Republic
Czech towns
Hi CR lovers!
I'm thinking of passing through Czech Republic while going to Slovakian mountains by car this summer. I want to stay overnight in some towns and some others just stroll around. Here comes my question: which ones would you recommend for an overnight stay and which just for a short visit? I'll be a bit pressed for time. The towns I wanna see are: Jicin, Kutna Hora, Litomysl, Olomouc, Novy Jicin. Any other places you'd strongly recommend around this route or any hidden germs? I don't have any particular interests, just to enjoy the beauty of the places while having a good beer!
Thanks a lot for any tips
Marcin
May 17, 2013 12:57 AM
rbakels
last reply
May 17, 2013 1:12 PM
ig0r
3 replies
169 views
location:
Turkey
From Akhaltsikhe (Georgia) to Kars (Turkey)
I am planning to travel from Yerevan (Armenia) to Kars in Turkey via Akhaltsike, which seems the only reasonably feasible route if you do not want to return all the way to Tbilisi. I planned an overnight stop in Akhaltsike in order to be flexible. My question is whethere there is a bus connection between Akhaltsike and Kars (where I planned another overnight stay). It is just 120 km as the crow flies, but the Eastern Anatolia chapter from the latest Turkey Lonely Planet gives me the impression that there may be problems (page 542).
Any experience? Please help!
Akhaltsikhe to Kars (Turkey)
I am planning to travel from Yerevan (Armenia) to Kars in Turkey via Akhaltsike, which seems the only reasonably feasible route if you do not want to return all the way to Tbilisi. I planned an overnight stop in Akhaltsike in order to be flexible. My question is whethere there is a bus connection between Akhaltsike and Kars (where I planned another overnight stay). It is just 120 km as the crow flies, but the Eastern Anatolia chapter from the latest Turkey Lonely Planet gives me the impression that there may be problems (page 542).
Any experience? Please help!
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