Latvia 1962, 2015

SSSR-62 - At that time Poland and the Soviet Union Date of travel: June 19 - July 10, 1962 ITINERARY: This trip was done mostly by train but had also two flights. It started on railway station in Prague (Czechoslovakia) on June 19 and continued to POLAND with 1.5 day stop in Warsaw. Before noon of June 21 we continued by train to the border of that time Soviet Union specifically to its BELARUS (stop in Grodno). We continuing to LITHUANIA, where by night June 21 and stayed until June 24 (visiting its capital Vilnius and Trakay), by train to RUSSIA for June 25 and 26 (seeing Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, and some of its surroundings). From here by train to ESTONIA for June 27 through June 29 (sightseeing its capital Tallinn). Back by train to RUSSIA for June 30 to July 2 (to continue sightseeing of Leningrad with Hermitage, Katarina Palace and Peter’s Hoff). Night flight to LATVIA where from July 3 to 4 (its capital Riga and its surroundings). Early morning flight back to RUSSIA (this time the capital of Soviet Union and Russia, Moscow, with sightseeing of Kremlin and other historical places and museums), where July 5 through July 7. In the morning on July 8 departing Moscow on a train through Ukraine and its part Ruthenia (which used to be a part of Czechoslovakia between WWI and WWII) and Slovakia the time of this trip part of Czechoslovakia, coming to Prague (Czechoslovakia) in the morning July 10. Travel office: Cedok (that time the only travel office in Czechoslovakia) Who took part: About 30 Czech tourists, our Czech leader Prokop H., our Russian leader Svetlana A. and local guides in various visited places. --------------------------------------------------------------- POB-15 - Baltic States trip Date of travel: Aug 13 - Aug 23, 2015 ITINERARY: On Aug 13 flight from Prague, Czech Republic via Kiev to Vilnius, LITHUANIA where joining a group of travelers and staying until Aug 16 (sightseeing Lithuania capital Vilnius, its old capital Trakai and the Hill of Crosses, a place blessed by John Paul II.). Then by bus to LATVIA where from Aug 16 through Aug 19 (visiting Rundale Palace in the southern part of the country and Latvia capital Riga on the Baltic Sea). The last bus drive was to ESTONIA where from Aug 19 to Aug 21 (seeing the Baltic Sea spa Parnu and the country capital Tallinn on the northern coat). On Aug 21 a flight from Tallinn via Riga to Berlin, GERMANY. Here until Aug 23 having two sightseeing tours of the German capital. One of what used to be West Berlin and the second of what used to be East Berlin. On Aug 23 I left the group and took a train from Berlin back to Prague. Travel office: smarTours (one of the USA travel offices) Who took part: total of 8 travellers (7 from USA, 1 from Canada), in Baltic States Lithuanian leader from smarTours and local guides in Riga and Tallinn and a German guide in Berlin.