Kerry's Eastern Europe Travel Blog

For expats, Moscow tops the list of most expensive cities for the third year in a row. What does this mean for travelers to Moscow? While it is easy to spend a lot of money in Mosow, it is almost as easy to be a budget traveler. If you don't mind taking the Moscow subway, staying outside of the city center will save you hundreds of dollars a night on accomodations - the subway will take you anywhere in the city quickly and cheaply. Buy snacks and food on-the-go instead of eating at restaurants, and when you do, dine well away from the most touristed areas. Sights in Moscow remain affordable, and souvenirs can be had for reasonable prices if you know where to shop.

One highlight of Gdansk is St. Mary's Church. With a light and spacious interior exhibiting various religious artifacts (including a working medieval astronomical clock), and a tower that offers viewers incredible views of the city, St. Mary's Church is a Gdansk must-see. This church is the largest brick church in the world and has been carefully restored after damage from WWII. It dominates the city with its size and majesty and remains a commanding reminder of Gdansk's history.

If you keep yourself updated on Russian news, you may be aware that its leaders are restricting freedoms rather than expanding them. One recent example of this is the shutting down of the eXile, an expat newspaper that is described as "irreverent" and "seeking to offend." An audit of the newspaper was conducted for minor code violations, but the newspaper's editors are certain that the reason behind the audit was couched in politics.

Tensions between the UK and Russia have increased, as have U.S.-Russia differences over perspectives about Iran's nuclear goals. While none of these events have immediate consequences for visitors to Russia, it is always wise to keep abreast of any political situation in a destination country prior to travel there.

If you're a fan of architecture or folk art, you are bound to appreciate Eastern Europe's traditional wooden architecture. These secular and religious buildings appear to be straight out of fairy tales, but they're actually significant reminders of Eastern Europe's architectural developement, the folk beliefs of its peoples, and the innovation of its builders. The following are examples of where you can see wooden architecture in Eastern Europe:

• Kizhi Island, Russia
• Tomsk, Russia and other Siberian cities
• Bucovina Region of Romania
• Southern Ukraine

For photos of beautiful abandoned wooden houses in Russia, visit this gallery from Russianfun.net.

Church of the Transfiguration on Kizhi Island Photo Credit: Yarik Mission © 2006

It's cherry season. In Eastern Europe, families may go to pick cherries and other in-season fruits in order to make delicious dishes or to churn out and stock up on canned fruits and jams for the rest of the year. For those families who maintain dachas, summer means harvest and preservation of homegrown produce. Even if you don't have your own orchard, or access to one, you can still carry on this summer tradition by making delicous Eastern European recipes that showcase summer fruits. This step-by-step guide on how to make Bulgarian cherry strudel will get you started.

Come January 1, 2009, Slovakia will officially adopt the euro. Slovakia is hoping that the change will boost its economy, and travelers will find the currency easy to use and easy to convert.

If you're in Gdansk, there are certain sights you absolutely must see while you're there. These sights are located within walking distance of each other and can be seen in one day, if you're inclined to rush through them. However, it's likely that you'll be distracted by souvenir shopping, pastry shops, and museums along the way.

Gdansk Must-See Sights

If you've got a hankering for Russian art, but can't find the means to travel to Russia anytime soon, the Russian Art Museum in Minneapolis is a museum dedicated to Russian fine art. Major exhibitions frequently feature Russian Realist and Russian Impressionist art, but the museum is currently exhibiting the color photographs of Prokudin-Gorskii, who traveled the Russian Empire during the reign of Nicholas II to capture images of the people and places that existed in the farthest reaches of the realm.

If you're planning a trip to Siberia this summer, you may want to plan to be in Novosibirsk on August 1, 2008. There, you'll be able to see a rare solar eclipse - and the city is making preparations to welcome international visitors for the event. Book your hotel early!

• Russia Travel Basics
• Train Travel Russia
• Russia Culture 101 in Photos

Pew Research published an article describing countries whose citizens harbor favorable opinions of Americans, as well as how the percentages have fluctuated among the populations in countries to which Americans are most likely to travel. No Eastern European country was on the top 10 list of travel destinations for Americans, but the article did make clear that Polish citizens view Americans favorably, as do Russians, though by a smaller margin.

• Plan Your Trip to Poland Step By Step
• Russia Travel Basics