48 posts

Vera Smirnova

California, USA Website

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Red Fortress Above the Tauber River That’s what the name of this town means. And indeed, the red roofs of this picturesque little town sit atop a hill like a colorful hat, encircled by a sturdy, lace-like wall stretching 4 kilometers, dating all the way back to the 13th
⸱ 5 minutes read

Bamberg

Beautiful Bavarian town has a lot to offer
⸱ 4 minutes read

Bolgar: a unique place in the heart of Russia

Bulgar (also written as Bulgary or Bolgar, and do not mix it with Bulgaria in Eastern Europe) is a small town on the left bank of the Volga river, about 120 km south of Kazan, in the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia. It is home to a historical archeological site,
⸱ 5 minutes read

Karelia and Lake Ladoga

Ladoga is the biggest freshwater lake in Europe. It lies just northwest of Saint Petersburg, covering more than 100 square miles. This deep glacier-created Northern lake is no joke when it comes to the storms in a rapidly changing weather year round. And yet, people have been sailing its waters
⸱ 7 minutes read

Italian adventures: road trip

One chilly January morning Tanya, Sveta and I and I were sitting at Sveta's house, sipping coffee and staring at an old globe. After  years of somewhat quiet family life, having raised nine children between the three of us, we had decided to have a girls’ night out.
⸱ 5 minutes read

Tulum: ancient Mayan ruins

I’ll break my habit of starting from the brief history overview, and start instead from what happened on my latest trip to the Yucatan. I went to explore the Tulum archeological site, only knowing that I was going to see the largest Mayan ruins that are situated almost on
⸱ 6 minutes read

11 Best Foods To Try In Mérida, Yucatan

What to eat in Mérida, Yucatan? You might face a tough choice between good and good. Or better and better. In other words, the restaurant world in Mérida is rich, diverse and may easily compete with any European high-end cuisine. Forget about Tex Mex, you are not in the US!
⸱ 6 minutes read

Cozumel: a small island with a big history.

Caribbean vacations in Mexico usually start in Cancun.  This coastal town sometimes called “Party city” because of its extensive nightlife  is a well-known gateway to Riviera Maya.  No wonder: it is the biggest tourist hub for those arriving to Yucatan's sandy beaches. Direct flights from almost all major
⸱ 6 minutes read

A day in Copenhagen

When I was planning my trip from San Francisco to Prague, as the case often is, the most direct flight was also the most expensive. As such, I used my strategy for ticket hunting [https://voyage-vignettes.com/airplane-travel-tips-and-tricks/] and ended up staying in Copenhagen for one and a half days.
⸱ 8 minutes read
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