Want to really do something unique? Go to Russia. For those New Worlders coming, you are never going to have a better chance.St. Petersburg is a 5-hour bus ride away from Tallinn, and Moscow is a direct flight. It's a great country with amazing history. You just have to know ... it's Russia, which means you'll have some punches thrown your way in terms of your expectations on how society should work, and you'll have to bob and weave.
But if you go with your expectations set at an appropriate level, are canny, and have a sense of humor, it can be a fantastic time.
Scott went to the British Museum in London a couple months ago, and has been to both the Hermitage in St. Petersburg (several times) and the Kremlin museum. He thinks they both blow away the Brits.
The art galleries and the Czarist-era palaces are amazing in their own right.
The difficulty is that you will have to apply for a VISA. There are local tour operators in Tallinn that can help. What is needed is a Xeroxed copy of your passport, and you have to fill out a form. So if this is something that you would consider, it's something you can't wait on without all sorts of expensive fees.
Eesti keeles:
Julgematele külalistele Ameerikast soovitame minna Venemaad väisama. Viisa on muidugi kulukas, aga tõenäoliselt on see nii mitmelegi külalisele ainulaadne võimalus oma silmaga Ermitaaž ära näha näiteks.
