| Introduction to Baltic & Berlin Trip |
| 30 August to 12 September 2006 |
In the late afternoon of 30 August 2006 Virginia and I flew from New York on an overnight
Finnair flight to Helsinki, Finland. Our trip continued as shown on the map below:
Helsinki by air to Vilnius, Lithuania
From Vilnius by bus to Riga, Latvia
From Riga by bus to Tallinn, Estonia
From Tallinn by ferry to Helsinki, Finland
From Helsinki by air to Berlin, Germany
From Berlin by air back to Helsinki
From Helsinki we returned by air to New York
Finnair flight to Helsinki, Finland. Our trip continued as shown on the map below:
Helsinki by air to Vilnius, Lithuania
From Vilnius by bus to Riga, Latvia
From Riga by bus to Tallinn, Estonia
From Tallinn by ferry to Helsinki, Finland
From Helsinki by air to Berlin, Germany
From Berlin by air back to Helsinki
From Helsinki we returned by air to New York
Introduction to Lithuania (and Latvia and Estonia): Lithuania is a small country roughly
180 miles (300km) from east to west, and about 120 miles (200km) from north to south. The
population is about 3.5 million. Latvia and Estonia, which we visited after Lithuania, are
similar in size and share similar histories. These three small countries have had their ups and
downs during past centuries. The "downs" are due mainly to being conquered repeatedly by
several large and generally powerful neighbors: Russia, Sweden, Germany, and Poland. In
recent times the three Baltic countries were part of Russia until about the end of World
War I in 1918; then became independent countries until 1939 when they were invaded by the
Soviet Union; in 1941 the Baltic states were invaded by Germany in 1941 and occupied until
1944 when they were "liberated" by the Soviet Union and re-occupied by that country;
when the Soviet Union collapsed about 1990 the three Baltic states respectively declared
their independence and managed to get the last Soviet troops out 1993.
180 miles (300km) from east to west, and about 120 miles (200km) from north to south. The
population is about 3.5 million. Latvia and Estonia, which we visited after Lithuania, are
similar in size and share similar histories. These three small countries have had their ups and
downs during past centuries. The "downs" are due mainly to being conquered repeatedly by
several large and generally powerful neighbors: Russia, Sweden, Germany, and Poland. In
recent times the three Baltic countries were part of Russia until about the end of World
War I in 1918; then became independent countries until 1939 when they were invaded by the
Soviet Union; in 1941 the Baltic states were invaded by Germany in 1941 and occupied until
1944 when they were "liberated" by the Soviet Union and re-occupied by that country;
when the Soviet Union collapsed about 1990 the three Baltic states respectively declared
their independence and managed to get the last Soviet troops out 1993.
Introduction to Helsinki, Finland: Helsinki is the capital of Finland, which won its
independence from Russia about 1920 at the end of World War I and managed to remain
independent continuously until now, despite repeated Soviet attempts to reconquer the
country. We stayed in Helsinki very briefly, mainly to make flight transfers.
independence from Russia about 1920 at the end of World War I and managed to remain
independent continuously until now, despite repeated Soviet attempts to reconquer the
country. We stayed in Helsinki very briefly, mainly to make flight transfers.
Introduction to Berlin, Germany: Berlin traditionally has been the capital and largest city
in Germany. In 1945, at the end of World War II, the western zone of Germany was
occupied by the United States, Britain and France; that area became "West Germany" or
the "German Federal Republic". The eastern zone of Germany was occupied by the Soviet
Union and became "East Germany" or the "German Democratic Republic". That situation
lasted until about 1989.
Although Berlin was surounded by East Germany that important city had a special status.
Berlin was divided into two parts: the "Western Sector" under the control of the U.S.,
Britain and France, the eastern part of Berlin became the "Eastern Sector" controlled by
the Soviet Union.
Following the 1989 collapse of communism in the Soviet Union Germany was reunited and
Berlin again became the capital of the reunited country.
in Germany. In 1945, at the end of World War II, the western zone of Germany was
occupied by the United States, Britain and France; that area became "West Germany" or
the "German Federal Republic". The eastern zone of Germany was occupied by the Soviet
Union and became "East Germany" or the "German Democratic Republic". That situation
lasted until about 1989.
Although Berlin was surounded by East Germany that important city had a special status.
Berlin was divided into two parts: the "Western Sector" under the control of the U.S.,
Britain and France, the eastern part of Berlin became the "Eastern Sector" controlled by
the Soviet Union.
Following the 1989 collapse of communism in the Soviet Union Germany was reunited and
Berlin again became the capital of the reunited country.