travel
THIS
MONTH’S
PICKS…
uk/hello campers
Palace,
Peterhof Summer
St. Petersburg
Gdansk shipyard
cathedral, the presidential palace and the Gulf of Finland, that I fi nally laid those mental
orthodox church. My British guide, Leslie, pictures to rest. The palace, however, was just
was full of quirky stories about the Finns and the start of a three-day St Petersburg
their ambivalent relationship to the Swedes extravaganza, taking in the city’s birthday
– an occupying power for several hundred celebrations, the usually splendid buildings
years – making me feel a tad guilty about my decked out for the occasion. With such
own Swedish roots... Feeling brave, I struck opulence on constant display it’s no wonder Sales of campervans have risen by 250% over the
out on my own, anticipating those wicked there was a revolution back in 1917. The past recession-affl icted year, and we can see why.
Finns giving me a right earful should I dare Soviets, remarkably, kept the Tsarist palaces Not only does this gorgeous updated version of
‘come out’ as a Swede. I wandered off and and ornate orthodox churches intact and the 70s VW camper look good, but it provides
tucked into, erm, a yummy reindeer paella in these days they are beautifully restored to both transport and accommodation on your
the harbour. their former glory, bringing in visitors from holidays.
That same evening we set sail, at least near and far. By the end of day one, my For more information
metaphorically, towards the jewel in the Russian vocab had increased enormously visit
www.danburymotorcaravans.com
crown and the highlight of the voyage – St thanks to copious amounts of vodka
Petersburg, former capital of Tsarist Russia. I sampled in the offi cial souvenir shop – I was uk/beach board
confess I had no idea what to expect. Several beginning to feel right at home, hic!
people had raved about this city, but the back Nevertheless, I still had to move on a few
of my mind clung on to numerous days later. Russia isn’t necessarily well-known
grotesque images of Soviet greys. It wasn’t for its gay-friendly attitude, but even there,
until I set foot in the grounds of the gorgeous things are changing, perhaps largely due the
Peterhof Summer Palace, overlooking the church having a less than prominent role
after years of communist rule. This, sadly, is
useful websites
not the case in Poland, the least gay-friendly
of the countries I visited. After three days of
90
wonderful sunny weather, the grim, grey,
13-day Baltic Discovery Cruise and Walk with bleak and rainy docks of Gdynia came as a
Ramblers Worldwide Holidays leads in at £1375 bit of a shock to the system. Where had I
per person, including Fred. Olsen Cruise, most ended up after the splendours just
meals and the services of a tour leader. witnessed in Russia? From Gdynia a coach
whisked me off to the famous shipyard of
Ramblers Worldwide Holidays Gdansk, home of Lech Walesa’s Solidarity
www.ramblersholidays.co.uk 01707 331133 movement with its monument to the
Tourist boards: strikers who changed the history of Poland.
www.visitdenmark.com In the driving rain, this grey slab wasn’t the
www.visitsweden.com most inspiring of sights despite its historical
www.visitfinland.com signifi cance. Luckily Gdansk itself, lovingly
www.visitrussia.com restored after WWII’s bombings, was an The best place to crash after a day by the seaside
www.poland.travel unexpected treasure and the rain took a and a night in the clubs. Located in the heart of
Gay and lesbian websites: break as well. Back on board ship, now fi rmly Brighton, The Amsterdam Hotel offers a selection
www.copenhagen-gay-life.dk/ on the home run, I refl ected that this kind of of rooms to suit all budgets, all decked out in cool
www.stockholmtown.com/gay cruising really wasn’t too bad, but still, getting contemporary style.
www.torgetbaren.com back home for some real bar cruising For more information
www.finnguide.fi/finlandbars/nightlife wouldn’t suck either! visit
www.amsterdam.uk.com
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