Baltic but far from cold in Eastern Europe

I'm always keen to explore new destinations and a recent two week trip to the Baltic states didn't disappoint. Medieval cities, lush countryside, hearty cuisine and fascinating history were just some of the factors contributing to a memorable holiday.

A flower market and section of city wall in the historic centre of Tallinn, Estonia.

With flight times of around 2.5-3 hours, this area of north eastern Europe is a stone's throw away in aeronautical terms. An impressive transport network meant transition to/from the airport, around city centres and nearby countryside was straightforward and painless.

We enjoyed a capitals tour, starting in Vilnius (Lithuania) then onto Riga (Latvia) and Tallinn (Estonia), with a quick hop by ferry to Helsinki (Finland) where we finished.

All four countries have adopted the Euro (Lithuania most recently in 2015), which added to the ease of passage between nations. In line with spending habits in the UK - and indeed the rest of the world - card and 'tapping' was the preferred payment method. New to using this technology away from homer, for the first time I took a pre-loaded travel debit card with me and found it an invaluable tool, my hard cash almost dormant.

As with many of my overseas jaunts, I like to go somewhere I know little about and educate myself in the process. I had little knowledge of the history of occupation endured by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, for example. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939 is heavily cited in the historical museums of all three countries and with good reason.

A secret protocol between the Soviet Union and Germany, the agreement divided Europe into spheres of influence between the two super power nations of the time. From 1940 until 1994 the Baltics were occupied by the Soviets, the Nazis and then the Soviets again. Thousands of nationals were displaced, many sent to the Soviet's notorious gulag hard labour camps, where many perished due to the harsh conditions. Thousands more resident Jews were murdered during Nazi occupation.

As relatively new independent countries who had overcome tyranny, it was no surprise to see visible support for their neighbouring country Ukraine with many blue and yellow flags on display.

Keeping appetites content proved no problem. Hearty stodge was a regular offering with emphasis of potato, pickeld vegetables, stews, sausages, smoked fish and black bread. Simple but tasty provisions. I was also pleasantly surprised by the high standard of coffee, with taste and barista craftmanship equallying anything I've experienced in Mediterranean Europe, often complemented by an equally satisfying slab of cake.

Venturing out of the urban sprawls, a short train ride from Vilnius to the island castle of Trakai proved a pleasant half day outing, the setting and walk along Lake Galve particularly memorable. A trip to Jurmala beach from Riga cleared the mind, with an easy stroll along the blustery seafront before tickling our tastebuds with cream-filled vecriga pastry - a local delicacy.

A change to two-wheeled transport to visit the historical Kadriorg Park in Tallinn, once graced by Catherine I of Russia, and to circumnavigate the islands along the Seurasaarenselka Waterfront Trail in Helsinki was a rewarding and calorie-burning experience.

Altogether an excellent couple of weeks in an area of Europe I now know a little more about, and one day hope to be re-acquainted with.

@NatGeoTravel @Lithuania @TravelLithuania @TravelLTU @UKinLatvia @LatviaTravel @LTUAmbassador @visitestonia @EstoniaEurope @finland @thisisfinland @VisitHelsinki @tallinnofficial @Visit_Riga @VisitRiga @HMAVilnius