Inter-railing and stuff

[James]

I'd recommend Finland. I've been there in the summer and it is beautiful, especially Hanko on a clear and sunny day. Same with Tallinn, Estonia. Although I suppose the south of Europe is more enticing, and I guess you have to make a decision between the Baltic and the Mediterranean, and that's not exactly an even fight.

I don't know, I'd probably favour the Baltic myself, but I'm probably not very representative of holiday preferences. I'd be interested to see the Baltic states, anyway.

I'm not hugely well-travelled, so I can't offer much advice, but some friends and I enjoyed a week in Austria last year. We saw culture and mountains. And the world's biggest system of ice caves and an underground lake and a very old salt mine. I especially liked the ice caves.

But I'm sure everywhere else has plenty of great stuff I don't even know about.

[Salka]

Sounds great, thanks for the advice everyone. Tallinn was on my list already, it looks ridiculously sweet there. Hanko you say? I will check the shit out of that now.

Ice caves?? I need to know more about Ice Caves.

[Nappi]

I haven't been there yet, but I've heard that Tartu is really beautiful as well. And there is some sort of waterfall near Tallinn if you are interested in things like that.

[James]

Ice caves?? I need to know more about Ice Caves.

They are caves carved by the slow but irresistable flow of huge and ancient bodies of ice. As such they contain large quantities of ice, some of which is very old. This is what we went to. The well-lit photos are a bit misleading, though, as there isn't actually any permanent lighting inside. Instead every third person carries one of those old-fashioned little gas mining lantern things. Sadly mine was a bit buggered and produced barely any light at all, but it was all very atmospheric, and occasionally the guide would light a magnesium flare which would briefly illuminate surroundings much more clearly.

One interesting thing is that when they open the door to the caves there's a huge gust of wind caused entirely by the temperature differential between the inside and outside. What's even more interesting is that the temperature inside the caves is pretty much entirely static, so during the winter it gets colder outside than inside and the air flows as vigorously the other way. Science!

Things to consider: it's not open all year, so check ahead; there's a lot of steps, so be prepared for that; and it's obviously quite cold, so don't turn up wearing sandals like some bozo in our group did. It's not incredibly cold, mind. I got by without a hat or anything on my head, and the sandles man's toes didn't fall off there and then.

If you can fit it into your schedule, I recommend it.

Edited January 12, 2011 by JamesM

[toblix]

What's a sandle?

[ThunderPeel2001]

Sounds great, thanks for the advice everyone. Tallinn was on my list already, it looks ridiculously sweet there. Hanko you say? I will check the shit out of that now.

Ice caves?? I need to know more about Ice Caves.

Hey! Have you been to McDonalds in London? We have one of those here. In London. Sure, it's not an Ice Cave, but they have some really average burgers.

[pabosher]

Hey! Have you been to McDonalds in London? We have one of those here. In London. Sure, it's not an Ice Cave, but they have some really average burgers.

The one near Leicester Square?!?! I have!

[James]

What's a sandle?

A HUMILIATING TYPOGRAPHICAL/SPELLOGRAPHICAL ERROR.

[Armchair General]

Whatever. It's good to see that James is alive. Hello James.

[Erkki]

This is the first time I heard the word inter-railing. No surprise, on their map we don't even exist: http://www.interrailnet.com/countries

But if you do come to Tallinn I may be able to offer a couch. The old city here is pretty cool, not sure what else to see nearby, we have some sweet bogs I guess (where murderers are denied entry so you know you will be safe).