F E L I N E R S

As I sat reading my emails today I realize that if I don't post something up on the blog now, chances are I probably won't until next year as I've got quite a schedule ahead of me - we're going to land in Sydney early next week and go home to an absolutely empty house. Besides fridge-hunting there are presents to buy and wrap, loungers to move, maybe even Christmas recipes to be 'perfected'.

So I feel obligated to post something, anything, to make up for the absense of entries before and the weeks to come. Here's a sneak preview of my recent travels in the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania and last but definitely not least, Latvia.

Prague's icon, the Charles Bridge. Prague's streets are choked with tourist, even in winter but who cares? The city will charm you through and through. I'll go as far as saying, "You want romance? Forget Paris, go to Prague!"

Strolling on Charles Bridge is best left until after nightfall. If you're going at it solo, my tip is to put on your Ipod and drown out everything else. I swear the dopamine rush is better than sex. I had to stop myself from going back and forth the entire night!

Older than old tombstones in Jewish cemetery in Josehov, Prague's Jewish district.

Krakow main square, early morning. When it comes to Poland, I've made up my mind that I love Krakow as much as I hate Warsaw. While Krakow is smallish and packed with beautiful buildings and streets dating back to medieval times, Warsaw boasts huge boulevards, ugly Soviet-era buildings and more cars than I can handle. Warsaw was grazed to the ground during the war.

Krakow's centrepiece, Wawel Castle and Cathedral on Wawel Hill.

Railroad at infamous Nazi death camp Oswiecim, or more well-known by its German name, Auschwitz.

Coating of fresh snow in a courtyard in Vilnius old-town. Vilnius, the super-hip capital of Lithuania provides ample opportunity for wandering around. It has plenty of nooks, corners and courtyards to lose yourself in.

Lock on bridge to Uzupis. Newlyweds symbolize their commitment to each other by attaching a lock to the railing of the bridge and throwing the key into the river.

Uzupis is where the cheeky streak of rebellion pervading Lithuania flourishes, it is Vilnius' bohemian heart - artists, dreamers, drunks and squatters declared a breakaway state and the Uzupis Republic was officially, in an official sense, born in 1998. The 'state' has its own president, anthem, flags and a constitution! Yes, a constitution which among other things, gives inhabitants the right to hot water, heating in winter and a tiled roof; the right to be unique, to love, to be happy (or unhappy) and to be a dog.

Footbridge, Trakai.

Centrepiece of Trakai, the picture-postcard Island Castle on Galve Lake.

Clouds just wanna have fun. Trakai.

Hill of Crosses. Siauliai, Lithuania.

Art-nouveau, Riga.

Peter frolicking on the beach. Liepaja, Latvia.

Christmas market in Doma laukums, Riga.

Sigulda, Latvia.

Ziemsvetkus (Merry Christmas in Latvian) everyone!