Hi Liz,

We are really eager to take this Baltics trip, as we have Russian roots. Alan is 100% Russian, I am half Russian, half Hungarian.

We are novices compared to so many others on this board who cruise extensively. We have cruised to Alaska, which is wonderful and you should definetly do that. We then cruised to the Med, with our VOF (Yoyager, October 4th) group of friends from LCT. We had a blast on this one. We had never been to Europe. Our cruise began in Venice. I must tell you that when our water taxi entered the Grand Canal, I stood in this boat in disbelief at what I was seeing. I couldn't believe we were in the midst of someplace so incredibly beautiful. Venice was more than I imagined it would be. I began to cry. Alan looked over at me and asked what was wrong. I told him I was crying out of the sheer joy of seeing this magnificent city for real - this was not on T.V. or in a book, or on a postcard! We had worked so hard to make this a reality, and here we were! This may sound silly, but this was my reaction.

Last year we cruised to the Greek Islands and Turkey, which was fascinating. This year, the Baltics. We are trying to take one substantial cruise and/or trip a year.

Next year we are doing a land tour of Budapest, Prague and Vienna.

You are right - So many places to explore and I want to take them all in NOW! Just need lots of money and time, both of which is scarce for us.

I hope you get to take all the trips you've been dreaming of. Nothing like making a dream a reality!