New York City, USA

I almost cancelled my trip to New York as I didn't really feel like coming here again...at the end I decided to come and spend just two days and meet up with friends and ex-colleagues. Now that I'm here, I'm really glad to be back in the Big Apple. Just amazing to see how New York has been transformed over the past 20 years since my first visit in 1986...its a significantly more colourful and clean city compared to 20 years ago. Even further improved since my last visit about 6 years ago. Stand aside Tokyo and Las Vegas, New York is now the place to see the creative neon lights. Gone is the old Camel Ad (which was the Times Square icon for eons) -- In are futuristic neon panels and pixel screens displaying ads and announcing the news as it happens. New York has indeed become a clean, safe, and spectacular city -- particular at night.

I've been to New York about ten times and it still remains a magic place to me. Visited Ground Zero and it was a very emotional experience to read the names of those murdered by the terrorists and to read the line of events as they unfolded on that fateful day of September 11, 2001. The area is still empty and no re-building has started yet. Seeing Ground Zero was a more emotional experience for me than being at the Berlin Wall, visiting Bucharest, or being inside the Kremlin.

Yesterday was sunny and very hot (95 F). Today will be another hot day and I'll spend walking through some of my favourite districts before heading for Toronto on Friday morning. Cant wait to be back in the Big TO to see how it progressed since my last visit.

Montreal, CANADA

Arrived safely in sunny and HOT Montreal (yesterday was 41 Celcius). Just in time for the International Comedy Festival, International Fireworks Competition, and also the World Swimming & Diving Championships. On Tuesday I will attend the diving in the morning and syncronised swimming in the afternoon.

As usual in summer in Montrèal, the city is packed with excitement and street entertainment.
Will leave Wednesday to New York and Friday to Toronto.

Helsinki, FINLAND

Arrived safely from Estonia by ferry. Its a beautiful sunny day in Helsinki and I am off now to explore the offshore islands.

TWO DAYS LATER
Well...its already Friday July 15th... I'm done with Helsinki for now and off to Frankfurt and then transfer to my 'other home town' of Montreal, Canada. For the first time in 65 days I will see faces which I have seen before...so I am really looking forward to meeting some friends in Montreal and have a few beers on St. Denis steet.

About Helsinki....as usual, I did a lot of walking....a lot...enjoyed a few of the nearby islands and the city. Nice city.....but personally, I prefer Oslo and Stockholm...and if I have to choose one...probably will be Stockholm. I must again say that I truly loved Norway...Bergen Fjords and up to the far north..Lofoten Islands were magical!!! Too bad I don't have enough time to explore the rest of Sweden and Finland...I must come back!

Will write from Montreal! Ta............Keep Walking Johnny!

Tallinn, ESTONIA

I survived the 15.5 hours train trip from Moscow to Tallinn, Estonia. At the Russian border (at 4-14am) I was questioned during 4 rounds of officials coming into my train compartment ....had to unpack my entire bag....then at Estonia border another 2 rounds. While I really enjoyed Moscow, I was happy to be done with that city. Tallinn is a lot more relaxed and I have not yet seen any police and feel real safe and free. Nice old town...real cheap...nice food...and lovely beaches within walking distance from my bed&breakfast. Another sunny day with not a cloud in the sky. Tomorrow off to Helsinki, Finland, by ferry.

Moscow, RUSSIA

UPDATED: Sunday July 10th, Moscow (See update below in Red)
After 8 hours on the train from St. Petersburg, I arrived safely in Moscow. Nice train and a very interesting ride under the White Night skies. As we drove past small villages, the heavy evening mist covered the valleys under the bright night skies. A very beautiful sight.

Did the Red Square and Kremlin this morning...and saw the famous St. Basil's Cathedral...and a lot of walking. The Moscow people did a rally this afternoon in support of their bid for the 2012 Olympic Games ...thousands of people with waving flags and banners congregated next to the Red Square. Police and the army are present everywhere but seems pretty harmless to me...nice "next door guys"...and not the fierce looking soldiers we would expect.

Will see Lenin's embalmed body tomorrow...and a lot of other interesting sites. Tonight at 19h00 I am seeing an Operetta at the Bolshoi Theatre. Till later

Sunday July 10th
Today is my last day in Moscow as I am leaving this evening on a 14 hour train journey to Tallinn, Estonia for 2 days...and then Helsinki, Finland for 2 days....and then across the waters to Montreal, Canada.
Couple of interesting impressions about Moscow:

1. Very very interesting subway (Metro) stations which are very old ...and the trains are just as old...but a very extensive network. Probably the longest escalators I have ever seen...or maybe some in St. Petersburg were longer. At the top and bottom of esculators are an attendant box...not sure why...probably to report bad beviour on the longggg ride...or to report people who fainted.
2. Crazy motor cyclists but those one-wheelers in St. P. take the cake!!
3. The zoo is pathetic...overcrowed with people and animals in small cages. Could be worse though.
4. Like St. Petersburg....many people are walking with a bottle of beer in the hand...and empty beer bottles can be seen on the streets in many places...guess hobos are not paid to return empty bottles
5. Police and security are everywhere...I guess 50% of the population is employed by either the army, police or some kind of security. I feel like I am being watched all the time...probably good so I'll stay safe. Nobody has yet checked my "papers"...which are the documents I always have to keep with me...like my passport, police registration papers, and my visa papers. Someone tried a scam with me yesterday by dropping a big roll of US dollars in front of me on the ground... I know the old trick and kept walking.
6.No real sign of poverty. People seem to live a very decent life. Lots of big black cars (Mercedes, BMW, etc) driving around the elite. There are some beggers but certainly a lot less than in places like New York and San Fran.
7. Lots of beautiful people!!!
8. About 5 HUGE buildings like the Empire State building scattered around this city of 10 million people
9. People dont seem to be as Cool and Relaxed as those in St. Petersburg. The latter also has a lot more local tourists (from Russia). FEW westerners!!
10. Seeing the dead body of Lenin was good....no better man than a DEAD Communist!
11. Lots to see in Moscow...which I truly enjoyed...did Gorky Park too.

Ok...I need to go and pack my stuff and get my train to Estonia. Cheers

St. Petersburg, RUSSIA

UPDATED JULY 3RD AT 10:24PM ST. PETERSBURG TIME (GMT +4)
UPDATED JULY 5TH AT 8:00PM ST. PETERSBURG TIME (GMT +4)

Safely in St. Petersburg, in the north western part of Russia. Now this is a cooooool town with coooool people!! I immediately felt very comfortable walking around the city. Its just a nice city with beautiful buildings and architecture and stylish, wacky, modern, funky and very very cooooool people!! Why did it take me so many years to visit St. Petersburg?? There is much to explore so I need to go. It is almost midnight and still very bright outside. No wonder the Russians refer to this as the White Nights. Will write more later before I leave to Moscow in 5 days.

Did a trip outside of St. Petersburg today (Saturday...July 2nd) -- to Petershof....remember Peter The Great....his castles. Really nice.

MONDAY JULY 3RD
Spent all of Saturday walking around and seeing a lot of interesting places and took tons of pics. On Saturday nite, I went to a nite club/disco at 1am...thats when things start to rock, and left at 3am...to still find a very red glow of the sun setting in the west. The club was great, with lots of young people dancing and having a great time.

Vodka and Caviar is still king here....and found in all levels of qualities and varieties and prices in super markets. Beer in big bottles are consumed on the streets by many...seems like every 10th person walking down the street has a bottle of beer in the hand. Have not seen any bad or agressive behaviour in public...people are just having a good time in the sun. Since I arrived 3 days ago I have not seen any clouds...its a sunny 27 degrees every day and about 18 hours of bright sun light.

Today, Sunday, walked miles and miles and visited some cathedrals, boat trip on the canals, etc. I am truly having a great time.

TUESDAY JULY 5TH: This is my last day in St. Petersburg. Tonight at 11pm I am taking the night train to Moscow and will arrive at 7am tomorrow morning. Will spend 5 days there before taking the night train to Estonia. Last night saw the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra and Choir in the big Concert Hall. Was gooood. Also today spent 4.5 hours in the Hermitage Museum...apparantly larger than the Louvre in Paris. Gotto go ...so will write from Moscow.