Bulgaria

Been about a week since my last post and I can not believe how much we have done.

Left Athens with an awesome plan to get the night trains which connected perfectly and head up to Sofia, Bulgarias capital. We spend half a day sitting in a cafe waiting for our first train but gave us an opportunity to decide on plans for Bulgaria when we got there.

Boarded our first train headed for Thessonaliki in the early afternoon. Carriage was more like a cattle car with sun blaring in but was an experience none the less. The sun finally set and we finally were slightly more comfortable. Our train was due to arrive at 1130ish and we had a connecting train at about1230am. We were literally 2 mins from Thessonaliki station when the train came to screaching halt and the millitary fellows who were on board ran through the carriage and jumped off the train. Turns out a girl had jumped from the train and commited suicide. We then waited on the train for about three hours I think while poilce ect came and did there thing. Anyway we finally got going again and it was only then that we realised how close we were from the station!!! Did not matter because we had missed our train and had to wait for one in the morning now anyway. So arriving at Thess station we put our stuff in lockrs before we were hurried out on the street while they closed the station. We found a comfy looking patch of concrete and Nick kept watch while I slept. Station reopened at 5am and we were on the next train to Sofia Bulgaria.

Train to Bulgaria was event free. See the funny pic of Nick finally sleeping (athens link on the right will get you there). Arrived early afternoon in Sofia. Spent the next couple of days exploring the capital. Went on an awesome tour led by a local uni student. Went to heaps of temples, mosqus and churches. Such a fascinating history. The country is still rebuilding itself since the fall of the soviet. Its strange to consider that only 15years or so ago Bulgaria was a communist country. Many mixed opinions from the people who live here.

Anyway, spent the next couple of days in a town called Plovdiv. On arrival met up with people we had previously met in Sofia and found they had been pick pocketed. Losing there passports, creditcards and money. After that I did not feel at ease there. Always felt like I was looking over my shoulder. Took a bus into the mountains and visited a Bulgarian orthodox monastery.

Headed to Karlivo yesterday. A small village on the base of a mountain in the valley of roses. It is sooooo beautiful here. My favorite Bulgarian place so far. Very clean and the local are friendly and helpful.

Impressions of Bulgaria? We have found that most young people can speak a little bit of english and are willing to help you. The thing I am having most trouble with is that they shake their head for yes and nod for no! I cant get it right. I am learning a bit of the ceryllic alphabet so I can read some of the signs. My Bulgarian in very poor but it has spanish and french influence so can pretty much get away with saying 'mercie' for thankyou which is so easy to remember.

Heading to some mineral springs in a nearby town soon so best be getting ready. The links to the right are Nicks blogspot 'hoist the spinnaker', Nicks photos (can get there from the Athens photos) and my kodak website which has no new pics since London so look at Nicks for now if you are interested.

Will write again soon xxxxx

Yassu Greece

I didnt realise at the time but its now in reflection that I realise how quickly 5 weeks went. Had such a great time in Santorini and met some really interesting people. There were a few things that I wnted top comment on but I dont really have the time right now. Will keep this short and fill in the blanks later.

Got to Athens yesterday after a horrible ferry ride. I have never been seasick before and it broght me back to being a child when I used to get car sick all the time. Felt so helpless. And to top it off had this annoying Greek-American woman next to me who was full of advise and dry crackers. I swear I would have punched her square in the jaw if I could hold my arm still enough. Anyway despite the choppy seas and me being sick I arrived in Athens 2 hrs late but still in one piece (just). Did some exploring and met Nick at the airport late.

Have spent today exploring Athens. Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Theatre of Dionysis, Temple of Zues and other ancient sites along the way. Lots of reconstuction going on to preserve the erosion but awesome none the less.

Am completely exhausted and burnt but had a great day. Feels like I am travelling again.

Realised today that have not really eaten any red meat in the last 5 weeks and could be partly the reason for my fatigue so Nick is taking me out tonight for a dirty big steak. Cant wait.

Heading up to Thesselonoki (cant remember how to spell it) tomorrow. Then into Sofia-Bulgaria where Nick is excited to hopefully climb some mountains and where I will suss out the Black Sea coastline.

Pictures of Athens! Have to get going now though...I can hear a dead cow calling my name!

Yassu (goodbye) Greece!

xxx

1 week in Santorini

Its been a week now in gorgeous Santorini and have settled in well. Work is cool, get paid peanuts but its a laugh and not at all difficult. Finish at 3pm so have the afternoon to soak up some sun and have the nights free to do as I please. Have taken a liking to cider and larger with lime juice and as a concequence am the size of a small house! Such is when you travel hey!

I am such a moron! I was going through my camera last night trying to make the pic resolution less so I can fit more on my memory card and accidently deleated all the pic on the card!!! So annoyed but pleased that I didnt have that many from Ios and the ones from Santorini I can get again. The ones that I am spewing about are the ones from my last weekend in London with Allie, Steve and Nick. We had a wicked night out and some great pics but these things happen. I also had a few from workmates at RONIN. So sorry to those of you that I promised I would send copies of. Renee, your farewell pics were on there too but I'm sure there were others there with a camera that night.

Found a little place to stay. Sharing a room with Sharni, 6euro/night...bargin! It has everything we need and is 2mins from work and the beach.

Apologies for the attrocious spelling. Those of you who know me well know I cant spell and Allie is not here to proof all my post, but Im sure you know what Im trying to say.

Will write again soon xxxxxxx

Gorgeous Santorini

What a wonderful refreshing change Santorini has turned out to be. Got here a couple of days ago. In that time have managed to meet heaps of really cool people. Got myself a job at an awsome resturant, waitressing 9-3pm every day. Sharni got a job working the night. Get paid crap but get fed as part of the deal. Just went to go find a place to stay for the next few weeks and have found a cool apartment with a pool for 10euro/night. Have to check with Sharni but think we should take it.

Explored Santorini a little. Fira is gorgeous. Cant think of any other words right now that could describe it. Staying in beach town called Perissa. Its a sleepy kninda town with a real community feel. Everyone knows everyone. People here speak Greek (not many did in Ios) so am learning the basics to get me by. Black volcanic sand beaches with no waves are an interesting contrast to those that we have back home. Have been staying in a youth hostel and there is constantly new people to talk to. Now I feel like I am travelling.

Ios Sucked

Arrived in Ios-Greek Islands after a long (9hrs) ferry trip. Hungry and tired and without accomodation for the night stepped onto the port at 1am. Had met a friend from London (small world) on the ferry so we met up with his friends at the port and they kindly offered for me to stay with them for the night. Thinking I was finally going to get some sleep after being up at 2am the night before we went up to the village to their place.

We had just dropped our bags when Kelly decided that being our first night on the island we just had to go out. Long story short I did finally get to bed at about 7am that morning! and then up again at 11am to go find a place to live so I could have a shower and a proper sleep in a bed.

Found great little apartment with aircon, TV and own bathroom for 10 euro/night and slept for nearly a day. It took me a day to explore Ios- mainly because there is nothing there. Job prospects poor as still fairly early in season. Only job available they call a 'floor hore'. Basically your job is to lure people into club and then keep them there. Get paid mostly in alcohol and bit of cash but have to work 7 days per week. Other option was to eork in a resturant which I was keen to do but as I mentioned being early in season there was nothing available.

Not much to do on the island. Pretty beach but little else. Barron mountainous landscape meant exploring was a mission and usually resulted in heat exhaustion. The entite population of the island seemed to be young singles who slept on beach all day and partied all night.

Met a really cool chicka Sharni having dinner one night. We were both sitting alone and struck up a conversation. Long story short we really hit it off and the next day she moved into my place and we hung out together for a few days. She too was not overly impressed with the island so after 2 very long weeks in Ios I boarded a ferry to Santorini in search for jobs, something interesting to explore and people who wanted be your friend not your bed buddy. Sharni decided to join me.