Souvlakis (yum) to Czech Republic

Slovakia was ordinary. We struggled to find anything Slovakian to take photos of so it got a bit silly. Nick has put a few on his gallery if you are interested. The best thing about Slovakia I think was that I cant say it out loud properly and always end up saying 'souvlaki'...yum Souvlaki...Greek style with tzaziki!!! Anyway Nick thought it was funny.

From Slovakia we took the overnight train to Czech Republic and about 12hours later found our way into a small town Cesky Krumlov. Was such a cute little town along a river with a big castle in the centre. After 10weeks traveling I am starting to become difficult to impress. Unfortunately we didn't take as many pictures as we should have. It really was a special little place. Despite our lack luster we did manager to find an underground bowling alley. It charged by the hour so 1 hour later we had 5 games under our belt. I have never bowled so hard in my life. I am a little embarrassed to say that I still have a sore forearm (apparently I should have warmed up!). We spent 2 nights at Cesky and caught a bus to Prague.

So here I am, In Prague. I have been dreading this moment. Don't get me wrong it is a gorgeous city. The architecture and the Bohemian charm is very pleasant. I just didn't ever want to get here because this is where Nick and I go our separate ways. Its been cold and rainy but we did manage to get some sight seeing in today. Tomorrow will be the last day of our little Eastern European trip together. Few last minute things still to do for our next adventures. Nick will be heading into the Middle East. While I will be back to London for a day to get some warm clothes (I have one thin jumper at the moment) out of storage and then I'm off on a 4 week Contiki tour of Western and Central Europe. Busy Busy Busy. I will write more when I'm feeling more inspired.

xxx

Poland

Visited Auschwitz as planned. My knowledge on genocide and the holocaust is limited. I only knew what I had been told by others and seen in movies. I had no idea as to the massive scale of people killed whilst imprisoned here. Was quite a somber day. Nick decided he did not want to come with me so I went alone (well with a bus full of other tourists). We were shown a video on the way to Auschwitz which horrified me. After I was given the basic facts I don't think I could be shocked any further. There day was spent seeing various sites and evidence left of those who once lived there. Maybe I am naive but I just didn't know that humans could be so cruel to each other. The day taught me a lot.

We spent another couple of days on Krakow just because we could and I could not bear the thought of putting my pack on my back again. Getting very tired. One thing I have noticed about Poland is that the travelers/tourists are not like the ones we have met through out Eastern Europe. Many look to have money and are on a holiday as apposed to traveling. Even the people in the hostel were up for partying all night sleeping all day. I just don't understand this. Why go all the way to Poland to get wasted and do stupid things. You can do that at home but anyway. Had a few interesting dramas in the hostel. One included a girl coming into our dorm late one night to shack up with a guy, only to find as she jumped into bed with him that she was having a massive hemorrhage, possibly a miscarriage. Made a complete mess of the dorm as she jumped about the room screaming, blood everywhere (including some of Nicks clothes which were on the floor-that will teach him). She was taken to hospital. Management apologized and closed our 10 bed dorm fearing she may have been 'contaminated' (poor girl) and to get the carpets steam cleaned.

There were other incidents too. Great hostel but weird things just seemed to happen in the night!!!

Anyway Nick and I decided to move on and headed south to Slovakia. Got half way to a town in Poland called Zakopane in the Tatras mountain range so we have decided to stay two nights here. Nick has gone off hiking today in search of a big peak, just over 2000m I think so I am quietly praying for his safe return and doing a spot of shopping in the town. My pack has split at the seam and desperate to find a cheap but sturdy replacement. Wish me luck.

xxx

Romania to Hungary to Poland

Click on the title above to see the photos.

Another whirlwind last few days! I have barely had time to catch my breath.

I did not have any expectations of Hungary so was pleasently surprised by Budapest. Very beautiful and clean city. We did stay in the more affluent side (Pest) and did not get a chance to explore the other side of the Danube but I don't think seeing Buda would have changed my opinion of Budapest. Did so much in 2 days there. Nick calculated we walked at least 15km on one day (Kerry Saxby eat your heart out!). We swam in the local mineral bathes, explored a million monuments and statues of people and events we never heard of. We caught a movie at the local shopping mall. Was soooooo good to do something 'normal' like I would back in 'reality'. Then did a spot of shopping in preparation for a lovely surprise that Nick had planned for Vienna. We even had a chance to meet up with Jodie, Kelli and Jonathan (friends we have made during our travels) for a quiet drink before we fell into bed (that we nearly didn't have after the hostel overbooked) after an exhausting day.

We took a train to Vienna, Austria. My favorite city so far. Not just because we stayed in a gorgeous hotel and ate lavish meals and spent a night at a Mozart and Strauss concert. More due to the beauty of the city. I no longer felt like I was on a movie set (as I have felt may times especially in Transylvania) but in a culturally wonderful, historical city. We also spent one night in the park (again gorgeous, lush and green) watching Cosi van tutti on a big screen like an open air cinema. There was an international food festival on the the time so the smells and the sounds and the scenery... Was an explosion to all my senses.

Anyway after 2 days of splurging we hit the road again and arrived in Krakow, Poland 4am this morning after a long sleepless night in a bus. In the hostel now waiting for some bugger to wake up so they can change the sheets so I can go to bed. Difficult decision though. After a brief walk through the city this morning at dawn I think there is more to this city then I first thought. I am planning a trip to Auschwitz (cant spell) tomorrow. And then maybe to Slovakia in a couple of days. There is another mountain Nick wants to climb! Boys!

Hope all is well. I miss everyone very much. Keep in touch xxxxxx

Leaving Romania

Leaving Romania tonight headed for Hungary. Not much time to write. Nick has post a hillarious post on what we been up to, links to pics included. Go there for all the goss...

www.hoist-the-spinnaker.blogspot.com

I am well. Have finally whashed some clothes (yay) and had my first hot shower in days so am feeling (and smelling) great.

In Sighisora (Transilvania) at the moment so best get going to see the sights before it starts to rain again.

xxxxxx

Romania

Again sooooo much has happened since my last post. I just cant keep up with it.

We left Sofia and headed to the second capital of the old Bugarian kingdom, Veliko Tarnivo. Arriving early afternoon it was stinking hot. Having been at much higher altitudes for the last few days meant that we had been blessed with much cooler temperatures. We found our hostel and settled in. Lucky for us the hostel had great veiws of the old fortress and we were able to see it without actually making an effort to go there. After night fell and it cooled down a bit Nick and I went into the old town and discovered that the town was hosting an international folk music/dancing festival so we watched some of the performances for a while. I unfortunately woke the next morning with an extreamly upset stomach and spent the morning in the bathroom. Recovering almost as quickly as I had taken ill I was able to make my way into town again in the afternoon for some retail therapy. Found a really cool second hand store and bought a dress and a hat for 1.50lev (0.70 euro cents). Was very happy with my efforts.

Deciding that there was not too much else to see in Veliko and feeling like we had had just about enough of Bulgaria we bought train tickets for midnight that night to head into Romania. Boarding the train I had a bit of a run in with the train guard who I thought was just a random stanger. He asked to see my tickets and then tried to take them from me telling me he would give them back in the morning. Refusing to hand over my tickets to a plain clothed man who could have very well been a bum trying to steal my tickets, he then opened the carriage door and told me to get off. Refusung to do this either we created a bit of a scene. Proper train guards with uniforms arrived within minutes and the nasty plain clothed guard turned nice as pie (typical) and then laughed when it was translated to him that we didnt know he was a train guard. So finally finding our seats we settled in for what turned out to be a sleepless night (for me not Nick) to Romania.

We had booked a hostel for 1 night in Bucharest (Romanian capital) so apon arrival at the station the next morning I called her to pick us up (as was advertised on her website). She advised that we would have to get public transport. Being tired and cranky I easily convinced Nick to ditch the hostel and make our way straight to the coast which was our plan for the next day besides that we will get a chance to go to Bucharest in transit later anyway.

So got yet another train headed for the coast. I had never seen anything like it. The train was about 20 cars long(at least) and tickets were oversold so only half of the passangers got seats for the 6.5hour trip to the coast. It felt like the entire population of Romania were headed to the beach. It was not a great start to what turned out to be the longest day in history. Not being quick enough to race the determind Romanian families to the seats Nick and I found a cosy little spot in between carriages, wedging the door open with our bags. We also were situated about 1 metre from the toilet and all its unpleasentness. About half way there the train suddenly stopped. Having terrible flash backs from Greece we eventually asked some young guys what was going on. Seems the engine had broken down and they were sending another engine to pick us up. We made friends with the young Romanian lads and they invited us to travel with them to Varna Veche. Was told we could camp on the beach, full of young people and less people than on the rest of the coast. Sounded like fun so we thanked them for offering to take us there. The train did eventually get going again and we arrived in the afternoon in Mangolia to get a bus to the beach.

Varna Veche turned out to be full of people. Tents covered the beach. Nudists everywhere. Music pumping from the beach bars. Not really the quiet beach town we were hoping for. Still we pitched our tent and had a swim. We did have a great night there, but in the morning packed our things and headed up the coast north. Got to Mangalia again and Nick declared that he thought it was time to spoil me a little and we checked into a hotel on the beach for 2 nights!!!!! So nice to sleep in a real bed in a bedroom instead of a dorm. Nick took me out for a nice dinner last night. We lashed out and bought a bottle of wine too.

So feeling very pampered and relaxed we have just made plans to head back into Bucharest tomorrow for a night to see the palace then to Brasov and Transilvania for a few days.

Phew...if your still reading thanks for the interest! I will write again when I get a chance. Hope all is well. Write me and let me know what oyu all up to xxxx

So far from home

Well just got back from a night out with Nick drinking Bulgarias finest red wine (legend has it that it is hang over free-will let you know tomorrow) and thought I would write a quick post because Im too drunk to go to bed. It was not until I logged in to my emails that I found out that my Uncle Tom has passed after a short battle with prostrate cancer. I'm quite sad. The funeral today. I want all the Groats to know that I am thinking of them. Please give my love to Auntie Joyce and Grandma. Uncle Tom was a man who did alot for others. I can not think of a Groat event like the annual picnic where he and Auntie Joyce were not present. He will be sadly missed.

I had planned on relaying the latest from my travels, namely being pickpocketed today and our battle with the tram guards. Nick has already written a post. I will dircet any who are intertested there... www.hoist-the-spinnaker.blogspot.com

I am now in mourning and need to go to bed.

All my love xx xx xx