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Yesterday Will and I started our day by finding the station that we leave to Prague from. It was much more difficult than it should have been. Two directionally challenged people and two maps does not make an efficient mix. But it was pretty funny.
After that little ordeal we stocked up on a crap load of junk-food and went to the huge park, which took forever to
walk through but is super pretty, and ate ourselves silly.
We did have some healthy stuff, strawberries, which we ate half of them gave the rest to a group of stoner teenagers who accepted them with enthusiasm. I was a little bit afraid they might bite my arm off too. The strawberries vanished in seconds. Stoners.
After totally pigging out we napped in the sun then got up to brave the rides. We went on one that left us bruised and crippled. Then another one that seats four in one row then slingshots us into the air, sending the bench into spins at the peak of each swing. Will felt sick afterwards so that was the end of that. Back to our hostels to recoup.
We met later for dinner and picked this posh place that gave us these miniature portions of fantastic tasting food. At the end of our ‘meal’ they gave us these little 4 inch Lindor bunnies to take with us. We took pictures of us biting their heads off. It was a great dinning experience but we had to get McDonalds afterwards. Ew.
The next morning was a gong show for me.
Turns out transit rout #39 takes more than 20min to get from my hostel to the train station. Transit rout #39 is really not as easy as the map makes it look.
Stumid map.
The metro part was not that bad but getting from the last stop to the train station did not go well. I could not find the trolley bus I was supposed to take and I was running out of time fast. The train was scheduled to leave at 10:58, I was supposed to meet Will at a cafe in the station at 10:00. I hopped he as running late too. I was about to get a cab but decided to ask one more person for help.
He directed me to an intercity train that went straight to the station. It was 10:25. The intercity was supposed to be there in five more minutes. Whew. Then I took that ‘whew’ back… ten the minutes started going up instead of down.
So a taxi it was. The taxi misunderstood me and started towards the wrong station. I was pissed. We started again to the correct station and I ran into the cafe with eight minutes to spear. I had hoped that if is was late that Will would just get on the train. But bless him. He checked with the teller. We would loss our reservations but his ticket would still be valid, and of course so would my Eurorail pass. But we ran anyway, and we made it. Woohoo!
We found our seats and jammed our luggage into a storage area then got settled in behind the most annoying kid on the planet. Poor Will Doesn’t like kids. Not even a little. I do, so my patience was higher, but not high enough. After the third or fourth time he body-checked the seat and nearly spilt my coffee on my computer I was ready to snap. The up-down button for the window screen was a toy and the seats where a jungle gym. He backed off from us after I gave him a glare and a shake of my head. But continued to be a shit everywhere else. Will told me that while I was getting food and coffee the kid got a smack from his dad. I’m not surprised he was acting out if that is how he is dealt with.
Near the end of one of my Rossetta Stone Spanish lessons the train stopped. There was an announcement about a delay, we would be on again shortly. (Lies! Shorlty my foot) The train moved again after a half hour then booted everyone off at the next station. “Problem with train” was all they could tell us. We where given poor directions to another train heading to Prague that we were to board on platform two. Fifteen minutes later. Back to platform three. Everyone scrambled onto this train as if it where the last train to freedom. We managed to find seats with two
American girls from NY, (Will is also from NY) and space for our luggage. Others where not so
lucky. The halls in the cars infront of us where full of people sitting on the floor, as where the spaces between cars. Every hour or so there was an announcement about a food car near the other side of the train. …To Be Continued..
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After arriving unrested and more than ready for a shower I began the
rediculouse process of attempting to find my hostel. The guy at the
info desk in the train station was semi-helpful.
I found a bank machine which gave me two tenthousand Ft notes. Which
is about twohundred dollarsish. Then went into the bank to have them
Brocken into smaller bills. They where very nice at the bank, so nice
intact that was distracted by how much nicer people are here than in
Athens that I left my map, with directions the semi-helpful info guy
gave me, on the bank tellers counter.
Good job Jenn. But I had a good idea of which direction to go in and
remembered the bus number he gave me. So away I went.
I asked a man with a big backpack on if he could tell me where I could
buy a bus ticket. I figured the backpack pegged him as a fellow
traveller. Nope, he is Hungarian. And was off on a survivour hike. He
gave me a card with a website about the hikes but I haven't checked it
out yet. He also gave me a bus ticket. Super nice. I really felt a lot
better here already.
I got off at what I thought was the right stop. It wasnt, but it was
close. And after asking a few strangers who couldn't help I found
another hostel and asked the receptionist there for help. She gave me
a map and checked on the computer for directions. It only took another
fifteen twenty minutes to find it. It felt like hours with my gigantic
backpack on my back.
There is no sign on the building to the riverside hostel. I walked by
it once then noticed the numbers on the building were getting too
high. When I found the right building I rang the buzzer number and it
rang and rang and rang some more. I waited two minutes and rang it
again. Nothing. Someone let me up the stairs. I found the right door
and knocked a few times. Still nothing. Back down the stairs. I was
nearing a breakdown. I rang the buzzer once more, then sat on the
steps and tried very had not to cry. The combination of being dead
sleepy, exhausted from carrying my bag in the heat, feeling disgusting
from not having a shower in days and being so hungry I would have
eaten a dayold bigmac had finally broken me. The tears came, and I
didn't even care if someone saw me cry.
I couldn't belive that this was happening again. First in Delphi and
now here. At least this place actually had people stating in it and
was not closed for the season.
About five minutes later a young couple came in and asked if they
could help. I told them I as staying at Riverside and there was nobody
answering the door. I told them that I had been traveling for days and
I just wanted to check in and shower. I was a mess.
They took me upstairs and waited with me for about ten fifteen minutes
until the reseptionist finaly showed. I had calmed down and wanted to
rip his face off a lot less than ten minutes before. Which was good
because he is actually very nice. I might buy one of those plastic
'back at' clocks for them before I leave as a parting gift.
I got settled in, showered and went to the nearest shopping centre and
ate a Buger King Wopper meal. Gross, I know, but I just wanted
something familiar.
I got back to the hostel just a two girls from Belgium where checking
in. They are working with a school exchange program in Romania and
came to Budapest for the weekend.
We ended up hanging out the entire time they where here and having a
complete blast. I will write all about it later.
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The room is tiny. Not designed for backpackers at all. But it works
and it is clean.
I had to hit the bank machine as soon as I got here. I left my bags in
the Livy and walked a block in awe at the potential to blow my entire
budget just on this street alone.
After getting settled I went shopping. A nice multi tone green gypsy
skirt, a shirt to match, a pink sundress and a a pair of kaki colored
shorts. I have no idea where I will be putting this stuff. I'll figure
it out.
I need to mail stiff home is what I need to do. I will do that in
Prague. It should be cheaper, I hope.
I didn't do much with my evening. I had a pint at a pub with wifi and
then checked out another little ausie place. I liked the first pub
much better.
Then I just went back to the hostel, did some Spanish and crashed.
Today, I slept in then went for breakfast. I am having friut with
icecream and a latte, and here it comes, so toodles.
Sent from my iPhone
After arriving unrested and more than ready for a shower I began the
rediculouse process of attempting to find my hostel. The guy at the
info desk in the train station was semi-helpful.
I found a bank machine which gave me two tenthousand Ft notes. Which
is about twohundred dollarsish. Then went into the bank to have them
Brocken into smaller bills. They where very nice at the bank, so nice
intact that was distracted by how much nicer people are here than in
Athens that I left my map, with directions the semi-helpful info guy
gave me, on the bank tellers counter.
Good job Jenn. But I had a good idea of which direction to go in and
remembered the bus number he gave me. So away I went.
I asked a man with a big backpack on if he could tell me where I could
buy a bus ticket. I figured the backpack pegged him as a fellow
traveller. Nope, he is Hungarian. And was off on a survivour hike. He
gave me a card with a website about the hikes but I haven't checked it
out yet. He also gave me a bus ticket. Super nice. I really felt a lot
better here already.
I got off at what I thought was the right stop. It wasnt, but it was
close. And after asking a few strangers who couldn't help I found
another hostel and asked the receptionist there for help. She gave me
a map and checked on the computer for directions. It only took another
fifteen twenty minutes to find it. It felt like hours with my gigantic
backpack on my back.
There is no sign on the building to the riverside hostel. I walked by
it once then noticed the numbers on the building were getting too
high. When I found the right building I rang the buzzer number and it
rang and rang and rang some more. I waited two minutes and rang it
again. Nothing. Someone let me up the stairs. I found the right door
and knocked a few times. Still nothing. Back down the stairs. I was
nearing a breakdown. I rang the buzzer once more, then sat on the
steps and tried very had not to cry. The combination of being dead
sleepy, exhausted from carrying my bag in the heat, feeling disgusting
from not having a shower in days and being so hungry I would have
eaten a dayold bigmac had finally broken me. The tears came, and I
didn't even care if someone saw me cry.
I couldn't belive that this was happening again. First in Delphi and
now here. At least this place actually had people stating in it and
was not closed for the season.
About five minutes later a young couple came in and asked if they
could help. I told them I as staying at Riverside and there was nobody
answering the door. I told them that I had been traveling for days and
I just wanted to check in and shower. I was a mess.
They took me upstairs and waited with me for about ten fifteen minutes
until the reseptionist finaly showed. I had calmed down and wanted to
rip his face off a lot less than ten minutes before. Which was good
because he is actually very nice. I might buy one of those plastic
'back at' clocks for them before I leave as a parting gift.
I got settled in, showered and went to the nearest shopping centre and
ate a Buger King Wopper meal. Gross, I know, but I just wanted
something familiar.
I got back to the hostel just a two girls from Belgium where checking
in. They are working with a school exchange program in Romania and
came to Budapest for the weekend.
We ended up hanging out the entire time they where here and having a
complete blast. I will write all about it later.
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
The overnight trains, though they seem like a goold idea, are not so
great. Not in Greece, Bulgaria or Serbia anyway. They stop every 45
min. And of course I wake up at every stop. Also, the passport checks
between Bulgaria and Serbia were ridiculouse! I waited to get
comfertabl in my bunk until the ticket check and passport reps from
each country came to do there thing. That should be three knocks and
my cabin door then I can hit the sack. Right? Nope, not so much. Nine
times! I had my passport checked nine bloody times!
So the next day after switching trains to go from Belgrade to Budapest
I get my passport out of my purse and prepare for the onslot of
security sillyness. It was checked once. Yup. Just once.
So my theroy is that on night trains going through Serbia and Bulgaria
it is a big joke to keep passangers from sleeping as much as possible.
And not only to keep them from sleeping, but also to wait until they
think it's safe to finnaly get into bed and get some rest, maybe even
fall asleep a little, and then go ratteling doors hollering "passport!
Passport, border contol, passport!"
Just a theroy
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I spent the day wandering through the ruins here with a sweet couple
from the Netherlands and their adorable little baby girl.
Then after a short lunch I went wandering. There are hiking paths into
the mountains. I decided to wander up one to see if I could find the
Cortcion Cave. It looked close on the map. I forgot water and regreted
that within five minutes of my hike.
As I was going around a bend I was startend by what sounded like a
hiss just to the right of my head. I jumped with a start and when I
looked, it was a turtle. Ha, we scared the piss out of eachother. I
took a quick picture and watched him for a minute. When we startled
eachother he had slid down the little hill he was climbing. He seemed
to still be able to climb from where he slid so I left him alone.
I reminded myself to watch more closely for wildlife. And not two
minute later I almost stepped on another turtle. This one was stuck on
it's back. I found a stick and helped him roll over. He poked his
head out after a few seconds. Took a picture and told him to be more
careful then continued on my way.
I was starteled again by a little snake the resmbled Kali and
Mohinder. I will hve to look on the Internet to see what sorts of
snakes live here.
Later I saw another turtle meandering through the flowers.
The veiws from the trail where breathtaking. I snapped a few pictures
of the ruins from above and of the mountain scapes.
I told myself I could hike upwards as late as 4:00 but ended up
turning around at 3:50. I had a bus to catch a six.
I got back to town with very sore feet, a killer thirst and enough
time to send a few emails and eat.
At the cafe where the bus station is the boy running the bar assured
me a pizza would be ready in time to take with me. It was but the
service in Greece being the way it is trying to get my bill and a box
before the bus came and went was challanging.
Then as the poor kid is running out with my bag this disgusting wale
of a man, who was too lazy to sell me a ticket for the bus eairlier
and told me just to do it later, shouts at us to "hurry up, move your
ass." spittel spraying from his mouth as he spoke. I glared at him
with a disgusted face and wondered how fast his bluber ass would move
and what a sickning picture it would be in his too-tight dirty grey
tshirt that exposed part of his belly. He must be from Athens.
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I am apartently too special for self checkin, so at the counter I
conceded my fear to the lady behind the counter. She asured me that I
would be just fine and then gapped, "you knpw you are alowed two bags"
when she saw the stupendes size of my pack pack wrapped in it's
airport duffle cover. I reminds her that I was backpaking and had to
carry it all around with me. Then felt even stupider. The thing is
huge. What the helll am I thinking. Can just go home?wait I don't have
one yet.
Oh, I must mention that I got a snicker from an overly tattoed
security person going through security when he saw my miniture pink
laptop. Yes, it does look just like a toy Barbie computer.
The flight to Montreal was uneventful. I had a quick bowl of soup and
a glass of wine then boarded my plane for Frankfurt.
I so lucked out on the Frankfurt flight! I got a nice quiet window
seat in the back of the plane. No wing in my way. I watche the other
passengers file in and tried not to get my hopes up, but I was lucky,
three seats to myself! I was so very comfy. Minus the creepy guy
staring at my chest two isels over.
The flight was quick enough. Only 16hrs, a lot better than the gruling
flights to South America. I hardly had time to doddel between flights.
In Frankfurd I had just enough time to run the rat maze between
arrivels and departers, buzz back and forth for a bank machine and a
bottle of water (a 3.5€ bottle of water OMG) and get back to my gate.
Whew.
In the few minutes I had to wait in lime at gate 18 in Frankfurt I
took some time to study the other passengers. I noticed a few couples
that gave me twang in the chest. This would be so much more fun with
my boyfriend or a friend. This is going to be hard to do alone.
I also noticed a man about my age with a stuffed backpack and a red
Philly's baseball cap. He looked like a lonely traveler too. I smiled
and nodded and he did so in return.
Arriving in Athens was a little scary. I hummed and hawed about
weather to spend the money on a taxi or brave the public transit
system. After getting my enourmous bag and rigging myself into a
backpack mummy I darted towards information. I thought I heard a
telivision conversation behind the office door. After a few minutes I
realized it was the animated voices of two Greek men. After they
noticed me behind the backpack mosaic one of them came to help. I
showed him the addres to Zorbas hotel, the hostel that I booked a
month before, on my phone and he pulled out a map of Athens and
processed to doodle the steps to my next adventure all over it.
So public transit it is, can't be that tough...
Turns out info guy was wrong, should. Have taken the X95, not the X92.
I asked a lady about my age if she spoke engilsh and if she could help
and she was awesome. She took me right to the metro and gave me a
crash course on transit in Athens, which I have since passed on to
other traveler.
I found zorbas and was taken to my room, it was a dump but it was
home. I pretty much showered and crashed after that.
Tours.....
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