TravelStream™ news feed for member callumt on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/callumt en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:34:02 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1219389660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1219389660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1219389660/tpod.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:34:02 -0400 Escape to Europe

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Budapest, Hungary

Ok Budapest is amazing i really enjoyed it. I got to the the station early after getting a night train from belgrade and hung around in the station waiting for things to open so i could get some breakfast and to avoid the rush hour on the metro, for the first time on the trip i felt cold but that was probably because i was sitting on a cold concrete floor in a draughty station wearing shorts and t-shirt. Got to the hostel and settled in before going on my first wander around the city. Left around 12ish and went to the castle district it was really peaceful and there were loads of old buildings including Buda castle and Matthias Church, i also visited the Castle Labyrinth which was well a load of dark caves basically with some exhibits etc. Couldn't get too close to the castle as there was a folk fair on. While i was around there was also the red bull air race so there were planes flying all over the place under bridges and things. After the castle district i went up Gellert hill (i think) where the freedom statue and citadel were took some photos and headed back down, walked along the river until i got to Margit island which seems to be a huge park with some old buildings, fountains and goths. After escaping from the island i headed back to the hostel and on the way back i met some guys i'd met in Sofia and Varna.

Went On a free tour the next morning which covered both sides of the river so i got to see some of the Pest side that i hadn't the day before, got talking to some of the people on the tour and after we'd been around all the sites like the St. Stephens Basilica and the chain bridge we headed out for pizza. After pizza we went to the Central market and had a look around but its just what it sounds like a big market type thing. Visited the city park after that and just lazed around on the grass in the sun and made plans to go to the Hot baths the next morning before i left.

Went to the hot spring baths and hung around for the morning swimming, eating ice cream and lazing in the sun it was great and for the first time my feet were clean obviously it must be magic water or something
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218956640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218956640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218956640/tpod.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:21:01 -0400 Escape to Europe

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Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

Got to Belgrade early after traveling the previous day and night, i actually found the hostel fairly quickly instead of going half way across town in the wrong direction. The hostel was nice and staff were really helpful if a little crazy. Got settled in and went for a wander with the aim of eventually going to Kalemegdon fortress and true to form got completely lost but i think thats the best way as you get to see places you wouldn't see otherwise. Eventually found the fortress and had a good look around, had a drink in a cafe within in the fortress and had a good view of the area. Stopped for dinner on the way back to the hostel nothing exciting i was just hungry, when i did get back to the hostel i pretty much just collapsed as i felt really tired.

Next day was still feeling lazy and didn't get out till 12ish when i did eventually get out i had a look at a few more sights mostly cathedrals, churches and other old buildings, i had a pancake for lunch with chocolate and ground nougat and amazing combination i can assure you. Sorted out my train to Budapest and headed to the hostel where i stayed for most of the rest of the day chatting with people and watching TV. Went out and got some traditional food (which i don't know how to spell but i will put it in later) which is basically a massive burger. Took it back to the hostel and waited around till 9ish before getting the night train to Budapest
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218758400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218758400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218758400/tpod.html Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:06:40 -0400 Escape to Europe

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Varna, Varna, Bulgaria

Ok so i decided i wanted a break from rushing around cities all day so headed to the Bulgarian coast on a night train which was exciting in itself well not really i slept for most of the trip.

Eventually got sorted at the hostel i'd called ahead to book but the owner wasn't the most organised of people so hadn't made a record of my booking. Finally sorted all that out and headed to the beach with a guy i'd met at the hostel called Jason, quite by chance he was a dive master and we soon had plans to go diving. Anyway spent the day at the beach getting a healthy meal of chips and salad mmm. Got back to the hostel for about 6ish and waited for the free ice-cream (and beer for those interested in such things) I sorted with Jason our dive trip tomorrow and headed out on a hunt for food which ended up being pizza again (well it is the food of the gods). When i gt back to the hostel with my lovely box of pizza i found that everyone had gone out for a meal so i watched a film eating pizza and playing with the hostel cat which as it happens also like pizza (and ice cream and beer). People came back around 11 and decided to go to the 'hot springs' which were by the beach somewhere i went along but having seen them during the day decided against going for a dip.

Got up the next morning quite early and caught a bus to Golden Sands where the dive center was, it was owned by a guy called Harry who was a little bit 'happy'. It was a nice dive though it was just to a small coral reef instead of the wreck dive we were going to do due to poor visibility but as i hadn't dived in about 4 or 5 years it was probably for the best. I did get to sea lots of fish and things and i collected a few shells so it was all good. Dossed around the hostel for most of the afternoon, writing postcards and eating the biggest pancake i've ever seen. Went to the beach again with a couple of people from France then went out for dinner after eating the free ice cream mmm. I had chicken 'Kavarma' which was quite nice thought the portion was a bit small :(. After dinner headed to the beach for the night going paddling in the moonlight, having limbo contests and (other people) drinking
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218556200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218556200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218556200/tpod.html Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:56:38 -0400 Escape to Europe

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Sofia, Bulgaria

So i'm in Sofia to be honest theres not that much here but maybe my expectations were too high after Athens. Had a little wander around town and saw the Alexander Nevski Cathederal which is quite impressive as it has golden spires, theres a few churches and some soviet memorials and whatnot but nothing that really grabbed my interest.

Really i just had a rest day and ended up watching a film while lounging around in the hostel met a few nice people and had a laugh and joke around but nothing exciting. Getting a night day to Varna tonight and i plan to stay there for a few days, go to the beach and maybe even go diving.

Sorry its not a thrilling entry next time i'll hopefully have done something exciting
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218469080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218469080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218469080/tpod.html Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:02:25 -0400 Escape to Europe

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Thessaloniki, Macedonia Region, Greece

Ok so my night in Thessaloniki was 'interesting' in future i will be taking lonely planets advice with a pinch of salt 'Acropol Hotel: The best budget option in town, with spartan but clean rooms' well they were half right there wasn't much in the rooms but i didn't say they were clean. There were stains (of what i don't know i didn't look too closely) all over the walls, floor and ceiling as well as holes in the floors and doors. The shower shared between 13 rooms was well heres a photo. .
Lets say i left earlier then i had to to get my train to Sofia sort of following the advice i found inside the wardrobe.

PS judging by the red spots all over my feet and legs there may have been bed bugs oh well live and learn and all that
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1217528220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1217528220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1217528220/tpod.html Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:56:16 -0400 Escape to Europe

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Paris, France

Woke up Early AGAIN went for for an early morning walk then started getting ready for a day of tours sights and towers. Walked down to place de St. Michel for sandemans New Paris Tour which was freeand absolutely amazing would definatly recommend it. Our tour Guide was George from Texas who was funny, knoweledgable and generally great i think i might have a man-crush.The tour went through loads of places including the musee du louvre , Jardin du tuileries, the obelsik etc photos to follow when i find a way/place to upload them. After the tour went up to the arc de triumph
which is huge and has an equally huge flags, its also the most dangerous round about in Europe and No french insurance comany covers accidents on it
(thank you George).
Then headed down Avenue Diene which had a lot of embassies on it and ended in the Jardins du Trocadoro within sight of the Eifful tower... Queued for about 20 minutes then climbed up the Southern Leg (pilier Sud) up to the second level then queued again for the lift to the verz top, would have walked but all the stairs were closed. Took loads of photos then came back down and had extautionatly high priced drinks on the first level head all the way back down and grabbed some pizza on the way back to the hostel.

Night Time Adventure
I had a brilliant idea of hiring some bikes for our trip to see the Eifful tower at night. We were a bit late after trying to figure out how the bike renting machine worked and so we perhaps didn`t observe all the rules of the road oops but then again a lot of other people were doing the same and we only almost got hit a few times. I did get some really good photos unfortunatly getting them meant we lingered a bit too long so had to rush back as well so may have bent the rules again and annoyed a few taxi drivers, got a bit lost as well which wasn`t terribly helpful but got back in time a bit nackered.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218299700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218299700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218299700/tpod.html Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:09:27 -0400 Escape to Europe

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Athens, Attica, Greece

Right so i've had my day in Greece and what a day its been started out about 9 ish and headed in the vague direction of the Acropolis did'nt actually go there first though went to a smaller place first (i'll put the name in when i remember it) Was really nice it had some ancient buildings (well ruins but you get the idea) and a little museum with some of the finds. After that i headed to another site which had a small temple in it (i promise i'll put names in i have a map with them on but i left it in my room) after that i wandered around and got lost and ended up visiting the Roman library (i remembered a name a first). After buying some souveners under some duress from an old woman who shook my hand till i was in her store i eventually found my way to the Acropolis it really is amazing though like most of my trip so far all the sites seem to be surrounded by scaffolding and in the Acropolis case cranes it's like ancient greece - under construction. Wandered down from the acropolis and had a look at one of the theatres. Had lunch near the temple of Olpympian Zeus which was a nice piece of grilled chicken surrounded by the scrawniest pigeons i've ever seen. The temple of zeus was ok but a bit well lacking, nothing like the Disney film for one thing its not up a hill. wasn't too bad though and considering i'd seen all the sites for free (great being a student) and not had to queue at all it was definatly worth it.
After old zeus' temple i got my eye on this hill

i'd been told you could see all of athens from it it took me a couple of hours to get to the top from the temple as i'm stubborn and wasn't going to pay money for a trian that goes up a hill (ok so i couldn't find it) but anyway i eventually got up it after being chased by a massive alsation well it ran up to me barking stopped sniffed and then ran back again (i guess i had been walking all day in 35+ heat). Took a lot of photos from up there and headed back to the hotel after a slight detour (read got lost ... again)

Anyway it's been a great day and hopefully i'm headed to thesoloniki tomorrow but i might give myself a beach day if i can find a nice one.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218188100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218188100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218188100/tpod.html Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:44:35 -0400 Escape to Europe

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Patras, Peloponnese, Greece

Well i made it to Greece on a Greek ferry without it sinking which i think is pretty good going. I'm just hanging around in Patras waiting for a train to Athens where hopefully I'll be able to find accommodation wish me luck
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218112920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218112920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218112920/tpod.html Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:35:08 -0400 Escape to Europe

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Brindisi, Puglia, Italy

Ok so i made it to Brindisi after a 6 & 1/2 hour (air conditioned thank god) train journey. I've got my Ferry ticket sorted out and i depart at 7 though i need to check in at 5ish i'm just hanging around town updating my travel blogs and checking facebook and email so nothing much to writeabout i just wanted to put a pin on my map

Next stop hopefully Athens
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218025380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218025380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/callumt/1/1218025380/tpod.html Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:41:29 -0400 Escape to Europe

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Rome, Lazio, Italy

Ok so i've 'done' Rome but i say what exactly i've done later. Yesterday we travelled down to Rome from Venice via Bologna it was a long trip with a 2 hour stop in Bologna with a 2 hour stop in Bologna where we got ripped off for pizza (what should have been 8 ended up being 16) wedecided not to get supplements to save money and it ended up taking a lot longer then it should have. Anyway got to Rome at 7ish and a tourist info guy called Emillio came up to us and offered to sort us out with a room (again a bit suspicious must be an Italian thing). We got sorted with a room and went out for a wander and found the colosseum all lit up for the night so took a few photos of it and the surrounding buildings & monuements.

The next day we went and got a plane ticket for my friend who was only going for 10 days. We then headed out to see the sights it was still fairly early but not early enought it turns out the queue for the colosseum was huuuuge. That was when i had a cunning plan (yes it was as cunning as as a fox what used to be Professor of Cunning at Oxford University but has moved on and is now working for the U.N. at the High Commission of International Cunning Planning) We went to the Palitine hill and Roman Forum where there was no queue and got an entry ticket for everything and we were even able to get it 1/2 price as we are young and have no money. So after standing behind the one person in the queue we had a good wander around there and then headed to the colosseum and had another good look around there as well so not bad for €6.50. Came back to the room and went out for Pizza (i see a recurring theme here) but this one was really nice and stone baked. Returned to the room to sort out finances as my friend could use his card abroad so i had being paying for everything and got a bit of a shock when i realised i only haad £150 odd left, fortunatly he'll pay me back fairly soon (he'd better!) Once i stoppped having a panic attack we went to the airport so my friend could get checked in.

Well thats Rome tomorrow i'm off to Brindisi to get a Ferry accros to Greece and hopefully i'll be in Athens by Friday.
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