Day 311 (Jun 24) - Europe so far
I've now been in Europe for 17 days (wow, already?) and I've only seen 3 countries. Hmm... good/bad?
Anyway, I've had a blast.
London
I arrived in London and was almost turned around and sent on the next flight back to Canada as I'd stupidly put the address of the place I was staying in my main luggage, assuming that I'd pick that up before coming through customs. Oh dear. Anyway I just smiled and the woman saw that I wasn't some fool (I was dressed ok, and looked good) and reluctantly let me into the country.
I then made my way to Bayswater to the hostel I'd been told about. It was my first hostel experience so was an eye opener. Ridiculously uncomfortable beds (springs poking into your back) plus putting up with loud breathers and tossers and turners! I'm normally an excellent sleeper but just couldn't at the hostel so decided at 4:30am to go for a run. Headed out and ran in a random direction. Ended up running down Portobello Road in Notting Hill.
Returning to the hostel I made breakfast, checked out and headed off to sight see and to book a bus to Stanstead airport for my 6am flight to Prague the following day.
Walked around all day and checked most of the boxes (Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Southbank, London Eye). Then did Picadilly Circus. MAN IS LONDON EXPENSIVE!!! A coffee costs 3 pound in some places!!
I'd decided to save on accommodation and not book a 2nd night and just head straight to the airport. I headed to Stanstead at around 1am arriving there at 2am, then waited until 5am to check in. Needless to say it was a sleepless night.
Prague
Leila had booked a hostel for herself and had been there 1 night already, so I arrived to find her sitting at a computer. It was great to see her, even if it'd only been a few months since we'd caught up in Canada.
Did lots of walking around, getting lost as I think most people do in Prague their first time. It really is spectacular, especially as an Australian, to see so many old buildings. Everywhere.
I also went for a run, heading south down the Vltava river. It was nice, but I ended up crossing it and headed into a slightly industrial area, and was running along a road breathing car fumes. Turns out I should have headed into the parklands up near/towards the castle.
As we had until the 17th before our Auntie and cousins arrived we decided to hit up Budapest for a few days.
Budapest
Here we stayed at a great small hostel called "Budget Hostel". Leila was happy to hear an Aussie accent on the other side of the intecom when we buzzed it, and we felt immediately at home when we walked in. Only 2 dorms one for 8 people, one for 6. We hadn't booked but were lucky enough to be able to get some beds for the nights we needed.
I woke early the first morning and set out to explore the local area. I found where we were much easier to navigate than Prague, and immediately got my bearings. Heading back to the hostel (at 5:30am) I then saw some other foreigners waiting outside a building for the supermarket to open. I waited with them and headed in. Turns out the building was Központi Vásárcsarnok, or "Great Market Hall". Much like the Queen Victoria Market back home in Melbourne. Being there when it first opened was lovely as there were very few people. After a quick explore I headed downstairs to the super market and picked up some breakfasty things.
Budapest we found to be more beautiful than Prague. I'd less westernised I guess, so felt less familiar, which for me is a positive thing. Again being cheap tourists we roamed around mostly on foot, but caught the odd tram. A bit of caving and partying and an overnight rave on Sziget island.
Prague take 2
Coming back to Prague to meet family was a delight. It's so great to catch up with close family and just settle back in to where we'd left it 2 years ago. After 2 nights in a nice hotel (kindly paid for by my Auntie) the 4 young ones booked an apartment for 4 nights after she left. This turned into a great pad to base ourselves for our 2nd Prague experience. It was the top floor of a building so had a pretty good view (if a little obscured by rooftops, wires, satellite dishes etc.) of the Castle across the river.
A fair bit of hanging out at the apartment was done just to catch up with family.
So now tomorrow we're off to London for the AC/DC concert on Friday night, then hitting Paris to meet Arif again before he returns home. Then Lyon for a gathering of 8 or 9 Aussies, then chasing Le Tour.
That is all.
Anyway, I've had a blast.
London
I arrived in London and was almost turned around and sent on the next flight back to Canada as I'd stupidly put the address of the place I was staying in my main luggage, assuming that I'd pick that up before coming through customs. Oh dear. Anyway I just smiled and the woman saw that I wasn't some fool (I was dressed ok, and looked good) and reluctantly let me into the country.
I then made my way to Bayswater to the hostel I'd been told about. It was my first hostel experience so was an eye opener. Ridiculously uncomfortable beds (springs poking into your back) plus putting up with loud breathers and tossers and turners! I'm normally an excellent sleeper but just couldn't at the hostel so decided at 4:30am to go for a run. Headed out and ran in a random direction. Ended up running down Portobello Road in Notting Hill.
Returning to the hostel I made breakfast, checked out and headed off to sight see and to book a bus to Stanstead airport for my 6am flight to Prague the following day.
Walked around all day and checked most of the boxes (Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Southbank, London Eye). Then did Picadilly Circus. MAN IS LONDON EXPENSIVE!!! A coffee costs 3 pound in some places!!
I'd decided to save on accommodation and not book a 2nd night and just head straight to the airport. I headed to Stanstead at around 1am arriving there at 2am, then waited until 5am to check in. Needless to say it was a sleepless night.
Prague
Leila had booked a hostel for herself and had been there 1 night already, so I arrived to find her sitting at a computer. It was great to see her, even if it'd only been a few months since we'd caught up in Canada.
Did lots of walking around, getting lost as I think most people do in Prague their first time. It really is spectacular, especially as an Australian, to see so many old buildings. Everywhere.
I also went for a run, heading south down the Vltava river. It was nice, but I ended up crossing it and headed into a slightly industrial area, and was running along a road breathing car fumes. Turns out I should have headed into the parklands up near/towards the castle.
As we had until the 17th before our Auntie and cousins arrived we decided to hit up Budapest for a few days.
Budapest
Here we stayed at a great small hostel called "Budget Hostel". Leila was happy to hear an Aussie accent on the other side of the intecom when we buzzed it, and we felt immediately at home when we walked in. Only 2 dorms one for 8 people, one for 6. We hadn't booked but were lucky enough to be able to get some beds for the nights we needed.
I woke early the first morning and set out to explore the local area. I found where we were much easier to navigate than Prague, and immediately got my bearings. Heading back to the hostel (at 5:30am) I then saw some other foreigners waiting outside a building for the supermarket to open. I waited with them and headed in. Turns out the building was Központi Vásárcsarnok, or "Great Market Hall". Much like the Queen Victoria Market back home in Melbourne. Being there when it first opened was lovely as there were very few people. After a quick explore I headed downstairs to the super market and picked up some breakfasty things.
Budapest we found to be more beautiful than Prague. I'd less westernised I guess, so felt less familiar, which for me is a positive thing. Again being cheap tourists we roamed around mostly on foot, but caught the odd tram. A bit of caving and partying and an overnight rave on Sziget island.
Prague take 2
Coming back to Prague to meet family was a delight. It's so great to catch up with close family and just settle back in to where we'd left it 2 years ago. After 2 nights in a nice hotel (kindly paid for by my Auntie) the 4 young ones booked an apartment for 4 nights after she left. This turned into a great pad to base ourselves for our 2nd Prague experience. It was the top floor of a building so had a pretty good view (if a little obscured by rooftops, wires, satellite dishes etc.) of the Castle across the river.
A fair bit of hanging out at the apartment was done just to catch up with family.
So now tomorrow we're off to London for the AC/DC concert on Friday night, then hitting Paris to meet Arif again before he returns home. Then Lyon for a gathering of 8 or 9 Aussies, then chasing Le Tour.
That is all.
posted by rumble at
Thursday, June 25, 2009
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