Monday, September 20, 2010

Brasov, Romania


After an exhausting day of travelling we got in to the Hostel at around 10pm, totally buggered we had an early night and then a restful morning before heading to Bran Castle (which is apparently where Dracula stayed once) the castle was very pretty, all of county side here is very green and the city is full of old buildings, flowers and little alleys to walk down - it feels very safe - we haven't seen many gypsies at all!
Bran Castle
Bran Castle
After our day trip to the Castle we wandered around the city before heading to a Traditional Romanian restaurant for dinner. We asked what the most traditional dishes were and went with it. First we had a free serve of Pork Crackling.. well we think that's what it was - either way it was delicious! Rory ordered a traditional Stew which was cooked with bread on top - it was very hearty and full of flavour. I tried the Cabbage Rolls with Polenta - VERY delicious! We decided we would share the traditional desert which was worded as a dumpling with sweet cheese and fruit sauce - it was a bit like a doughnut with a cream cheese/custard and jam- also delightful!
Rory's Dinner

Desert!

The whole dinner cost of us $20 and we had left a tip - we were totally impressed!! Still no alcohol though - day two of alcohol free days!! (please don't think we have been drunk every day- that was just Bulgaria it was way too expensive everywhere else!)
We woke up the next day and went for an adventure to the train station to book our overnight train to Budapest and then spent the afternoon wandering around the city and people watching.
Brasov
Brasov

We had a very relaxing day and then had a dinner date at a Romanian Pub with a nice traditional band playing- it was a nice date night :)
The next day we headed to a Traditional Romanian Folk/Medieval festival which was at another one of the Castles in Rasnov. It was very interesting watching everyone dressed up - nothing was in English and there were not very many international tourists!
Chimney Bread Treat

We attempted to buy some drinks except no one had change for $100 Lei note (which is about $35) so we had to wait for people to start buying up!! eventually we got some lunch from a restaurant which was right near the site and then came back and met some people from the Hostel.

Various Medieval items on display
Horses

We watching some jousting and saw a horse run in the crowd and nearly bowl over some kids (luckily the dad got them out of the road in time) and then sat down and had some homemade red wine and a couple of drinks.. The wine was quite good until we started to think about if it had been made with feet.. hahaha! It was $2.50 per litre and actually pretty tasty! After our wine and some snacks we headed back to the city - had Pizza for dinner at an Irish Pub and then came back to the hostel and played some drinking games. Really fun night! Romania has been really lovely - so many nice people, so cheap and very beautiful! So happy we decided to come this way!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Veliko Tarnovo & Varna

We arrived in to Veliko Tarnovo around 6pm - much prettier city than Sofia with lots of mountains and windy streets. We also travelled with another Australian Couple Jamie and Suzy- it was good to have some extra company for a few days- we had been with them in Sofia too. We decided to head out with everyone from the Hostel to find somewhere to drink as it was Friday night, the town was very quiet- apparently once Uni is back 50,000 students live there and its a lots more lively and fun but either way we ended up in a bar and got some $3 Mohitos and then got home around 2am- good night!
Next morning we went for a wander around Tsarevets Fortress which is a Medieval type castle.
Tsarevets Fortress
Tsarevets Fortress
We then wandered around the city taking in the sights and sounds before heading to a recommended restaurant for lunch - it was SO BUSY!!! Food was nice VERY rich and cheap for the serving sizes and quality.
Jamie and Suzy and Lunch
We then got a couple of bottles of red and ended up having a drunken last night in Veliko ready for our bus ride to Varna the next day! Spent the following day wandering around the Old Street in to Town and then around the city before lunch and heading to the bus stop to go to Varna.
Streets of Veliko
We got in to Varna about 8pm - both pretty run down from our red wine night the night before and got told as soon as we arrived in that there was a pub crawl on that night and there wouldn't be another event until Sunday so we should come along.. we quickly snazzied ourselves up and then headed out on a Golden Sands Pub Crawl. There would have been around 200 people in the Pub Crawl - apparently in summer they would usually have at least 400 and up to 700! The clubs were all really big and a we got a free drink at each place - ended up quiet drunk and got home about 2am (way before everyone else as we were still worn out from the days before!) Unfortunately my camera battery died so no piccys from the pub crawl guys :(
One & only Pub Crawl Photo
Our only whole day in Varna was spent booking bus tickets and wandering around the city. The City is on the Black Sea Coast - very pretty and busy with lots of mums and kids and oldies soaking up the sunshine and wandering around- it was also a bit like Glenelg i suppose.
Varna City
Varna Coast
We decided to get a bottle of red and have a quiet night in BUT it turned in to a very drunk, drinking games filled night where we got to bed at 3am and had to leave at 9am!! Not so fun for Travelling but we managed our 2 x 3 hour mini bus rides and two underground rides and 4.5 hour train ride and are safe in Brasov, Romania - ready for a couple of days detox!!!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Sofia

We got ready to load up on the Train and we quickly figured out that we were meant to be in the crack den looking part of the train... There were guys hanging out of the windows smoking with ripped t-shirts and dirty clothes - Rory went to check out seats and we were meant to be sitting in a 6 carriage dark room about the size of 2 toilet cubicles combined with 4 people and baby in there... he walked out completely horrified and we quickly went to go see if we could upgrade to the sleeper carriages.. best 30 Euro we have ever spent!!
Our Sleeper
We slept surprisingly well on the train and got woken up for a quick passport check at 3am and then arrived in to Sofia around 8am and got dropped off at the Hostel and had breakfast.
First day in Sofia we wandered down the food/flea markets (not much to see) and then got let in to our room and had our free pasta and beer for dinner before heading out for a couple more drinks.
We went a bar where they have taps on the walls and you pour your own beers, it worked out to be a bit more than $3 per litre of beer. We drank 4 Litres, it was wheat beer and very nice!!
Ale House
Went for a bit of a wander and found a place that sold hot dogs with chips, mayo, tomato sauce, chili sauce and some other secret ingredients... Way too delicious!!
Hot Dog

We headed to Rila Monastery the following day which was almost 3 hour each way - it was very beautiful - The colours of the paintings were very vibrant- they must spend a lot of time and money maintaining it!
Rila Monastery
Rila Monastery

Fresco of God doing a Poo and Satan at the bottom of the poo..

We also walked up a big mountain and checked out the Cave that the Rila Monk lived in for 7 years in solitary confinement - apparently if you can get through the cave without getting stuck all of your sins have been cleared and you are all good!! We fit through fine but it was actually quite hard walk and crawl through the cave! There was also a small chapel which was had some pretty paintings.
Hiking Section
The "cleansing" cave
Fresco in the Chapel
We cooked ourselves dinner rather than eating the free Spaghetti - We made a salad and had some pork chops that had been marinated in a mustard sauce - it was really really good - so nice having your own choice over what was in the salad - we had so many veggies!!
Our last day in Sofia we went to the main Cathedral and had a wander around the shops and streets.
Outside the Cathedral were some crazy markets with all different kinds of antiques and war memorabilia - lots of different Nazi items and knives etc. pretty full on!
Cathedral
we found a really cute little soup shop and had cheap soup for lunch before catching the bus on to Veliko Tarnovo.. updates of there to come!!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Athens & Thessaloniki

We arrived in to Athens around 6pm and opted to catch a taxi to our hotel.. We got ripped off by the taxi driver and charged 30 Euro for the taxi but let it go and checked in to our hotel and decided to go for a wander... We had noticed some drug deals going down around the corner in the taxi but ignored it and decided not to walk down that street!! Once we go out of the hotel we had been walking for around 70 seconds when we saw a guy walking towards us with a syringe in his hand - not to threaten people with but for him to shoot up, walked up another 50 mitres and a guy was actually squatting in the street shooting up!! We saw at least 6 deals go down. I was clinging to my bag tightly and we got some food and quickly headed back to the hotel to eat and didn't leave again for the day!
The following morning we got up and went to the Central train station to get our tickets to Thessaloniki. The underground train station was very well maintained and the streets were a lot cleaner during the day. We then went to the Acropolis and wandered around that area for a couple of hours before heading back to the main station for the 6 hour train to Thessaloniki.
Rory and The Acropolis
Acropolis
View of Athens from The Acropolis
Thessaloniki is in Northern Greece, closer to Macedonia/Bulgaria and Turkey - its the second biggest city in Greece and a friend from home has been living there with her family for the last 4 weeks so good chance to catch up with her and break up the massive train trips!
We arrived in around 9pm and couldn't book our tickets on to Sofia as the international train ticket desk had JUST closed! We then caught two buses to our hotel.. we were actually staying at least an hour out of the city in a beachy area called Perea, its a bit like Glenelg but with Jetty Road and Holdfast Shores combined and along the shoreline. Very pretty and nice and quiet - not very many international tourists!
Rory and the Jetty
The Beach

The following day we got up early for a morning walk and then came in to the city to meet up with Vikki, had lunch together and hung out for a couple of hours then came to the train station to book our next train to Sofia. The city is really lovely. Also set along the sea but with a concrete border not the beach, the city is humongous!! Lots of coffee shops and people drinking various forms of iced drinks.. not big alcohol drinkers here! All of the bars are actually coffee shops!
White Tower
Hanging out with Vikki
Had a mixed grill and some beers for dinner and were both asleep pretty early!
Our last day we went for a morning walk and then bussed it back to the train station to pop our luggage in lockers and then met up with Vikki again. Wandered around the city and hung out in the parks - had a really nice day!
Park Treats
Park Beers

Spent another 3 hours waiting for the train and now off to Sofia!!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Ios


Ferry from Santorini to Ios was pretty quick - only took about 45 mins and we got picked up from the port which was good!
The hotel is great value for 25 euro a night, its got a view of the town and is still very easy walking distance from the pubs/bars and not bad walk to the beach.
We caught up with a friend from home who I hadnt seen for a couple of years - Carly, who we had arranged to stay at the same hotel as.
Balcony Views/Beers

First day went for a bit of a wander around the city and then had some afternoon beers on our balcony before walking down to Far Out Beach Club - which is on the beach and the most popular hostel/camping.
Ios Sunset on our Walk to Far Out
Drunken Hammock Times
We were already fairly drunk and caught a bus back home by midnight. We got late night gyros and apparently a nutella crepe which i have no recollection of and then woke up various times during the night feeling like my heart was pumping so much from all the sugar in the cocktails we had!!
Second day we went for a wander to go to Far Out Beach but ended up at this very secluded beautiful little beach about 30 mins walk from the main road - the walk was through all sorts of rocks etc. but the beach waiting for us at the end was worth it - very beautiful!
Secluded little beach
Rory taking a dip
We decided we would attepmt night two out by having an afternoon nap and then heading out around 8.30ish for dinner and which turned in to eating around 9.30ish and then drinks at about 11.30.. we were all completely buggered and decided to kick it in and go home about 1ish... hahahaha!!
Ios Alleys

Cute little bar

We did all try the bars trademark drink though a flaming lamborgini- a drink with 4 shots (appeared to be Sambuca, Schnapps, Vodka and something else) which then got lit of fire and then handed a straw to scull it all up chased with a beer or strawberry dacquri.. 5 Euro and totally worth it but they still didnt keep up out!!
Flaming Lamborgini

Last day night in Ios. Had a lazy morning and then finally made our way down to far out for some beach time - they had free umbrellas and sunbeds which was good so we hung out there for a couple of hours.
Far Out Beach
Far Our Road Views

Came back to the hotel and had some pool time before attempting (unsucessfully an afternoon nap) night out number 3... so we had dinner late... then sat on the balcony and then decided that we had already had a lovely enough day and were enjoying the evening drinks on the balcony enough not to head to a cheesy bar and listening to bad music!
We farewelled Carly in the morning and now off to Athens..

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Santorini

Santorini has been pretty lovely. We arrived in at midnight so it was interesting waking up and having no idea where we were!! The room at our first Hotel is 50 Euro a night and we have our own little kitchenette and bathroom and the place has a small little pool with some sunbeds. We had a big breakfast with bacon, eggs, tomatoes and all the usual jazz - it was a good change from the Turkish breakfast! We then went for a wander to check out what everyone is on about when they talk about Santorini!
Our first appartment

When we were standing there taking photos we were less impressed than when we look back on them - its more a small cluster down the side of a cliff - the landscape reminds me of Kangaroo Island but with no animals.. i know that sounds weird!! 
Fira
Fira
We spent the day wandering the city and then had dinner on the Volcano side for sunset and happened to be in Santorini for the once a year "volcanic erruption re-enactment" apparently one of the biggest events of the year in Santorini. Rory and i drank wine and ate dinner whilst the sun went down and the fireworks started. It was SO busy afterwards!!

We bought some supplies and had fruit and yoghurt for breakfast - such a good change!! we then hired a 4 wheeled moto and boosted around the island for the day. We rode to Oia which is meant to be one of the prettiest parts of Santorini and then rode around getting lost but having fun!
Oia
Oia

Rory had a massive slice of pizza for lunch and i sampled the spinach and fetta pastries - pretty good! After lunch we rode to Perissa beach where our next hotel is booked. Took over 40 minutes as the roads are so windey.. I also had a go on the bike.. and was lucky enough to drive in it to a wall at low speeds within 5 minutes. Yep that was me and the bike done!!hahahaa!!

We then spent our second night with the NZ crew from the boat- got a late night gyros (yiros) and drank "house wine" which was 3 euro for 1.5 litres.. yes a bit like goon.. hahahaha!!

Next day we went for a morning ride and took the bike back before heading to Perissa Beach for the next part of our Santorini stay. We caught the local bus and walked to our next hostel - Anny's Studios - next to Villa Vergina (Yes mum its really called that and IT IS FUNNY!!!) New Hostel is much more organised and ranked very high on hostel bookers - really good, bigger pool, nice tv and computers to use, free washing machine and the rooms still have kitchenettes etc. but there is also a bar but drinks are fairly priced 2 euro beers and 1 euro for a big water - good place to stay!
Perisssa is a black sand beach from the volcanic ash so its actually a bit to hot to walk to on during the day and you also have to pay to have sunbeds etc. so we have mainly been hanging by the pool and going for wanders. We made our way to a massive supermarket and puchased some different boxed wine varients and some new beers for Rory to try and had some delicious bakery treats (pizza, chicken and cheese sausage roll, cinnamon doughnut and this vanilla slice type thing) spent the afternoon testing our drinks and then Rory had gyros and i had Greek Salad for dinner. Pretty delicious!
Perissa Beach at night

Our last day in Santorini has been extra lazy, sleep ins followed by fruit salad and yoghurt, midday pool times, slow walks to lunch beachside and then afternoon beers/wines... off to Ios tomorrow - accomodation is only 25 euro a night there so have booked 3 nights and will see what we think when we get there.. updates from Ios to come! xxxxx