one step at a time-my life in a backpack

a quick day stop

mel-halden — Sat, 5 May 2007 00:35:00 GMT

On the way to Vienna we stopped at slovakian city Bratislava. This place is cute and the people seem nice. We walked around and spent some time in this little cockatil bar. It cost like 2 euros a cocktail gotta love that exchange rate. It is really strange how close these few countries are hungary,slovakia and Austria.

Budapest

mel-halden — Fri, 4 May 2007 06:09:00 GMT

What to say about this place! Hmmmm Go there it is bloody awesome! I can't wait to go back here. The sights are amazing and the people are awesome. I went to the fisherman bastion which I think has the most amazing views of the city definately picture moments. I went to the underground labyrth which is really cool. I found this city a good city to just wander around and find somewhere to just hang out and eat and enjoy some nice cheap beer. I also went to the st peters church there beautiful. I highly recomend taking a wander around and checking it out it is worth it even if you don't like churches. Anyway I put this place down as some where I would come back to.

Vampires

mel-halden — Tue, 1 May 2007 05:59:00 GMT

Bucharest is a pretty cool city. I think in 10 years time it might just become one of the must see places. It has just joined the EU and it is a city of paradox. You will have a block of flats that is all run down and underneath all that will be a prada store. They have gardens that could be amazing but are just not maintained! I did love this place though they have an awesome history and the people are really cool.Next stop was transylvania. I am a bit of an anne rice bram stoker kindda gal but there isn't much of this kind of things. I did go to the castle and it is sort of cool. It is really about Vlad the Impaler. This guy was around and was feared by everyone but the people loved him. If you did wrong you would be tortured usally by the method of impaling a stake through you. Nice!! But the romainans love him and he was the royal family which is what this place is all about. I am glad I have been here and I can't wait to read more about this guys as apparently he was a great leader and treated his people really well. Next up Cluj Napoca this place is beautiful I really like this city. I didn't spend alot of time here but I enjoyed it's laid back feel and the cute streets.

Bulgaria

mel-halden — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 05:50:00 GMT

On the raod again and into bulgaria (sophia) This place is pretty cool it isn't as exciting as some of the other places I have been but it is pretty nice. There is a big beautiful church and a few little ones. Great places to eat and pretty good shopping! The people are very nice which is always important. The night was spent in the casino's and cocktails at the bars. We also traveled to Veliko Tarnovo which is a little town with perhaps some of the most narrow streets I have ever seen! There is a cool castle and church ruin and lots of nice little streets to explore. The streets are so narrow that our bus git stuck and we all needed to bump the car out and onto the curb. Crazy! Welcome to the east I guess

Instanbul

mel-halden — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:10:00 GMT

What to say about this place. This place is cool and I do believe it is the first place I would head back to. The sounds, colours, people, shopping the history!! Loved loved loved this place. I went to the Blue mosque,saint sophia, topkapi palace and the grand bazaar. If you go here do all of these they are all worth. The food is wickered too and this place is cheap lira and the aussie dollar are the same value. Saint sophia is now a museum but before that it was a mosque and before that a church. Basically this place was first part of the roman empire then when that feel and the religion changed they converted it to a mosque. Years and years later they have begun renovations and discovered all this christian art work. The palace is cool and beautiful they have stuff from the sultans and it is all very exciting. Now the Grand Bazaar. I loved it others didn't I wandered it for almost the entire day and I had a great time. You have to go here if your in town and do bring some money even if it's just for turkish delight or some apple tea. Now for food eat at a restarunt called doy doy's it's cool. Great food even better price and the people are great. It is just around the corner from the blue mosque.

Gallipoli

mel-halden — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:50:00 GMT

The day is here and we leave nice and early to get through the turkish border! After 4 hours we finaly get through the border and we are on our way. About 15 mins later our bus is pulled up and a fine had to paid for god knows what reason! We saw our first horse and cart kinda cool got a nice photo! We get to anzac cove at around 3 in the afternoon and no suprises it's packed but we make our way round and see the sights of lone pine, the bunkers and trenches, Kiwi memorial and the turkish. It feels soo amazing to be here and I am soo glad I have done this. I would love to keep doing this every year. It truely is a great honor. We spent the night camped out in the cove under the stars. It is a real experience. They have doc's and bands and news reports. The dawn service is amazing and words really don't do this justice but I will try.

After the service I met one of the soilders who like me is from perth from freo and it was really nice to see some one from home.We then made our way up the hill that the anzacs took to lone pine. At the Aussie service and it was amazing. I know I use that word way to much but no other word fits. I almost cried and I was soo proud and felt soo much love for my country and the people who gave their lives some as young as 14.

Then we did the trek to the turkish service. It was soo different to any of ours. There was colour, noise and soo much movement. I loved it soo much energy. The next stop was the kiwi service and this was cool too I really enjoyed it and at the end of the day I was pretty beat.

Athens-Meteora-Kavalla

mel-halden — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:40:00 GMT

After sailing I said a said goodbye to my mate marie from america through a night a partying with vodka. Athens is cool the people are awesome and The day was spent with Andrea and Kobs mainly. Was a pretty good day did not do much I must admit but I do like this place. Very friendly the changing of the guard is cool too. Saw the acropolis, patheon and the old olympic stadiums.

Meteora is wickered there isn't much to the place but it is nice and the coolest thing is the hill top monasteries! They are awesome take your time and enjoy the sights.Great photo ops and the town is nice and laid back. The next place was really just a night stop over before we made our way to turkey for Anzac day at Galipoli. It was a cool coastal town and had a castle on the hill etc.. I have to say I am kinda excited about the whole anzac day early start so off to bed.

Sailing

mel-halden — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 20:16:00 GMT

We sailed around a few islands in greece and our days were spent with water fights,sun bathing and swiming and our nights in the towns greek dancing, eating and drinking. Good times were had by all and I would love to do this again. Sailing is awesome and greek dancing is fun. It was a bit of an effort to take the plunge in to the freezin cold ocean but I did it and loved it. It was pretty much party party party.

Vatican-pompeii-sorrento

mel-halden — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:07:00 GMT

The next few days were spent at these place. The Vatican is cool and well worth the wait just watch out for people pushing in they have no shame.I also just took in the city and enjoyed some good pasta. Now pompeii is cool I took a tour around and it is pretty cool hey. If you get a chance do it! Sorrento is cool I just chilled out and enjoyed the nice views. Then we caught a ferry to Greece to do some sailing.

Rome via Ovieto

mel-halden — Sun, 8 Apr 2007 17:30:00 GMT

We went to this little town on a hill called Ovieto and it is nice. The church is worth going the small train journey and trek. It is black and white so collingwood fans it is like your church. You have points around this city where you can see the surrounding areas below and get good photos or just chill out. Then we were off to Rome. So excited! We get there and this place is cool. A little too tourist dominated but still cool.I went to Spanish steps (flowers were out only happens like twice a year or something), Trevi fountain, pizza Navona, the Pantheon, Roman forum and the colosseum. Now I know I said the bast gelati shop is in florence and it is but this place is just as good. Just around the corner from the patheon is a little shop and it's the only one in this little alley way and it is really good. This is what you expect from italy and it hasn't let me down yet.

Florence via Pisa

mel-halden — Sat, 7 Apr 2007 17:11:00 GMT

What can I say about Pisa. It's pretty cool the tower actually leans and is slightly curved. You can get a good food near here relatively cheap. It is pretty crowed which can make getting a photo some how difficult. The little market stolls are ok and a few hours even just one will alow you to see most of it. Warning there are lots of guys on the street trying to sell you stuff like bags and scarfs. If they can pack it up in a few seconds or if it looks like they can make a run for it don't shop from them. It is actually against the law and you may be fined alot. This makes the cheap fake hell expensive!! Best thing about it is watching them make a run for it when the cops come and then seeing them return 2 mins later to start it all over again.

Florence! I love this place we stayed at this cool campsite which has a view of the whole city! It is beautiful. I did a walking tour of the city and I just love it! It has a really good feel to it, the people are nice the food well its just to die for and the museums or shopping. Whatever your thing it is here. I went to the Duomo cathedral,ponte vecchio,santa croce basilica and attended a leather making demo. I also shopped at the markets (great markets). I went up the dome and it is worth the weight and the climb. Beautiful views and paintings it's well worth it. There is also an ice cream shop just next to the que for the dome. It cost around 5 euro and get the tia maria it is the best gelati I have had so far. It's huge and you get pieces of cake in it! If you go to italy go to florence it just won't let you down. I am soo sad to leave just gotta come back here.

Venice

mel-halden — Thu, 5 Apr 2007 16:48:00 GMT

I finaly arrived at venice today via verona. Verona is kinda cool only spent a few hours here but I feel that was enough. Saw said balcony of the romeo and juilet is based on! The wall is covered in notes suck by chewing gum! Definately not attractive. We walked around and shared my first gelati with my mate Tim. It was pretty good. We walked around and took in the sights including all the street performers. Was kinda cool.

Venice however was very cool. I did the tourist thing and took a gondal ride around the canals with Kobs,Andrea,Rhyan,mike and emma. Was kinda tacky but still I am gald I did it! We all just walked around the streets. They sell the most amazing masks in this town and if I thought I could get it home ok I would buy a couple. The place is pretty cool I saw st marks square and the basilica, Bridge of sighs, doges palace and visited a lace making demo. Oh and beware of the pigeons here they have no fear and are a little kamakasi. Also beware of the Nanna's they push in front and can seem almost violent! Don't let them win. There is some cool markets which every shop pretty much sells the same thing so suss out the prices first and really just take advantage of the awesome views.

French rivera-Monaco

mel-halden — Tue, 3 Apr 2007 16:39:00 GMT

We have now driven to Nice in the French Riviera. This place is kind of cool although the people could be a little nicer. I could see how this place use to be the spot but I am not sure if it was the people or the road works that ruined this place for me. That night we went to Monaco for a go at a casino and some cocktails. However when we got there one of them had put on a show in the street for free. Me and Eloise decided to watch it was awesome. We than walked around the place it is kinda cool nice parks and cool shops. Best part was watching all the girls with the sugar daddies or mutton dressed as lamb. Good times..

Avignon-Barcelona

mel-halden — Sun, 1 Apr 2007 09:11:00 GMT

Next stop on this journey was a night stay at Avignon which is in the south of france! It's a very cool town. It has the original way still around it and it also has the palace of the popes. which is where the popes relocated to when there was a lot of unrest in rome! It is one of the coolest places to just walk around the streets the people are nice and the place is just cool! Check it out!

Next up was spain (Barcelona). All I can say is Sangria sangria sangria! I love this drink and I had the best night out! Danced the night away and durring the day checked out the sights such as Gaudi's cathedral and apartments etc.. Our hostel was around the corner from las ramblas and it is by far one of the nicest! Me and my mates Andrea and Kobie hung out and took it easy mainly due to the fact that sangria is great at night but the next day watch out!! There is the coolest markets (food) you should really check it out! I found out that I clearly don't speak spanish and if I go back I may need to know some!!

Jungfrau

mel-halden — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:03:00 GMT

Where do I start! I love love love this place! We stayed at this campsite at the bottom of the mountain ranges and it is amazing! Words do not and can not do it justice! Today I took a train ride up to the top of the mountain which is actually the highest point that you can go up by train in europe! It was awesome! On the way up you get the most amazing photo ops. You also can stop for 5 mins and walk to a window which is the side of the mountain. You then get to the top where there is an ice palace (sculptures) pretty cool amd then they have this like deck in which you can walk out onto the peaks! It is awesome! If you get the chance to do this do it! see the photos and I think you will agree!

49 days of camping begins

mel-halden — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:16:00 GMT

My journey around europe begins! I am going to these countries: France,Switzerland,Spain, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania,Hungary,slovakia, Austria, czech republic,Poland, Germany and the Netherlands.

So far I have been to Paris and today I am on my way to Switzerland. I can't wait! Paris is beautiful everything I imagined and then some. I went on a bike tour around the city and it is probably the easiest way to get around! I saw the eiffel tower, arc de triomphe,the louvre,notre dame and just walked around and took in all the sights whilst enjoying learning about the history. Paris has a really nice feel to it and the views are amazing! Food is bloody good one nutella crepe will tell you that. I gave escargo a shot and it wasn't too bad but because it's chewy I couldn't help but get slightly grossed out at the thought that I was eating a snail. I was warned before I left that the french are quiet rude but I have to say everyone is awesome I managed to try some of the french I have been teaching myself and all in all it has been great. I can't wait to go to switzerland I have heard soo much about it that it is really exciting to think that I will be able to see the alps and enjoy some of that fine swiss chocolate too!

Back in London

mel-halden — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 23:58:00 GMT

I'm back in London and I am awaiting my eruope tour which starts very soon. I have met up with old friends and made some new and I did more tourist type stuff. Buckingham palace, Jack the ripper walk and a Davinci walk. I also shopped relaxed and took it easy!! What a life I am forced to live! But damn it's expensive. The Jack the ripper tour is cool I went with some friends alyssa and Jade! Jade is from the east coast of Australia and Alyssa is american! We had a wickered night and it is a pretty cool thing. They tell you all the interesting things that you might not know! My tour starts soon and I am sooo excited I am all ready and waiting as in a few days I am in Paris! I am going on a 49 day camping trip that does 17 countries and I get to go to Gallipoli on Anzac day which is going to be the highlight I am sure!!

Edinburgh

mel-halden — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 23:47:00 GMT

After a few days in london I was on my way to edinburgh!! Once again I am soo excited then I found out I have a 10 hour bus drive. Time for a good book and a fully charged ipod so I was set!! What can one say about edinburgh! The place is cool! I saw the castle and walked the most awesome streets the buildings are wickered!! I went on 2 ghost tours the best was The city of the dead! Believe what you want but stuff actually happens on this tour! Seriously!! When your in town do it! I swear by it! I saw Roslins chapel and went to the many museums! Roslins chapel is cool a bit over the top tourist attraction but movies will do that and I have to say I was there mainly because of that ! Guilty! It is still cool and the bus ride is quite nice. Edinburgh is full of the best stories and has a rather dark past! Mary kings close etc.. All the witch trials and torture add in the plague and an over crowded city that had no plumbing abd the fact they drank from the loch nor which was both a dump for their sewerage aswell as there drinking water! By the way it has since been drained and made into the princes park! A very nice park. The castle can been seen on the volcanic crater and it is just magical. I recommend this place!!

Imperial War Museum

mel-halden — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 23:37:00 GMT

This section is all about the London Imperial of war museum. This place is wickered and best of all it is free! It is exactly my budget! I went with a mate I have met Melvin from Sydney! He is over here on holidays from Iraq. We had an awesome day! This place has planes and tanks inside! It also has talks on and soo much info!! It has whole sections devoted to any and every war you can possibly think of! It also has a huge section devoted to the holocast! It is pretty hard to look at some of the things but I found this to be very imformative and well presented. We spent the whole day there and time just flew! The night was filled parting at the hostel as Melvin leaves tomorrow. It also snowed which is the first I have really ever seen of snow so I got pretty excited and I got to bed some time in the early hours of morning!

Bath

mel-halden — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 23:29:00 GMT

Bath is very cool I like it alot and alot!! I saw stonehenge which is pretty cool I didn't realise you can see it from the road but it is pretty cool I loved hearing about how they think it got hear and why it's there it seems no one really knows! I think some things your just not meant to know because if you did it would make it spoil it. Any way I went to Bath Abbey and the historical Vaults next door. I also did the roman Baths, he costume museum, art gallery and the asian art gallery there! This place is awesome.Shopping is good here people are lovely there are places to eat and it's just lovely. I walked around for ages along the city and the waterside! Back in London now for a few days and then I am off to Edinburgh! I can't wait!! Definately got the travel bug!!