Aug 2006

Got to do this very quickly. Am doing it from hotel Business Centre and very expensive. However very quick internet. So here goes. not fixing typing msitakes.

Well....got to JFK. First Impressions. Shit...Airport is about 80 years old. Very dirty, very disorganised and the people at customs have attitude. But.... it is New York. On plane from Finland got frisked, handbag gone through and they looked at things like lipstick etc. Id bought some make up at duty free and it got taken away fom me and put in hold and I got it at the other end so thats OK.

So...first impressions, werent good and I thought. Shit... However walked out of arrivals hall, went to information desk. Heard a guy from a transit service saying he was going to 46th st.. I was going to 56th street. So 10 minutes later was in vehicle. 60 minutes later was in hotel for all of $17 bucks so not bad.

Hotel fantastic. Was upgraded into a suite (22nd floor) with own lounge etc and wide in TV in both rooms. Impressed. Howver took shoes off and noticed carpet was soaking. So next day, shifted into another room and lost upgrade and 4 floors (18th). Last night, took shoes off and noticed carpet was wet. Its been raining here and apparently hotel has a few leaks. Seems OK though, its drying. Will see how tomorrow goes because apparently its going to piss down.

First Impression - very very clean city and well organised. Not as congested as I thought. Traffic flow very good. People on the streets really friendly and overall very good. To be honest, there were more people in Florence and Dubrovnik and because it wasnt English speaking, I probably felt more intimidated.

Anyway, hotel window view Times Square (literally can read the signs). 10 minutes to Central park and has metro station down stairs (havent tried yet). Bloody ripper. Cant get better. Its not too expensive $150 US which is pretty good for central NY.

First night. Didnt do much had 6 hour time difference and was a bit buggered. however enjoyed the 58 ENGLISH SPEAKING CHANNELS and had a mammoth channel flicking episode... got RSI of the thumb.

Yesterday...raining off and on for morning and then pretty heavy mid dayish and then tapered off afternoon. Did Central Park because i thought there wouldnt be many people out (i was right) and it was lovely. Its absolutely huge and gorgeous. Didnt do much, saw tribute to John Lennon and got lost in a place called the rambles - no one else around, in fact, got a bit nervous in case anyone jumped out of the bushes. Couldnt even here any traffic and just lovely.

Then went to Museam of Natural History. Lots and lots of stuffed animals but well done Got lost there too... not the best maps. Then onto Museam of Art - great Egyptian exhibition and was impressed.

Then caught my first taxi and went to a Deli and had BBQ ham. So for $25 I got...4 slices of very think ham and a gallon of BBQ sauce. Two huge scoopes of mash potatoe and another gallon of normal gravy. Beans and carrots. And then for extras I got a bowl of coleslaw and a bowl of pickles (oh and a Bud). Needless to say, I ate 1/4 of it (drank all the bud). Really, I'd like half the meal for half the price. My hotel doesnt have a bar fridge otherwise I would have taken it to go (see know the lingo) but it would have gone off. Then walked down to Times square and enjoyed the millions and millions of lights. Really spectacular.

Today, went on one of those red buses and did a tour of downtown. Rained though and not pleasant. My feet are especially sore because my shoes got wet yesterday and renewed my blisters. Lovely!! You would think that after 6 weeks, I would have hardened feet but no... still got bandaids on them. In fact, bandaids have been one of my biggest purchases. Im a specialist on them.

Saw Ground Zero. Wasnt going to because I thought it would be depressing (it was) but the bus stopped close to there. Also went to China town but because feet was sore, didnt walk to the interesting bits. May go down there later this week. Then bus went through SOHO and the village and went on Brooklyn tour which was interesting.

Have got tickets to "Wicked" on Broadway which is a parody of the Wizard of Oz. Apparently its the "hottest" show at the moment. Going tomorrow night. Also got tickets for Ferry Ride at night as well.

Tomorrow apparently its going to be raining hard so not sure what Im going to do. I have umbrella but everything else gets wet.

So....better close off as its getting a bit steep here.

Overall, NY is not as scary as I thought. Weather though hasnt been good. Still havent seen top of Empire State Building yet - only clouds. Bit of a bummer... But its still good.

So...bye from the Big apple.. Ill find a cheaper internet service and do a more comprehensive one (plus photos).

cheers and beers (might try a coors tonight!!)

Kay

Hi All

Well, I'm back in Prague after a short break at Karlovy Vary (you might know it as Carlsbad). Lovely spa town nestled in a valley. Georgeous Buildings and very quaint.

Funny place. Its got lots of thermal pools and some of the hotels have spas attached. Lots of older rich Europeans and even funnier Russians visit the place to take the waters and have procedures done. Some of them sound like torture and I cant imagine what they were. Others were quite normal like massages etc.

I went to one spa (GrandPupps) which is the biggest and most expensive hotel (I didnt stay there) - only went to get massage. Anyway, I had a mud bath, which ended up being peat dissolved in water and then a partial massage. You go into a room, take off all your clothes, they give you a dressing gown.

There were lots of older people wandering around in these gowns (with nothing on underneath). Didnt want to think about that. Anyway, I had a bath first (which to be honest, was as boring as anything and I spent most of the time wondering who was going to come into the room.

Then I had a back massage (which actually was very good). They dont worry about towels etc and seeing a guy was doing the massage, I was a little bit uncomfortable. But obviously, he wasnt. I thought about all those older europeans and then didnt worry after that.

Then the next day, I went to a public spa (Spa number 5) and had a leg massage. Pretty poor. Again, you strip off, shower and then massage and then get into this deep hot pool (again, naked) and with people around. I did have a wrap and must admit, it stayed pretty close to the edge of the pool.

After that, I went into the public pool (with bathers thank god) and they had the most amazing spa bath. Nozzels at all different levels so you could do your feet, thighs, neck and all other bits in between. Needless to say, I pummelled all my cellulite away and had the best foot massage.

Walked out (after going to female dressing room) where again, people walked around naked) and felt very relaxed.

However, one drawback. I have a bloody ear infection from the water. I get these quite a lot (swimmers ear). but this one is a bad one. I'm totally deaf in the left ear (which at the moment is good because they are playing ACDC really loud in this internet cafe and I was never a fan) and its throbbing madly. Went to the chemist and all the gave me was some herbal drops which smell nice. (the chemists here are much more strict - you can only get pain killers at chemists and a lot of stuff that we consider non-presciption, they need prescriptions). So, I'm giving the drops a go. I fly in about two days and am quite concerned.

At least my ear smells nice.....

Went to the movies yesterday and saw Pirates of the Caribbean. it was in English. Thoroughly enjoyed having 3 hours of english to listen to (plus Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are OK as well)

Today, going to the Communism Museam (apparently its weird) and just bumming around. Tomorrow (last day) am going to do exciting stuff like washing and then find a really nice restaurant to go to...

So...Prague

Lovely buildings;Quite Modern;
Great Transport;
Rains a lot;
Czech people are very quiet (amazing for Europeans). They say in the guide book that you can tell tourists by how loud they speak in the Metro and they are right. Czech people speak very quietly and are unobtrusive. Europeans speak really loudly and to be honest, are sometimes pains in the ass. Pick pockets are rife apparently in the Metro and they say that they listen out for tourists and then go for them. Needless to say, Ive been left alone, seeing I dont have anyone to speak to....
Pet Friendly(also in Croatia and Hungary) they allow pets on the metro and they can also stay in most hotels. You see lots of older men walking cuddly little dogs.
English speaking not too bad. Better than Hungary.

Well, better go.. painkillers are running out and the ACDC beat is starting to get in time with my ear...

Next blog update - THE BIG APPLE. I am so excited. Cant believe that in a few days time, I will be in the middle of it. Ive booked accomodation not to far from Central Park. it was recommended to me by the US girls. Apparently its close to the metro. They are going to show me around a bit was well which Im really looking forward to..

Also, just got word that I'm going to catch up with my American friend Joe. Havent seen him in 10 years so am really looking forward to that.

So...adios from Prague and Eastern Europe. Ive enjoyed it all and recommend to everyone to visit. Hasnt been as difficult as Id imagined getting around and the challenges have been fun.

Cheers Kay

Well, have been in Prague now for a few days and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Its an absolutely beautiful city that has lots of character and lots of history.

Today and yesterday I have spent several hours just wandering the streets and it seems like every building has some fancy addition to it, whether its guilding, frescos or ornamental statues. You are forever looking up.... and thats not easy when you are walking on cobblestones.

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\Again, the public transport is absolutely fantastic and I have conquered the metro in great style. Changing trains as required and knowing what direction to go to.
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Highlights
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Went to the Prague Philamonic Orchestra (with the two US ladies). It was absolutely beautiful. The theatre was extremely ornate and quite small so the show was very personal. It was a czech composer so very eastern europe. Lovely. Had a great time.

\The Old town - lots of side streets, lovely buildings, lots to see, great atmoshere.\\
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Czech Beer - yum, especially after a hard day of walking. Very easy to drink and not too strong. very cheap if you buy from a shop (only about $1 a can) and about $2 a glass at a bar/restaurant.
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\No real negatives this time. The place where I am staying is simply fabulous as far as location is concerned. Its only about 100 metres to metro and the tram that takes you up to the castle is about the same which is great. The only disadvantage is that its satallite TV has been broken so Ive been watching czech shows (if you see the photos of the news, you at least know if anythings happened elsewhere.
\\

People speak a lot more english here, in fact, its been very easy to get around. some speak excellent english. I just went into a shop and the guy has been to australia several times (not west though). He had a brik a brac shop and showed me an ashtray that had "souvenir of Kempsey" and it was made in czech. He was very proud of it.
\
\I'm off to Karlov Vary tomorrow which is a spa town about 3 hours from Prague. Ive booked 3 days into a fairly fancy spa hotel (**** star) and Im planning to put my feet up and just relax. Im very tired and need to rest my weary feet. then I come back to Prague for one night and then it looks like Im off to New York. I dont think Ill be spending time in Helsinki because I cant get accommodation so may fly direct. \
\The 2 ladies from New York have offered to shop me around. They both live in very small apartments in Manhatten so I cant stay with them but they are giving me heaps of information. They are very nice!!
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\WEll, I better go.. I still want to check a few things whilst Ive got internet. this place is very good and quick so I have to make the best of it.

Im planning to have a lovely dinner tonight. there is a restaurant somewhere around here thats apparently from 1400s (if I can find it).

will send you something in a few days (while resting in my spa hotel!!)

see Ya

Kay (not Kaz now) because keyboard is in english (yahooooooo)

\PS Prague toilets are great (even train stations!!)
PPS Ill have a cold beer for you all tonight

Well, I am now in Prague!!! Certainly getting around. I arrived here yesterday from Budapest aftar a 7 hour train ride. Went through 3 countries. Hungary, slovarkia (so got a stamp for that too.. and then Czech Republic. We had about 4 or5 passport checks throughout the ride and numerous ticket checks.

Well before I say anything about Prague...I'll farewell Hungary with a few impressions.

Great stuff

Hungarian goulash (its actually a soup not a stew and absolutely yummy. Lots of variations of quality though and one of them even had lovely chunks of bone marrow in it.... Yum..

Budapest public transport. I got a 3 day pass and just got off and on trams and trains all the time. Was great and very easy to follow.

Very safe - well I thought so. They had the usual warning about picket pockets in train stations but I felt very secure.

Cheap - overall its much cheaper than other European countries. My accommodation in Budapest I got through Wotif and cost about $90 per night. Thats not bad for a hotel in summer and also included breakfast. It was only about 100 metres from tram station and about 200 metres from Metro so was very handy.

Wine and Beer. Great red wine. Very cheap if you bought it from a shop. Not so cheap from Restaurant. Beer really good. Again very cheap from shop not so bad from restaurant.

Not so great stuff

Beware Hungarian railway station toilets (plus trains as well)!! Its amasing how I would get up in the morning, avoid coffee tea or water, absolutely get so dehydrated. However soon as I came within 100 metres of a train station, I immediately had to go. It was the cheapest diarettic I could find but not one that I enjoyed. All the toilets were either soiled or wouldnt flush properly. Also, to add pleasure to the experience is the "toilet ladies". these poor souls sit outside the toilets and collect money (yes, you even have to pay for this experience). They have the humour of stalin and low behold of you dont see them and try to get in for free. They take their jobs very seriously and you have to pay them everytime. If you try and tell them that the toilet is soiled, you dont get a great reaction.

Lack of English - some places didnt have any. You got by but it was quite difficult at times. sometimes I wasnt sure if they didnt know it or didnt want to know it. For example, went to a museam and there was a Crypt there. I went to ticket office to get a ticket and said one ticket to Crypt and pointed to me and put one finger up.

She didnt understand.

Then I overheard someone else talking about the Crypto. So went and said one ticket to Crypto...yes, that got it.

Food was very heavy. Difficult to find anything light except soups (hence the lots of goulash) and very boring salads. Most of the food had heavy sauces over them or were either crumbed and deep fried or fried in lard and butter.

The salami was very nice but even that was quite fatty.

.

The last day I went on a tour up the Danube Bend. It took us to a couple of small towns, the obligatory church and fortress. It was great. the guide was really knowledgeable and it was good to hear history. I also met up with 3 women. 2 from NY and one from Georgia, US. The 2 from NY were on the same train as me to Prague and we are meeting up for Dinner tonight. So will be great to have company. Also they are giving me heaps of information for my New York trip whcih is good. The woman from Georgia I might look up when I get over there. Depends on my plans in the states whcih are not confirmed as yet.

So, that was Hungary which I really loved. I really liked Budapest and could have spent a lot more time there just looking around. It would have also been really nice just driving around the countryside because it was quite rural and traditional but for that I would have liked some company!!

I wont give you my impressions of Prague as yet because I havent really done anything. I went into the shopping area this morning to get my bearings (and brochures, booklets etc) and am now about to go back to my room to look at them all. Hotel is absolutely fantastic. Got it through Wotif. Its an apartment and has its own kitchen, even a hallway. Its only $95 per night as well. Plus its literally just behind a metro station so very convenient. Its a little bit noisy but nothing that ear plugs cant fix. AND IT HAS A HAIRDRYER!!!

Will come back on line in a day or two to tell you all about Prague. Hope everyone is really well.

I'm fine. Feet feel like crap, ankle is swollen, back is sore and I have a really big bruise on my knee from something. But I dont complain!!

Talk to you all soon.
Love Kay

However, it doesnt matter because the rest of Budapest is fantastic.

Been here 2.5 day and am thoroughly enjozing it. Its a great citz. Lots to see but most importantlz, verz easz to get around in.

Mz hotel is a not in the verz central part of town but down the road, i have a choice of tram, bus and metro to get around in and its all verz easz to follow. So, all zou have to do is pick where zou want to go and then follow the map.

Yesterdaz, I just got the feel of the place and went and had a look at the citz part. Amazing buildings again, thez make them big over here. Its funnz to think that most of the cities around here arent particularlz old because there have been so manz wars and destructions over the centuries. The palace in Budapest has been rebuilt about 3 or 4 times and most of the churches and important buildings are built on top of other churches and important buildings. Thats whz thez are all heritage listed because they sit on top of roman ruins.

Todaz, I went up to the castle which perches on the hill of Buda. To get to it, I caught a Siklo (vernicular) which takes zou up a verz steep incline.

The palace was verz ornate and thezve turned most of it into museams and art galleries. Spent quite a lot of time just walking aruond and taking it in. Reallz pooped now though. When I think about it, I must walk/stand for about 6 hours per daz.

I shouldnt have mentioned in mz last blog about how well things are going because mz ankle is plazing up on me now and Im having to rely on ibroprophen to get around. Tomorrow Im going to trz and find a medicinal bath (Budapest is full of them) and have a good long soak.

Saturday, Im planning to take a cruise down the Danube which will be nice.

Sundaz, Im off to Prague. Alreadz booked mz train ticket (Im getting better at this)

Some of zou have been asking how Iám going bz mzself. I havent met manz people and probablz in the last couple of weeks may ahve onlz spoken abuot 3 or 4 English conversations.

However, its not reallz bothering me too much. Its a bit lonelz, but Im reallz enjozing the challenge of getting aruond and doing things. Im also enjozing just being able to do what i want to do.

Because Iám staying in hotels and not hostels, the opportunities to meet people are verz limited. Also, Im not doing manz tours either (mainly because I find uot about the tours once Ive been to a place and its too late).

Yesterdaz, ran into an Aussie couple (asked them to take a photo of me) from Wannabool and amazinglz, she had a friend who lived in Karratha. I hadnt heard of her.

So, I have those odd tzpes of conversations.

I am reading heaps and devouring a novel every 2 or three dazs.. Have picked some rippers and am reallz enjozing them. Im go to trz and pick heavier ones so that thez last a bit longer. Just finished Atonement bz Ian McKeoun and thoroughlz recommend it.

Well better go... have to book some accommodation in Prague before I go.

Cheers Kaz