The Big Trip

Hi All

Well, its come to the final entry of my travel blog!!! I've now been home for a few nights and gradually adjusting back to normality (whatever that is). Thought I'd do an overall summary of the trip. Firstly, just a couple of statistics!!

68 nights away (16 times - packing suitcase)
Rome
Florence
Ancona
Split
Dubrovnik
Zagreb
Pecs
Budapest
Prague
Karlov Vary
Prague
New York
Savannah
Charleston
Savannah

About 6 Train trips, 5 buses, even a ferry. Numerous metro/trams/bus trips in cities (over 100)
Approximately 15 different types of beer
About 5 of wine(bit more expensive so drank less)
4 visits to McDonalds (I know - I was desperate)
3 visits to Subways (healthier)
Countless restaurants (from cafe style to 5 Star)
Pizza in every country (its cheap and easily obtained)
Cuban food in Prague; Thai food in Budapest; Prague; Charleston; Brazilian BBQ in Prague; Italian food everywhere.

Highlights:
Sitting in a restaurant in Dubrovnik right at the harbour's edge and watching the sun set on the old fortress walls
Watching a high school orchestra rehearse in Florence while eating a Gelato
Listening to Prague Philamonic Orchestra while looking at the ornate ceilings and chandeliers
Looking at the great masters in Zagreb Museam and having it all to myself
Catching the subway in Prague and going up and down the escalators (longest and tallest I've ever seen)
Walking through Central Park and getting lost in the "Rambles"
Going to Chicago the Musical on Broadway (top highlight)
Sitting at a diner in NY for Breakfast and chatting to two elderly transexuals
Looking at all the lights of Manhattan on the Circle Line Ferry
Sitting at "Reds" in Charleston with Joe and having a Margarita and catching up on old times
Travel Blog (Visits 1752) 20 entries

Not so good....
Those bloody stairs!!!!! (You should see the bruise!!!!)
Subsequent - the flight home (not great when you are in pain!!)
Having to lug your suitcase everywhere because you are by yourself (eg - if you need to visit toilet at train station, you cannot leave case with someone)
Blisters (I'm now an expert on Bandaids)
"I'll have a table for 1" - most restaurants give you the shit tables and look at you as if you are a leper
The rain in New York
Ear infection in Prague (from spa treatment)
Finnair (wouldnt let me on a plane and had to buy another ticket)

Overall, everything went really well. I didnt have any huge hassles and accommodation etc was great. Travelling by myself had its good and bad things. It was great pleasing only yourself. Getting up when you wanted, seeing what you wanted to see. It was also a great feeling of accomplishment when you did something. I must admit, in most cities, I felt great walking around like a "native" and coping with transport, finding things etc.

It was lonely, especially in the evenings - must admit, have read heaps. Would have been great also to have someone to lean on at times and let them do the organising etc. I think that's what made me feel quite tired - not having anyone else helping with things.

So... as I said, its now back to normality. I must admit, I feel a bit displaced and not really sure what to do.. after being on the move for so long, its hard to do nothing. Its a strange feeling (restless, but also pleased to be home)

I hope that the blog wasnt too boring for all the readers. It was great for me being able to recall what I'd done and its a great record for my trip.

So, for the last time (with a little bit of sadness), its adieu for the time being. I'll be catching up with everyone in the next week or so...

Thanks for reading
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

Hi All

Today went to the Ufizzi Gallery which is one of the biggest in the World. Saw all the major artists - fantastic. There were whole rooms dedicated to the different artists from 1300's to 1600's. Nothing modern at all.....

Having 7 nights in Florence is great -lots of time so dont have to rush around and try and fit it all in. I've been to so many churches and seen about 7 different artistic versions of the "Adoration of the Magi". I have even started to know what it all means.

Its a great city - all very old and you can spend quite a lot of time just walking around taking it all in. Lots of walking -my feet are feeling it. But not too bad. The shopping is fantastic - lots of labels -very expensive. The handbags are to die for and I,m going to shout myself one. Beautiful leather. The shoes are also to die for but unfortunately my trip has just started and I don't feel like carting kilos of luggage.

Kris - you'd be proud of me!! To get from Rome to Florence, had to cart luggage through 1 bus, two trains and then onto Florence train. Never complained!!!! Actually wasn't too bad but must admit was buggered when I got to Florence!!

The train station in Rome was huge. 25 platforms just for regional trains. You don't get told what platform you are on until 10 mins prior to train leaving. And then its a mad rush to get on. There is no seating allocation so you have to find one yourself. Bit of a panic.

Otherwise, its pretty easy to find way around. Map is invaluable and its never out of my sight. Most italians speak a bit of English which is helpful. However the other day caught wrong bus and ended up actually off the map. >Knew it was the wrong way but thought it would eventually go back to where it started. no , not this one. It finished up a long way away. With the only bus driver who didn,t speak a word of English. Had to walk a bit but then found an alternate route back (very lucky) because there were no taxis or anything. Anyway, 1.5 hours later, got back to hotel. At least I saw a bit more of Florence.

Food is pretty good, although lots of carbs. Lunch is usually a panini or roll with ham and then dinner is usually pasta!

Im hanging out for a salad or vegs. Had a fantastic pizza for lunch so am still full. May try and find a salad for tea tonight. Doesnàt get dark until 9ish so havent actually seen it at night yet. Usually back in hotel by about 8ish. Tried to stay out later last night but there is not much to do.....

Tomorrow going on half day tour out into the country for Chianti tour -visit winery etc. Pretty expensive but its the only way to get out to the country.

Have organised Ferry to Split Croatia for Saturday and am spending Friday night at Ancona.

Once I get to Croatia, I,m going to try and be a bit more budget conscious and do more for myself (eg got tourist agency to organise ferry etc and it cost me about $30 commission.

Well, better go.. limited time and I still have to organise some accommodation in Croatia plus do some banking.

Having a great time but am missing everyone. Its very lonely travelling by yourself and miss talking to people. Must admit am having some great conversations with myself though!!! Gees, Iàm an interesting person!!

Lots of love

Kay