Ggggrrrrr just deleted my post before publishing and couldnt get it to undo! So here is a brief summary of what I said!
Trip to Bologna: Horrible, hot, long, smelly, stale coffee on t-shirt, weird men. Unnecessarily expensive and complicated, wrong queues, long walks to bus stops, stupid ticket systems resulting in potential fines, late buses, lack of announcements.
Hostel here may be in the middle of nowhere but staff are friendly, place is clean and my dorm is relatively quiet and cool. Have taken in instant disliking to one of my form mates, though.
Bologna: Piazza Maggiore, Trattoria recommended by Alasdair, Cathedral, Tower - knackering but amazing view, Chiesa San Stefano, Museo della Musica (shut), University (Via Zamboni). Tomorrow: San luca, laundry, poss bit of cheap clothes shopping, another main street. Lots of coffee and ice cream
Milan: Duomo and main square, Palazzio Reale and Art exhibition I couldnt go into, posh shopping centre, Teatro Scala, Pinacoteca di Brera and Castello Sfortezco, Liceo de Bella Arte, pasta and drinks with a Canadian and an American. Coffee and ice cream.
Have splashed out on food since being in Italy (and ONLY in Italy). Have temporarily moved away from my staple diet of on-the-move falafel and shawarma, kebabs, pizza slices and the occasional hotdog!!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Lake Contance - Milan (lovely train ride through Swiss Alps)
Am in Milan now and its boiling!!!!! Arrived at my hostel about half 8 last night a big sweaty mess! Asked for directions to nearest place for food and had a yummy cheap pizza. After that had a refreshing shower only to be all sweaty again within half an hour. As it was an all girls dorm I gladly slept on top of my sheets in just knickers last night and was STILL too hot. Seriously comtemplating paying extortionate rates for a hotel with aircon. Anyways, not yet ventured back into the centre, staying indoors as much as possible lol. Plan to see the Duomo and a few museums around it this avo, taking it slow and drinking lots of iced tea, before heading to Bologna tomorrow avo.
Saw Conny on Friday and Saturday!!! (German language assistant who I met in Gran Can last year - lived with Sasha and Alex) Hostel in Konstanz was not so nice - expensive but with free disgusting food - and I was on the 8th floor of a converted water tower with no lift! Also arrived too late to get a bus there so had to get a taxi.
So I wandered round the lake with Conny, saw the Cathedral and the university, went over the border into Switzerland where I had my lunch, had a coffee by the port and got sunburnt! Her parents also took us to the Rhein waterfalls in Switzerland, where we did a half hour boat ride - amazing! And to a castle somwhere but I forget the name. Didnt manage to get to Hornle beach though and Mainau Island was too expensive. Went out for cocktails with some of her uni friends on Saturday night at this cool beach bar. Havent really been out much so far as dont wanna spend money and havent been v lucky finding people in my dorms since Copenhagen. Though have met a few other travellers in hostel bars, I suppose I could have made more of the nightlife in Heidelberg and Cologne but Im generally knackered in the evenings and quite happy making just small talk with dormmates and reading/planning the next days adventures/listening to music.
Have met Dominika (sp?) from Poland, a girl from Taiwan, 2 girls from Singapore, and 2 girls from somewhere in Germany recently. Right, gotta go get something to drink!
Saw Conny on Friday and Saturday!!! (German language assistant who I met in Gran Can last year - lived with Sasha and Alex) Hostel in Konstanz was not so nice - expensive but with free disgusting food - and I was on the 8th floor of a converted water tower with no lift! Also arrived too late to get a bus there so had to get a taxi.
So I wandered round the lake with Conny, saw the Cathedral and the university, went over the border into Switzerland where I had my lunch, had a coffee by the port and got sunburnt! Her parents also took us to the Rhein waterfalls in Switzerland, where we did a half hour boat ride - amazing! And to a castle somwhere but I forget the name. Didnt manage to get to Hornle beach though and Mainau Island was too expensive. Went out for cocktails with some of her uni friends on Saturday night at this cool beach bar. Havent really been out much so far as dont wanna spend money and havent been v lucky finding people in my dorms since Copenhagen. Though have met a few other travellers in hostel bars, I suppose I could have made more of the nightlife in Heidelberg and Cologne but Im generally knackered in the evenings and quite happy making just small talk with dormmates and reading/planning the next days adventures/listening to music.
Have met Dominika (sp?) from Poland, a girl from Taiwan, 2 girls from Singapore, and 2 girls from somewhere in Germany recently. Right, gotta go get something to drink!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Cologne - Heidelberg
Did indeed go all of those places in Bremen! Also went to the Uberseemuseum there which was AMAZING!!! Def worth the 4.50 entrance fee! Didnt take me very long so got a bit bored. Have briefly met a few more people, but only chatting and small talk in hostel bars/dorms etc, not really done day trips or anything with anyone recently. A few Irish, couple more yanks, a girl from a competition-winning Hip hop group called Semier from Estonia (they were in Bremen for the IDO championships! A Dutch guy, a Chinese girl, Jon from Maidstone, an Ozzie, a guy from Lake Constance area where Im off to this evening and some Briitsh lads from Yorkshire.
Ive had a good dose of communal showers, only showered in a private cubicle twice so far. Anyways in Cologne I wandered round a lot, Stared in awe at the wow-factor cathedral and went in but not up the tower, went to a bar for a typical small Koln beer, the Gestapo museum and the Chocolate museum.
When got to Heidelberg I cheated and got a taxi to my acommodation (gave up after looking for the bus stop for not v long - it was quite late) which I regretted cos was further than I thought. Was a few dorms above a restaurant which doubled as the reception so I was really confused when I opened the door laiden with backpack et al to be faced with a full-on bar and restaurant - seriously thought Id got the wrong address while everyone sat there gawping at me for a while over their beers.
Have done laundry here, had a stress over accommodation in Contance (found somewhere now so wont be wasting a good extra 40 euros on a hotel like I did in Bremen and could probably quite easily have avoided had I taken the risk and just waited till I got there!) That said, tourist info was shut when I arrived. Been up to the castle and the Apotheke museum and the university prison for unruly students until 1914. Had a decent sit-down meal of wienerschnitzel last night cos you get good cheap rates on the restaurant downstairs if youre staying there.
Ive had a good dose of communal showers, only showered in a private cubicle twice so far. Anyways in Cologne I wandered round a lot, Stared in awe at the wow-factor cathedral and went in but not up the tower, went to a bar for a typical small Koln beer, the Gestapo museum and the Chocolate museum.
When got to Heidelberg I cheated and got a taxi to my acommodation (gave up after looking for the bus stop for not v long - it was quite late) which I regretted cos was further than I thought. Was a few dorms above a restaurant which doubled as the reception so I was really confused when I opened the door laiden with backpack et al to be faced with a full-on bar and restaurant - seriously thought Id got the wrong address while everyone sat there gawping at me for a while over their beers.
Have done laundry here, had a stress over accommodation in Contance (found somewhere now so wont be wasting a good extra 40 euros on a hotel like I did in Bremen and could probably quite easily have avoided had I taken the risk and just waited till I got there!) That said, tourist info was shut when I arrived. Been up to the castle and the Apotheke museum and the university prison for unruly students until 1914. Had a decent sit-down meal of wienerschnitzel last night cos you get good cheap rates on the restaurant downstairs if youre staying there.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
London - Copenhagen - Hamburg - Bremen
So had Anna´s Church Charity Ball on Friday 6th, was back up to Newcastle and home again in just over 24 hours. On Sunday I went to London to see the GC girlies. We had picnic lunches in Green Park, wandered to Buckingham Palace, went shopping in Debenhams and John Lewis on Oxford St, stopping for J2Os in the cafe in JL and went to Westminster and had McFlurries cos it was boiling.
Then on Tues morning, I flew to CPH from Bham - it was that morning that I learnt Donald Trump is a distant relative of mine!!!! Had a little explore once Id found my hostel, went to a supermarket for a few snacky things and chilled out in the hostel with Youri (French-British) and Arthur (Romanian) - and met Micah from the US as well as 2 US girls and a Canadian guy. On Wedsnesday, the weather was crap - I still managed to do the walking tour all the same, stopping at a cafe or 2 along the way for shelter. In the eve I went out for another explore and to 2 bars with Micah and we ended up in Pasta Basta for tea around 10pm!
On Thurs, went to Christiania with Micah and saw the clock in the Radhus. There was a free party for an hour or 2 in the main square where i drank a bit of free wine and beer, and got 3 free sausages - took an age to queue though. It was thrown by the council to celebrate the fact that CPH is the Worlds Best City according to some magazine.Then had falafel from a stand and went to Heidis bar and The Moose with Micah and Subramani, originally from Dubai, now living in Washington DC. Also went to the Frihedsmuseet at some point and spent a long time in Tourist Information, didnt manage to have a BBQ with Arthur or go some club where he works.
Got to Hamburg around 2pm yesterday. Got the shock of my life when I looked up from my book on the train to see that wed rolled onto a ferry! Had to get off for 45 minutes to go up to the deck where I had a disgusting spag bol for lunch. Hamburg hostel was v sterile and the staff werent v helpful but otherwise was ok, didnt do anything yesterday evening really - spent an hour booking hostels as far as Constance and have just spent an hour and a half now booking the rest. Wondered round the HUGE station, had a much-needed nap and read. This morning I checked out and wondered from the Hauptbahnhof to the Kunsthalle, to the Rathaus, to St Nikolai Church, where I went up in the lift, to St Michaelis Church to Landungsbrucken port area, to the St Pauli Fischmarkt, where I completely accidentally left the cafe without paying for my sandwich - oops. Every now and then I have to remind myself to remember to pay after my meal, since they dont charge you when you order - even if you go up to the till, like I did. Have only had 2 sit-down meals so far, which is still more than I was anticiapting by this stage.
Stopped for a yummy cheap white chocolate moccha, and then went to Reeperbahn (redlight district) tried to wander down the illegal Hebertstrasse, but a hooker eventually stopped me - everyone else was, blatantly tourists too! Also ended up in some free temporary funfair thing, but never found out what it was in aid of. That took less time than I expected so since Id already checked out and there wasnt much else for me to do - I did all that was suggested to me and more at Tourist Information - I went back to my hostel at Konigstrasse on the metro and caught an earlier train here. (I got a train at 3.30 instead of 8.30) Hostels here were all booked out tonight so Ive had to go for a hotel!!!! I obviously considered staying on an extra night in Hamburg so as not to have to stay in the hotel here tonight, but all the hostels were booked up in Hamburg tonight too! Its cheap here I suppose as far as hotels go, but Im not v happy. 59 euros. Although I do get my own room and a TV. But I went for shared bathroom, obviously cos its cheaper.
Have plans to see Anmarkt, Rathaus, Dom-Museum St Pedri, Bottcherstrasse, Schnoorviertel, Wallanglen, Kunsthalle, St Martini Kirsche and maybe Ostertorsteinweg near Am Dobben tomorrow before my morning train to Cologne on Monday. So Im moving to a hostel just down the road tomorrow morning. I tend to just admire things form the outside cos a) its quicker and so I see more and b) I dont want to pay entrance fees. Unless its meant to be spectacular, or free, I dont go inside, so I just walk round and round cities for a few hours.
Then on Tues morning, I flew to CPH from Bham - it was that morning that I learnt Donald Trump is a distant relative of mine!!!! Had a little explore once Id found my hostel, went to a supermarket for a few snacky things and chilled out in the hostel with Youri (French-British) and Arthur (Romanian) - and met Micah from the US as well as 2 US girls and a Canadian guy. On Wedsnesday, the weather was crap - I still managed to do the walking tour all the same, stopping at a cafe or 2 along the way for shelter. In the eve I went out for another explore and to 2 bars with Micah and we ended up in Pasta Basta for tea around 10pm!
On Thurs, went to Christiania with Micah and saw the clock in the Radhus. There was a free party for an hour or 2 in the main square where i drank a bit of free wine and beer, and got 3 free sausages - took an age to queue though. It was thrown by the council to celebrate the fact that CPH is the Worlds Best City according to some magazine.Then had falafel from a stand and went to Heidis bar and The Moose with Micah and Subramani, originally from Dubai, now living in Washington DC. Also went to the Frihedsmuseet at some point and spent a long time in Tourist Information, didnt manage to have a BBQ with Arthur or go some club where he works.
Got to Hamburg around 2pm yesterday. Got the shock of my life when I looked up from my book on the train to see that wed rolled onto a ferry! Had to get off for 45 minutes to go up to the deck where I had a disgusting spag bol for lunch. Hamburg hostel was v sterile and the staff werent v helpful but otherwise was ok, didnt do anything yesterday evening really - spent an hour booking hostels as far as Constance and have just spent an hour and a half now booking the rest. Wondered round the HUGE station, had a much-needed nap and read. This morning I checked out and wondered from the Hauptbahnhof to the Kunsthalle, to the Rathaus, to St Nikolai Church, where I went up in the lift, to St Michaelis Church to Landungsbrucken port area, to the St Pauli Fischmarkt, where I completely accidentally left the cafe without paying for my sandwich - oops. Every now and then I have to remind myself to remember to pay after my meal, since they dont charge you when you order - even if you go up to the till, like I did. Have only had 2 sit-down meals so far, which is still more than I was anticiapting by this stage.
Stopped for a yummy cheap white chocolate moccha, and then went to Reeperbahn (redlight district) tried to wander down the illegal Hebertstrasse, but a hooker eventually stopped me - everyone else was, blatantly tourists too! Also ended up in some free temporary funfair thing, but never found out what it was in aid of. That took less time than I expected so since Id already checked out and there wasnt much else for me to do - I did all that was suggested to me and more at Tourist Information - I went back to my hostel at Konigstrasse on the metro and caught an earlier train here. (I got a train at 3.30 instead of 8.30) Hostels here were all booked out tonight so Ive had to go for a hotel!!!! I obviously considered staying on an extra night in Hamburg so as not to have to stay in the hotel here tonight, but all the hostels were booked up in Hamburg tonight too! Its cheap here I suppose as far as hotels go, but Im not v happy. 59 euros. Although I do get my own room and a TV. But I went for shared bathroom, obviously cos its cheaper.
Have plans to see Anmarkt, Rathaus, Dom-Museum St Pedri, Bottcherstrasse, Schnoorviertel, Wallanglen, Kunsthalle, St Martini Kirsche and maybe Ostertorsteinweg near Am Dobben tomorrow before my morning train to Cologne on Monday. So Im moving to a hostel just down the road tomorrow morning. I tend to just admire things form the outside cos a) its quicker and so I see more and b) I dont want to pay entrance fees. Unless its meant to be spectacular, or free, I dont go inside, so I just walk round and round cities for a few hours.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Back in Worcester, no longer a student!
Got back to Worcs just under 24 hours ago. Since then have not stopped! Unpacked and had a massive clear-out which I got done in just over 5 hours. Now the spare bed is piled with shoes, handbags, belts, books, DVDs, CDs, and one hell of a lot of clothes I no longer want. The more I can sell rather than give away, the better.
Last exam was on Monday, went ok I think. Celebrated with 3 pints of diesel at the union before going home where Anna's Aunt cooked us a lovely meal as a thankyou for having her to stay, then went to meet salsa people at Osbornes. Thurs night - Sturday night my parents had been up to take my stuff home, we went for Tapas the first night, then a pub meal at the Keelman out at Newburn on Friday, before a curry at Rumana at Cowgate on the Saturday.
Friday night was especially good cos went to the Black Swan for once as Mo and Angie were up visiting, did the traditional Mango's trip afterwards, not that I ordered anything!!!!
Had a dentist appt this morn, its the docs tomo morn, and the opticians on Friday morn! Then heading back up to Newc for 24 hours for the ball. Today, Ive started redownloading itunes, its currently converting all my files, then gotta copy ALL my CDs before I get rid of them, and sync my ipod whilst downloading more songs from limewire. The modern world is such an effort! It will take me all of today and tomorrow to sort out my ipod before interrailing!
Ive cancelled my phone insurance, rung up for my payroll number from the Hilton and filled out the relevant P forms, set up my nationwide account properly online and transferred money, printed off insurance documents for Europe, updated my travel list, sorted out the mess in the spare room and checked through my certificates file and sorted through photos on Facebook, whilst checking my CV. Bureaucracy!
Have still got to: thank A. Anne and U. Ian for my present, email Colin and Trini, apply for an internship with AIESEC, get 5 CDS worth of photos developed, send a SA envelope to Abi, send tax info, buy/find a large memory card, a mask and an earring holder, sort out my finances, collect dress from drycleaners, get my fringe cut and bikini line done, pay parents back, contact H &S?, sort out Caroline's present and SIGN ONTO THE DOLE!
Off to London on Sun to meet up with the GC girls!
Last exam was on Monday, went ok I think. Celebrated with 3 pints of diesel at the union before going home where Anna's Aunt cooked us a lovely meal as a thankyou for having her to stay, then went to meet salsa people at Osbornes. Thurs night - Sturday night my parents had been up to take my stuff home, we went for Tapas the first night, then a pub meal at the Keelman out at Newburn on Friday, before a curry at Rumana at Cowgate on the Saturday.
Friday night was especially good cos went to the Black Swan for once as Mo and Angie were up visiting, did the traditional Mango's trip afterwards, not that I ordered anything!!!!
Had a dentist appt this morn, its the docs tomo morn, and the opticians on Friday morn! Then heading back up to Newc for 24 hours for the ball. Today, Ive started redownloading itunes, its currently converting all my files, then gotta copy ALL my CDs before I get rid of them, and sync my ipod whilst downloading more songs from limewire. The modern world is such an effort! It will take me all of today and tomorrow to sort out my ipod before interrailing!
Ive cancelled my phone insurance, rung up for my payroll number from the Hilton and filled out the relevant P forms, set up my nationwide account properly online and transferred money, printed off insurance documents for Europe, updated my travel list, sorted out the mess in the spare room and checked through my certificates file and sorted through photos on Facebook, whilst checking my CV. Bureaucracy!
Have still got to: thank A. Anne and U. Ian for my present, email Colin and Trini, apply for an internship with AIESEC, get 5 CDS worth of photos developed, send a SA envelope to Abi, send tax info, buy/find a large memory card, a mask and an earring holder, sort out my finances, collect dress from drycleaners, get my fringe cut and bikini line done, pay parents back, contact H &S?, sort out Caroline's present and SIGN ONTO THE DOLE!
Off to London on Sun to meet up with the GC girls!
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