Budapest to Prague Tuesday 9th October

Photos from 'no mans land' We took the tent down for the last time this morning and lets not forget to mention how excited we were as now officially don't have to have anything to do with the thing again!!! Once again we were on the bus by 8am and begun our day of travelling. We drove through Hungary into Austria, but did not stopped. We crossed the Austrian boarder into an area called 'no mans land' as it is not owned by anyone and is tax free. It is the space after the Austrian boarder and before Czech Republic. We stopped here for luch. The place is themed, Josh and I took a walk in the restaurant inside the jet plane, unfortnuatly it was not opened for luch. Then we went to a duty free shop and brought some really cheap alcohol - shop was like a castle with dragon on the top. We went to the pharmacy and got Josh some cheap drugs for his cold - they are real ones by the way that you buy in NZ/London. Josh has a cold, everybody on our trip is sick and i think the germs are being spread by the aircon in the bus. There was also an Asian market to do some cheap shopping but we didn't have any cash so unfortunalty for us or fortunatly for our wallets we didn't go in! We then completed our trip to a Hostel we are staying in, in Prague. We arrived at 7pm, just in time for Hostel dinner, which again is no dishes and we get to look foward to breakfast tomorrow as well! The dorms are share with 6 otheres, all from our group and we share the same bathroom, but it is great - we even have sheets tonight! We're very excited, the others have gone out the pub but we have decided to enjoy the sheets, rest up and get well for some good sightseeing tomorrow. The photos will be loaded up when i get back home!

Budapest Monday 8th October

Opera House

Parliament

St Stephens

Chain Bridge by night on the river cruise

Andrassey

The pools - after the sauna On the way up to the top of the hill to see the independance monument

Hero's square, with momument to the unamed soilder

Dinner in the evening - look at the hungarian doll I brought, I am told the red dress means she's from Budapest.

Fishermans Bastion Horse and cart ride

Women of Liberty on the hill

We woke up refreshed after more than 6hours sleep for a change! Today was a 'free day' which meant no organised tours. Lots of us went first to the thermal baths and had a lovely soak and sauna. The sauna was full of Hungarian people and it was so hot! not like the ones in NZ! A Hungarian lady was trying to communicate with me, something with me about my feet, I think it was because i had no jandels on - everyone else did! She told me to sit the next level up, then when I got out of the sauna she told me to get into the plunge pool - which was freezing and very unpleasant - everybody was laughing at me as i shrieked when i got in and hurried out. Then I was told to have a shower - i just did what I was told! I think I got it right, but it was funny! We then headed out to see the sights of Buda and Pest. We walked over the chain bridge, went to the Parliament buildings - which are fashioned after the London ones. We looked at the palace, castle hill and walked around Fisherman's bastion - it's called this because it used to be a fish market. Now it has Disney themed buildings on it. There are 2 hills that overlook Budapest. One is the one above called 'castle hill' and the other end is a hill with an Independence monument on it - a statue of a lady with a palm leaf proclaiming the freedom of Hungary. it can be seen from almost anywhere in town. There are heaps of museums in Budapest - more than anywhere else. We didn't have time to go to any and the spy one, which we wanted to go to, was closed on Monday, so a bit disappointing. We looked around numerous churches including the famous St Stephens and the Opera House. We walked down the Andrassy, which is fashioned like the Champs elysses in Paris, with a monument at one end. The monument is called Heroes Square that honours the Millennial Anniversary (1896) of the magar conquest. There was also a Labyrinth that ran underneath the palace, we went to walk it and started, we got about 5 minutes and I freaked out, it was ark and scary so we quickly left - me with Josh in tow! At least I got a refund! In the afternoon we took a horse and carriage ride around Castle Hill and saw the Magdalena Church remains, it was bombed in the war and only a bit remains. We ate dinner at a Hungarian restaurant trying Goulash and Paprika potatoes, as paprika is the national spice. After dinner we went ot a Hungarian folk dance concert - it was amazing, especially the men, they move their legs really fast and do a lot feet and leg slapping. We ended the evening by taking a cruise down the Danube and seeing the sights by night - so beautiful. All in all an excellent experience of Budapest.

Zagreb to Budapest, Hungary Sunday 7th October

Lenin

Statues in the park we went to - massive! Soviet Union Statue Waking up in the hotel was great - no camp dishes as the price included breakfast at the hotel. We were still gone in the bus and on the road at 8am (this is what happens every morining, it means up by 6am! such an early start everyday!). We drove through to Budapest, Hungary. The first stop was Szober Park, which is in the Buda part of Budapest. The parks is full of socialist statutes that used to around Budapest to remind them who was in charge when communism was in rule - the statues are now relegated to the park! Then we drove around the streets seeing some of the sights by bus. Unfortunately we had to set up a tent tonight, but it will our last time! Yes! It was freezing outside so after dinner we put on our thermals and jumped into our sleeping bag, this was at 9pm, and stayed there till the morning, nice and warm! Go Marks and Spencer's thermals!

Friday 5th Octomber - Let the camping begin!

Above, the promendade outsdie the palace and on the water Below, the palace courtyard. The tower I climbed. View of Split from the top of the tower Sign outside the church - guess what type of dog it is!!!! - No Angie's allowed in here! The tent!! Need I say more! We started the day in Split, having a look around Diociossin Palace and climbing up the bell tower to look over the city, of which Josh declined due to the narrow staircase and already bumping his head! A lovely sunny day and at 4pm we headed out to join the camping tour! Well i have to saw night one was a real experience!!! We put up a tent, slept on lilos - of which mine went down in the night! we ate camp food of hamburgers and showerd in communal showers that filled up around your feet and toilets that lacked paper! So as yzou can see we are off to a great start - at least it is still warm! We made the most of the evening and walked around the water with the others - oh and did I mention the mean age is 19years - grandpa and grandma Jones! We danced at a local pub and made the most of it!!! More stories to come I am sure!

The ABs - oh my gosh! Saturday 6th October

Above, an old chapel, that was in the wall of the city, but was blown-up, however, the only thing to survive is the painting of Mary (see below - although it is now kept behind a grate). So a chappel has been errected in the entrance way here to honour the picutre, which is said to be important as it managed to survive. Well, what can i say, our day started with froot loops and warm milk for Josh and a banana for me - camp food is not the greatest! We travelled in the bus for 5 hours to Zagreb - the capital of Croatia and did a walking tour in the rain! Our day looked up as we checked into a hotel for the night - so very very nice and much better than camping! We all headed out to a pub in town to watch the game and how fortunate we felt to be in a room with some French so we could gloat when we won! Need i say more, Josh is in gross depression and our experience is dampered!! A very disapointing day! Oh and lets just add to the day that Josh in addition to bumping his head yesterday now has an officially infected mosiquitoe bite and stubbed his toe and is now limping and gushing blood each time he moves his foot! Ah yes! An experience to say the least!

Thursday 4th October- Split

In the picture above we are eating lunch at a restaurant on another 'beach' with pebbles with sunloungers on them - look in the background of the photo. The town square below. Walking around the town, along the waterfront. Today we were organised for the Island and got up early to catch the 9am ferry to Hvar, an island off Split. It was again characterized by an old town with monastaries and pebble beaches. From what we've seen most areas in Croatia seem to have an old town with narrow lanes and orange/clay roof tiles. We walked around the water then once again lay on sun loungers - which cost $9NZD each - how expensive, but it's not like you can lye on the pebbles - too hard, although we have seen some people lying on lilos! After cocktails at the harbour we had a luch of meat! Our first non-seafood meal since we have been here! We caught the ferry back to Split for 7.30pm and got a quick bite to eat before going to bed! Saving our energy to join up with our camping tour tomorrow!

Wednesday 3rd October Dubrovnik to Split

We spent the morning lying on sun loungers at the beach in Lapad before leaving to fly to Split. We were going to catch the bus but thanks to Josh and his blackberry and Mike and 10 extra pounds we took a 35minute flight instead of a 5 hour bus ride! Befor leaving Dubrovnik it is noteable to mention the amount of cats everywhere, they would sit next to you begging for food! We arrived in Split at 4pm and once again are staying another great guesthouse only minutes from the harbour and old town. We walked around the place and looked in the shops after having dinner at another lovely seafood restuarant and eating mussles again! Although, not before trying black risotto - which is made blacke from the ink in the squid! It tasted good but the colour was slightly off putting!