Day 11 - CHEESYBREAD!

So shaky start to the morning… The Busabout bus always leave at 8am. Turned over in the morning, looked at my phone. 7.55am

FUCK!!

I JUMPED out of my bunk, put pants on, shoved EVERYTHING I could find in my backpack, Shoved shoes on, grabbed my bags and RAN downstairs.

I made it!!! Only just, but I did.

Anyway the bus was reasonably empty, there were less than 10 of us. It was cruisy, watched a few movies, made a few stops at the equivalent to servos. Got some bad food, met some people too.

Our guide told us why Switzerland can afford to be so neutral. Apparently every male here has to go to 15 weeks of army like training when they turn 18. And then have to do like 2 weeks every year until they’re in their mid 50’s. And they have like dynamite hidden under all their bridges and mountains to keep everyone out if shit gets heavy AND every house has to have access to a bomb shelter. CRAZY hey, they don’t have an army, it’s like a whole country of army.

We stopped in Bern in Switzerland, It was a REALLY pretty town. They have like bear pits and holdings, they’re huge, but we didn’t have time to see it.

Then we made it to Lauterbrunnen. We found out that there was a festival on at our camping grounds (don’t worry, I’m in a cabin) So we hung out there, had some bratwurst, and some cheesy bread. Basically they melt the top layer of a wheel of cheese, then scrape it off onto bread, SOOOOOOOO good. There were traditional cow bell ringers..? Lol and yodellers and drummers. Was pretty cool.

That night I met the girls properly from the Busabout, all Australian lol. Cool chicks, found out one girl is from Frankston and went to my high school LOL.

Later that night we went to a bar at our camping grounds called the ‘bombshelter’ and there was a Contiki group… OH MY WORD!! Whores, all like 18 year old whores, just getting naked and humping each other. Entertaining, but shocking… Awful like girls gone wild for Australian guys and girls. I talked to one of the guys and he said it was a pretty relaxed night for them… hate to see what an intense night would be :S

Anyway.

Today was a good day in the end.

Things that made me happy; Cheesy bread and beer.

Things that made me sad; The price of chest bread and beer.

Day 10 - Still hating

So my second day in Paris sucked. I didn’t even want to leave my hostel I hate Paris so much, everything is dirty and smells. The area I’m in is kind of seedy.

I felt pretty homesick today, I talked to dad on the phone, but then I ran out of credit, even though I should have like 200 free minutes to Australia… For some reason it isn’t working here… Talking to dad made me really homesick, I miss everyone so much…

I did want to go on a walking tour, but as it turns out, the walking tour at 1pm wasn’t picking us up from our hostel, and I didn’t know how to get to the meeting point… I did try, but I found some food, and just ate that in my room instead.

I literally didn’t leave my room all day until some girls came back, and discovered I was homesick, and took me out to dinner.

We walked to dinner to get some French soup, but it turned out to be like a REALLY expensive restaurant, so we went somewhere else and had Itilian food… Lol. Then we had crepes with nutella and banana. Crepes, NATIONAL DISH!

Even walking back to the hostel I felt seedy and unsafe.

I don’t like Paris. Simple.

Things that made me happy today; Chocolate eclairs.

Things that made me sad; Pretty much everything else.

Day 9 - Frogs are gross.

So..... Paris isn't for me. YES I know I'm probably judging it way too early, but yesterday was kind of horrendous.

I caught the Eurostar, piece of cake out of London, but once I got to Paris and got OFF the train, I froze. I had like NO clue of where I was or where I was going or what train to catch. Also my phone provider didn't tell me that it was going to cost me 2pounds per MB, so I used up like 20 pounds in like 6 minutes using the maps on my phone.

Some guy did eventually help me buy a ticket, but I think he ripped me off 4 euro, I really didn't care because I just wanted to get to my hostel, and at least I got a ticket. He is the nicest person I've met here so far... :S

I much have looked like SUCH a tourist.... Everyone was rude, apparently its because they think I could be American, but I don't know how to prove otherwise?? Like literally be like "hi I'm Australian, help me!"

So yeah... finally made it to the hostel, really cool hostel actually. But there's a French woman in my room who has like no issue getting naked, and just sat in the room drinking wine all day?

I was going to get up and go on a walking tour this morning, but apparently its like 4 hours long, and I really can't be fucked today.... I'm a bit apathetic about Paris this time around, I'm glad I'm leaving tomorrow.

But don't worry!!! I will be back in a few weeks, and I will definitely make an effort to see things. This time round its basically a stop over. I'm just going to relax and eat today, and find another phone card....

Day 8 - London underground cheesy runs

So today was pretty cruisy.

I went and did some washing because I'm leaving for Paris tomorrow, there was a crazy lady in the laundromat that was insulted I was using 'her' machine, then called me a liar when I said I'd been there once, then started talking about how backpackers have been murdered :S

Anyway whatever. When I got back to the hostel, Matt asked if I wanted to go to a gig in Camden, I was like 'hell yeah' So we chilled around our hostel room (still only the two of us) and then ventured to Camden.

We searched EVERYWHERE for the food stalls I ate at last time I was there, but I couldn't find them, so we settled for some Indian instead, was delicious! Full takeaway container FULL of rice and curry for like 3pounds.

I've come to a conclusion. Things here aren't expensive like everyone says, its just that you have to buy more of it. Like, alcohol for example, a pint of beer will cost you like 3 pound and maybe 50p. That's reasonably cheap, the thing is, backpackers go out and drink EVERY night, so instead of spending like $50 at home on a night out once a week, they're spending like 30 pound, but like 4 times a week. Same with food, You don't eat out twice everyday at home. That's my theory anyway....

So anyway back to my day. After eating Matt and I found this cool bar called the Blues Bar on Camden's main strip. We sat around and had some drinks (got a little tipsy) and then watched a set for this one band, can't remember what they were called, but they were pretty good. I'm really glad I did that in Camden, I sort of feel like I did something non-touristy.

The cool thing about night life in London is the variety of people. There are old, young, hipsters, punks, goths, preppy dudes with cardigans on their shoulders, women in their late 60's having a girls night, quite obvious American tourists (oh my god they stick out like dogs balls here! So obvious) There is a cool variety of people.

After the gig, we caught the tube home, did a cheesy run (making the Yarraville crew proud) Its weird because they have so many different things on the menu, I was a little tipsy and walked up the the counter and asked for a cheeseburger like this;

"hey man, uh.,.. could I please have a cheeseburger.... Um..... You do have cheeseburgers here don't you?" he just laughed at me and was like "yeah, yeah we do"

Anyway I ordered these;


Yep, they're what you're thinking, crumbed, deep fried mozzarella sticks with salsa dipping sauce. AMAZING! I want these in Australia!! Although the McFlurry's aren't as good...

Anyway, that was my day, all in all a cool last day in London. I'll be sad to say good bye to Matt, hes a cool dude, and very cruisy, but I'm also excited to meet new people.

Love and miss you all xoxo

Day 7 - London Eye and Greenwich

So I apologise for there not being a blog yesterday. I had quite a boring day, I just rode around on the tube with this guy I met from Perth called Matt, and that's pretty much what we did all day, Heaps of walking and a bit of food;


The big bfast for 4.50 Pounds


A banoffee crepe, crepe's are EVERYWHERE here.

Today was fantastic though.

I had decided I was going to go to the London Eye, Matt asked me in the morning what I was doing and decided he wanted to go as well. We also planned to go to Stone Henge if we had enough time after the London Eye, but as it turned out we didn't.

We headed down there and waited in line for a while, but TOTALLY worth it. The views are spectacular, and it really helps you get your bearings and understand where everything is in relation to everything else. Pics of course;


It lasts for about half an hour, and you get a full 360degree view of the city, its pretty cool.

These are some really interesting buskers along the Thames river near the eye, there were SOOOOOO many, I got lots more pics, but here's a few.


After that was done, we realised we didn't have enough time for Stonehenge, so I had an idea to go see Greenwich park (the Aussie guy behind the desk at my hostel said it was cool) so we missioned on down to Greenwich.

When we got there, we had some fish and chips and cider in the park. Oh yeah!! You can totally just buy booze here in like corner stores and super markets. Like, the local milkbar sells booze, its great, I had forgotten about it until yesterday.

I only found out yesterday that London is in the middle of a heat wave, with 'highs' of 26. LOL But I have to say, it does feel hot? And the sun here is NOWHERE near as harsh in Australia. I accidentally walked around ALL day without sunscreen and I'm not even the slightest bit red even. (but don't worry, I wont do that again, total mistake)

We then realised we got locked in a park?? Really odd, so we had to walk right around Greenwich park to find an exit, and in doing so, realised there was an observatory at the top of a hill in Greenwich park. We were so on it.

So we walked up this massive hill to try to get to the top of this observatory, and although it was a really nice sunny day, the heat made it kind of hard (even to Matt who surfs like everyday at home) Upon reaching the top of the hill, we realised that there was another MASSIVE hill hidden behind it... sneaky sneaky, anyway, that got put into the 'too hard basket' maybe when I come back and the weather is a bit cooler I will attempt it again.

We then basically made our way home, I missed the stop on the really crowded train and couldn't get off, and then my train stopped for AGES at a platform on the way back to my stop. But only the first mistake on the tube!! I'm kind of proud of that.

Once I got home I was so tired I just plonked into bed (it also didn't help that I had a pretty bad headache all day that I couldn't get rid of, even though I battled through it and did everything) So Matt and I ended up being the only people in our 6 person dorm last night, and we both fell asleep, he woke me up a few hours later, and offered to get me some food, I said yes, because I could barely move with my headache. Turns out neither of us looked at the clock and it was like 10.30 by the time he left to get food (yeah, still like 'dusk' light here at that time) so he came back empty handed, disappointing. We both just slept after that.

Oh, we also visited the oldest underground railway station in the world, Baker street.



Anywhoo, overall a very good day :)

Things that made me happy today; Hearing little posh kids call their parents "Papa and Mama" Sunny weather in Greenwich park (sorry I didn't get pics :S) and not getting Sunburned.

Things that made me sad; Not eating anything for like 2o hours straight. And dreaming about home :(

Oh PS, this day marked the one week of me not being at home.

Day 5 - Chilling

So I really didn't do much today. I was REALLY tired and just hung around the hostel doing not much.

I did go out and find a full English breakfast for like 4.50 pound which was AWESOME.

I also went and had some curry which was really tasty, not chicken Tikki-masala so unfortunately it doesn't fit into a national dish lol.

I met a bunch of people at my hostel yesterday all staying in my room, one American girl called Amanda, a guy from Perth called Matt, a guy from Germany Patty, his girlfriend Tammy, she's English, and two French guys who were in a different room. We all were sitting around the hostel yesterday, and ended up playing cards and drinking games and chatting until the wee hours of the morning. Was good to meet some other people who had traveled a lot.

Other than that, my day was VERY chilled and I didn't do much, so this is a reasonably boring post, sorry about that.

Love and miss you all, hopefully tomorrow will be a bit more interesting.

xoxo

Day 4 - Camden!

Camden. Yes. Oh yes! I've found a second love.

This place is AMAZING! The markets are amazing, everything is so alternative and hip. I love it, I could easily live here.

Miles and I spent like 5 hours just walking around the market, then another few wandering around Camden itself.

The markets are amazing. I've never seen so many amazingly multi-cultural cuisines in one place. There was everything you could think of, Pakistani, African, Italian, Spanish, I can’t even think of any more but there were HEAPS more! I had a Pakistani Roti, SOOOOO good! (9/10)

I'm planning to come back to London for a week at the end of my 3 months, and stay JUST in Camden and eat at the markets everyday.

Anywhoo some pictures now to try to show the awesomness of Camden.

All the shops on the main street have really awesome art and stuff on the buildings.

These are the seats along the canal at the market.


The whole market has these really amazing brass statues throughout it, I didn’t get enough pictures of them, but I will definitely be back here and I will.






Its all situated along a canal, which is really kind of pretty.


Part of the market was built in what used to be old horse stables (hence the statues of the horses)



This shop was AMAZING, it was called 'cyberdog' And it was basically a store full of cyber goth stuff, clothing and accessories, it was like 3 stories high, PUMPING out techno music, and half naked girls go-go dancing everywhere. Everything glowed. Very entertaining.



Miles and I enjoying a cruisy Sheesa pipe.

Things that made me happy today; Camden!!!! And finding fantastic gifts for people.

Things that made me sad today; Not having enough money or space in my bag to buy amazing clothes and stuff, and finding fantastic gifts for people and realising I have to wait 3 months to give it to them.