Trippin thru Europe

We arrived that afternoon in Graz, Austria. Graz is a small city that we didnt expect too much from, but when we are picking places to go we always pick some unknown place just so we can stay somehwhere out of the tousit areas and exprience the country naturally. So this was our first exprience with Austria, a country which we really did not know what too expect from. The travel to Austria was absolutly gorgeous and the train station was very nice which is always a good sign about the city. So here we were entering another language barrier, German. What can I say about german, well it sounds hilarious when people are talking, people here tend to have very intense conversations full of spit. It turns out that Graz is known for its architecture and unigue design. I planned a big walk for the next day and we went to Mission Impossible III ok movie. One of the pieces of crazy design was one art mueseum that looks like a giant brain and at night has a crazy light show so we watched that for a while and went to sleep. The next morning after the best sleep I have had yet on this trip we went on our big walk. In the middle of the river is a large cafe/seating area that floats on top of the water so we hung out there for a while and then slowly began dropping things from our iteneray for that day. Next we went to the brain to see what was actually inside. Here were photo exibits and other art exibits. Next we made our way downtown to the largest collection of medival armoury in the world, guess whos idea that was, not mine! So I lasted about three floors and it was amazing the collection they had. Entire floors were dedicated to guns, helmets, and body armour. Some guns were so big it would have taken Josh and I to lift it, let alone actually fire the thing, I guess accuaracy wasnt too high on the list of priorities. On our way back to the train station we stopped at a square where a festival was going on, we do have the best timing ever. Graz was the first city we were to exprience the trams, bikes and vehicles dilemna. Crossing the road requires precise timing. Here there was a display of the Brazilian dance fighting, which is very fun to watch. So after our short stay in Graz we were off to Vienna, the capital of Austria.

So pretty much the entire country of Austria is very beautiful somewhat like the rocky mountain area in canada but bigger mountains and the cities are all green and beautiful except for Vienna. Vienna is nice in its own way, it is the capital so the forests are not included. Vienna is an amazing city with important architecture, museums, and galleries on every corner. We ended up spending four days here but I would recommend a week to see most of it. Once we arrived at the station we called and got a place to stay, directions and took a few trams to get there, trams are a very big thing here. So this city would be our first exprience with the domination of bicycles. So in larger European cities, bikes are a very important and efficent way for everyone to get around. No longer do cars rule the road but bicycles and trams. Here there are seperate bike lanes on the road one in each direction like real traffic lanes and they also have bike traffice lights. It takes a while to get used to walking without getting in the way of something, here you have to watch out for trams, bikes, cars and people it can be dangerous! We found our pension which was once again in the ghetto, nice place. So lots to do unfortunatly the next mornign I found out that I had missed the Vienna Boys Choir, something I really wanted to see but thats ok it was too early in the morning. So we headed off for some museums, first a modern art museuem that included a exibit of the sacrifice of cows for religious ceremonies and then being spread on the people of the village, I think that was a bit to modern arty for me and then some other disturbing exhbits. My favorite was the pop art section, Andy Warhol and others. This year is very important for the people of AUstria because it is Mozarts 250th birthday. So to celebrate you can buy Mozart chocolate, perfume, ice cream, wigs, hats, penicls, toliet paper, whatever you want you can have it Mozart style. I am a huge fan of the artist Gustav Klimt, he paints the most beautiful pictures ever using gold leafing and sometimes jewels. One of his paintings just went for something like 125 million, yes ridiculous. Anyways one of the muesuems we went to has a large golden roof top that people call the golden cabbage. Here houses the Beethoven Friez by Gustaz Klimt and it was awesome. Vienna is supposed to have one of the best opera venue for accoutics in the world so we thought we would check one out. If you line up a couple hours before a show you can get standing room tickets for only 5 euros or something cheap like that but we would try another night as the touirst lady said that tonight was completly sold out and that everyone standing in line was stupid, her words not mine. Downtown through the amzing cobblestone streets lies the most exclusive and expensive shops you could imagine. In the centre is the famous St. Stephens cathedral. An amaxingly beautiful church with the icing lattice work that goes on forever. Beside the church were some very entertaining breakdancers. One woman probably in here early 90s was either drunk or just really into breakdancing because she would not stop dancing and wandering around the boys while they were right in the middle of their show. This was very entertaining. Inside the cathedral you know the usal amazingness. But here they have tours of the catacombs daily so we had to come back and check that out. Later we were making our way back home through the palace garden and then through the city hall, Vienna has really amzing architecture, everything is huge and very important and old looking. So we heard music and chanting, what else could it be but a football(soccer) party. That was the conclusion of our first day in Vienna. Next day we began with the very interesting Sigmund Freud mueseum. This extensive mueseum has kept tons of his belongings and has a written description about every single one. The building was actually one that he lived in for many years in Vienna. After we walked for awhile aroun the beautiful city. There is absolutly tons to see here, so walking anywhere you will bump into much to see. We made our way downtown again and went for the catacombs tour. I knew that catacombs meant underground tunnels but did not know it was a place to bury the "important" dead. This was a extensive underground tunnel. At one point in history when the plague hit Europe bodies we scraped by slaves and stacked flawlessly in these huge rooms. The number of bones and skulls and everything was crazy and creepy. I was really excited about this evening because we decided that we would go to the opera. We went into the building which was a good sign, usually the line starts outside the building. I went to sit down but one of the ushers asked me if I had any other shoes, I was wearing thong sandals. I didnt and he said I would have difficulty getting in, I mean what is that, will I get in or not? He said I wouldnt be able to so dissapointingly we left. That night we went around to a few different pubs and had some drinks in Vieanna. The next day we were up early to go see the huge Schönbrunn palace.

This extensive place was only mostly the summer home of the Hapsburgs but nonetheless it is still amazing. We took the coulple hour long audio and I have never seen some many beautiful rooms. One was dedicated entirely to the blue and white china, another for the black-laqured wood with ivory asian carvings, it was really a great thing to see. Inside is a maze, gardens the size of a small city, foutains, and a strudel bakery! With our tickets we got a free sample and demonstration on how to make strudel, we just got our sample and left. One place Lonely Planet suggests is the HaustWien it mentions something about it being dreamlike and fantastic. The building was easy to see once we reached the proper street. THe building is tiled in all colors from bottom to top with wavy concrete that creates small hills. We still had no idea what this place was but it looked like fun. Once inside the theme continued the floors we wavy everywhere with bright decorations and tiles for walls. Turns out this is a gallery for a very talented and creative artist who I do not remember the name of but his pieces I will never forget. This guy is like a kid who has never grown up. He has designed buildings that have actually been carried out. The are the most fun, creative and beautiful designs I have ever seen!
Then we went to the Mac Mueseum the modern art something. It was great lots of old furniture and carpets and weird art.

Around 10am we arrived at the train station in the capital city Lijubljana a city whose name is one letter away from the translation to 'jewel'. As usual we were completly unprepared so the first step was to find a place to sleep. We began with our lonely planet book which is a few years old but has not disapointed yet, that is until today. We went to one hotel the book suggested because it had good prices and seemed like a nice place to stay. Once we got there we could not get over the prices! It was so cheap we were picking out all the things we could add on to the room just because it was so ridiculosly cheap. Slovenia has one of those currencies that deal with very high numbers like 5000 tolars equals 26 CAD. So turns out we were reading the price list a little bit wrong, you know off by a couple thousand. Instead of the price being 3000 tolars it was more like 30 000, its the fact that they use decimals when we use commas, thats what screwed us up. So we quickly ducked out and began to search at a few different places. So we strolled along the water to see what we could find then went to the toursit office which turned out to be very helpful. They called one private place a pension that would take us in. So we took another death defying cab ride there, we have gotten to really enjoy taxi rides now. So we had a usual nap, the train we had taken the night before wasnt so successful because this time the heat would not turn off and I was so hot I thought my feet were going to shoot off like rockets!! Today was Monday so all museums were closed so we decided to just walk around. We had not heard to much about Lijubljana and from first appearences it did not strike me as a place with too much to see so we figured we would leave the big city and head to a little resort town the next day. This night we went down to the water for something to eat and found the perfect resturant where a little band started to play and attracted a bunch of media attention, I know I know they just cant stay away from me. After we walked through the city park which is absolutly gigantic. In easter europe they really appreciate their green space. We got a little lost, well I think so but Josh says he knew the whole time and a couple hours later arrived back at our place. So not anything against this beautiful city full of old buildings and museums but it just didnt strike us as anything we hadent seen before. The next day was another early one, we had a big day planned and it started with a train ride to Postyana a city that attracts millions of vistors a year because of its caves that are the third largest in the world at 21 km long. It was a rainy cold day, oh yes just great for super humid cold caves. I rented a jacket because in one of my purges of sending stuff home I sent home my rain jacket and only have one sweater which is just stupid. Anyways we boarded the little train a took off for a few km into the cave. There is just nothing like what I saw that day. These caves which absolutly gigantic enough to house underground cities. We traveled for about 20 minutes into the cave and then got out for an hours walking tour. Hear we saw all types of stalagmites and stalactites and saw some human fish. The tour was phenomonal well the caves were, even those I was cold the trip was very much worth it. After we got a taxi up to the train station and got a train to the resort town Bled. Bled is located in the mountain area of Slovenia and supposed to be really nice so we took a leap of faith like all other places and took a train into the remote area. We arrived later that night around 9pm and hopped off the train to go try and find a place to stay. First of all we had to find the town. We got off the train at a stop called Lesce-Bled so we assumed it meant both cities we near. So we started walking with absolutly no direction or any idea, we just knew we were looking for a lake. A little bit later after some time spent in one direction we switch direction and headed the other way. Here we found a possibility of somewhere to stay until we found out that Bled was about 20 km away. We made our way back to the station, the reason for the two town stop was that Bled is in such a remote area no train goes into the area. So we waited for a regional bus and rode into Bled. Again we did not know where we were going so the bus driver stopped somewhere and told us where to find a hostel. After some hiking in the dark we found a gorgeous hostel and got up to our room which was definitly one of the nicest ones we have stayed in yet. The next day we woke up and explored this area. It definitly is a tourist place but only because it is postcard perfect. The village surronds a lake that is surronded by mountains and huge green forests. The village is very famous for its ancient castle that sits on a cliff above the lake. So we went walking and decided to stop at a cafe for a drink which turned into a bunch of drinks. Josh and I have been little angels this trip, I can count on one hand the number of times we have been drinking so it was due. We moved around to a few places and then went to the park and then up to a beautiful church and the home and then to eat and that was our entire day. The next morning we asked to stay another day, we just didnt get too much done the first day. Josh and I got into a little tiff, maybe we werent feeling so great from the night before. So we split up and went our seperate ways, I can tell you what I did. I went walking down past the lake and got some souvineers and then walked up to the church, again. I remember from the day before that it was beautiful but I didnt remember much else so it was worth another trip. I hiked my way up to the castle but by the time I got to the entrance I was so tired of walking up hills I just went back down. Later I saw Joshs photos of the views from the castle that are amazing!!! You must be tired of hearing amazing and beautiful, but I just cant help it we just go everywhere that is amazing and beautiful!! So we grabbed our bags and headed to the train station and caught a train to Maribor, Slovenia. This was just a departure town for us so we got there found a place to stay in a university residence and relaxed for the night which includes ice cream and a walk around town, you know another night walk around a beautiful ancient town. The next moring we left for the bus station and after a struggle with the train station authority to authorize our passes we were on our way to Graz, Austria.

Late the next night we arrived in Zagreb, Croatia. Both josh and I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into as we both had no research on the area. The one time I stopped to look a Croatia tourism I saw the most beautiful beaches, so we decided to follow that picture and hope for the best. This is the capital city that is not on the coast but supposed to have much to see. So we found a dingy youth hostel and went to sleep. The next day we got up early, those youth hostels are the worst for early wakings and started our day. From the moment we arrived there was just something I instantly liked about Zagreb and felt connected to. I know it sounds very corny but I never felt like a stranger to the city. All the buildings were old and beautiful and the city was full of plants and trees. Off in the distance you could see the mountains. First thing I do once we get to each city is make a big plan of everything that I want to see and do. Then the next day as you start walking the things to do drop off in number. The first place we made it to was a huge square that is supposed to be great for people watching, whatever that means. Today there was a movie being filmed, I know now I am famous in Hungary but I still did not get asked to be in the movie here in Croatia. So on we walked up curvy streets full of shoes shops, I dont know what it is but in Croatia they just love their shoes. The picture I had of Croatia was very dismal and bleak. In our lonely planet book what is suggests is to stay away from secluded areas because they are still doing heavy mine excavations and they are still in the ground. All I know of Croatia is the fighting that went on and of course that paints a dark picture. As for Eastern Europe I was completly wrong and some how imagined little villages far behind in modernization and I could not be farther from the truth. Both Hungary and Croatia are as far developed as any place I have ever been, everything is extremly modern and the fashion here is comparable to Italy or Japan. We stopped at a art museum to see some Van Goghs and other artists and then moved on to some amazing churches, yes they are all amazing in Europe. One had a tiled roof made into a bright pattern of 6"X6" tiles. Afterwards we wanted to go eat, easier said than done. What we had slowly begun to figure out is that people here do not like to eat much, rather they like to smoke, drink cappicinos and booze. Nothing much wrong with that unless you are starving!! So finding a cafe that serves food let alone a resturant is a hunt for sure. So after finding a cheap rsturant we agreed that Croatia was no Hungary when it came to food. Afterwards we made our way up to some church famous for its lattice work, guess what, is was amazing. That evening we would be leaving for our much anticipated destination Spilt. So we wandered more around Zagreb and went to the bus station to catch our overnight bus. A few words about Europe: 1. you can smoke anywhere. All though most countries have or are putting laws into place people smoke where ever they want. Buses, trains, malls,internet cafes and they especially go for the places that have clearly marked signs for no smoking. 2.the pace of life is never too hectic. Except for Sweden we have never seen a convient store. Trust me when you dont have them you realize how convinient they really are, especially when all grocery stores close at seven pm and do not open on sundays. I think the idea is that you are supposed to plan ahead, but who does that??? No Starbucks or any such thing. Although they love their cappicinos and I mean LOVE, the only way to get one is to sit down at a cafe or resturant. Or out of a machine at the bus station but we found that its not a good idea. Everyone rides bicycles everywhere. Currently Josh and I are in Vienna, Austria and they have seperate lanes and traffic lights for bicycles everywhere in the city. Ok back to the story so we boarded our overnight train and left for Split. Josh and I have Eurail passes so we can hop on any train and find empty seats that are second class. What we try to do is get on the train early find our own cabin and try to look as mean as possible so no one comes in, then we can stretch out and sleep for the nine hours or however longs it takes. So far we have been lucky and this night was no exception. Except we had the car that had no heating. So we spent half the night layering clothes and the other half trying to sleep but it just wasnt going to happen. So at seven the next morning we arrived in Split. The thing about small train stations is that you never have to book a place because half the town comes out to offer you a room in their house. So we accepted on old mans offer, he seemed ok and we began the walk to his place. OK i have talked about all the gorgeous things I have seen, but Split takes the cake for the msot beautiful place ever. It was just as the sun was taking over the anicent city full of palm trees and white stone buildings and I knew that this was my favorite place we had been to yet. The water again extremly beautiful very clear and blueish greenish. So we arrived at our destination which was the usual for accepting offers at the train station. Small and mostly clean but private and right in the centre of town. After our nap we went and explored the town, apparently there was a celeration going to be happening in town this weekend. We seem to have really good timing when it comes to festivals and tourist places. The city itself used to be a fortress and is surronded by the sea. We did a lot of stall shopping that day and then of course a hunt for food. Another relxed day. The next day was my favorite day, laundry!!! After we went exploring in the ruins which were similar to the Roman ruins in style and date. The church here was magnificant. Outside the walls of the citz is a huge man or wizard as he is known as. I saw a bunch of people rubbing his foot so I went and did the same thing, hopefully it is for good luck and the werent just wiping something off their hands. Like I mentioned before do we ever have good timing because the "Flower Show" was here this weekend, oh you should have seen Josh he was so excited!! Anyways this is a big event and people from all over come to compete. Underneath the ruins is a big series of tunnels from the ancient ruins and they use this space very wisely as an exhibtion area. The flower set ups were awsome and so beautiful, flowers are normally beautiful but in crazy arrangements they were spectaular!! Huge fish, tables, walls were made out of colorful flowers, which was set perfectly against the stone grey walls. Afterwards we enjoyed the market stalls, tons of purses and went to watch our tv. Finally a country that doesnt believe in voice over-dubbing! The next day was a much anticipated beach day, we like to include these days as often as possible. So at 6:30am we were up and packing, and then left for our ferry ride to a island and the town of Hvar. After a two hour ferry ride we arrived at the dock and took a bus into the town of Hvar. This island is quite unpopulated and the drive was on the edge of the island cliffs so it made for a very interesting drive especially at top speeds. The view was breath taking, the most perfect waters on a insanley sunny day. The town itself was again very acient and perfectly white/beige which is the perfect setting against the water, the pictures we took look like everything you would see in a post card. The thing about Croatian beaches is that they are the most beautiful in the world, but not made of sand. You will find no sandy beaches in Croatia just big rocks. But somehow that doesnt seem to important. We walked aways and found a hotel that was building a resort area with coloum lined beaches, so we laid on the huge rock slabs for a few hours and crisped ourselves. We found out that still the water is very very cold but we kept trying and eventually we got most of our body in the water. We collected our stuff and waited at the bus stop for the bus to take us to the ferry, but at first we were told by taxi drivers that there would be no bus service today. We half believed them until we remembered that we had taken a bus to get here, never listen to what they say! We arrived back in Split only to wait a couple hours until our train came to take us to Zagreb, the capital city we had been at before and then onto Ljubljana the capital of Slovenia. Nine hours later we arrived back in Zagreb and caught our train to Slovenia. I have to say this was the saddest departure, as Croatia was my favorite country and we had only spent a few days in the country. So the train rides has been absolutly beautiful through Eastern Europe. There is much more room between the cities and it is all fresh green rolling hills and huge forests with little lakes and ponds. All the villages are really picturesque, very small old homes surronded by rock fences and all towns have little medival churches. If I can stay awake long enough train rides are definitly the way to travel Europe, by the way I have also become a UNO master.

The next day we said goodbye to our little dog and to italy and headed of to the airport to catch our flight to Budapest, Hungary. THis was on April 27 and today the date is May 11th I think, I really have no idea what day it is. Anyways I am extremly behind in my blog as since we have travelled through Hungary, Croatia, and are now in Slovenia but I am trying to catch up as fast as possible! So we arrived in Budapest a short while later and took a bus into the city The first impression i had was that it was a bit bleak and dreary. There were tons of huge apartment complexes that were complety the same dirty old grey. It reminded me of what communist Russia would have once looked like. But this was my first impression as Budapest is supposed to be the jewel of the danube river. So of course we had no place planned to stay so we were dropped of at an internet cafe. The reason for our stop in Hungary is that we were coming to enjoy the dirt cheapness and the spas. Needless to say this was the country I was really looking forward to coming to! So the listing of the hostels and budget hotels were the cheapest i have ever heard of. The prices for nice places ranged from $30 to $9, nine dollars is that not crazy! So we went for one around 14 dollars which we could just not get over. For our entire trip we had be spending anywhere from $24 to $50 a night so this was a welcome thing. We headed to our hostel which was an old apartment building not to far away. What I love about Europe is just how absolutly old and falling apart everything is, but it has so much charm and I could not picture it being any different. The buildings are so close toghether which leaves absolutly no privacy, but here more people are willing to share space as everyone knows each other and they all get along, for the most part. So this was the first room we had stayed in in a while that was with other people. So we dropped our stuff off and went to eat right around the corner. We subconciously picked the prefect location as our street was lined with dozens of cafes and resturants. As we ate we were to find out what we would with every meal in Hungary, that they have the best food you will have ever eaten in your life!! And so cheap as well. So far we had a good start in Budapest. So with our cheap umbrellas in tow we began to explore the area. We walked down some streets with really expensive stores that I definitly did not belong in and just enjoyed the sun. The rest of the day was the same, laziness, eating, and then we went for some drinks in Buda. Our hostel was in Pest. So as you can tell the city is divided into two sections and used to be called PestBuda but luckily they decided that it sounded stupid so they changed the name to Budapest. The next day we started off on the same foot, very relaxed. I mean if you are in a country full of spas you have to be relaxed yourself, right? We ate some of the best food ever again and went on our journey to find some spas. The big thing here in Hungary is the mineral baths that they have everywhere. First thing we ran into was a huge indoor market full of everything you could possibly want. We thought it was very odd that there were many posters of Alberta and Canada around the place so we asked and every Friday they feature a certain country and today was Canada Day! On our journey I found a spa that had excellent prices so I HAD to book a hour massage and a pedicure and Josh booked a massage, I thought I could talk him into a pedicure later. So another of nothing but window shopping and we were exhausted. Next morning we were up early to head the Gellert Baths until we got there and found out they were seperated by sex, that was boring so we left. Right beside the baths is a church inside a cave so we went and visited that. Inside instead of one church there was probably about little churches crammed together. Then it was time for our appointments. So first I got my rigorous massage and then Josh went for his so I went and got a manicure and then finished with a pedicre, yes it was a rough day. Afterwards we went up to some other mineral baths that were much better with a few pools and not sex seperated. Later we walked back down to our part of town and stopped in for something to eat. Another thing I have noticed in Hungary is that they have the most beautiful interiors more so than any other place I have ever seen. Each little cafe and store has so much detail in it. The next morning we had to move to another hostel nearby and got to business, it was our last full day in Budapest. Today we went up to the zoo, yes we really like zoos and then through a maze of parks until we got to a muesum with a great exihibition called "Cool Hunters". The exibition was all about young adults and the hunt to be and buy everything cool, something I know a thing or two about. Not Josh he is too old. Afterwards we walked to the infamous "Terror Museum". This museum holds memrobilia of the communist times in Hungary. This mueseum was the best designed and beautiful museum I have ever seen. At one point youn enter a dark but very modern elevator shaft where the elevator is slowed down to a three minute ride,where you watch a very sad three minute documentary and then the doors open to the dark tunnels where the head quarters actually were held for the terror police of Hungary. It was very sad and moving but extremly beautiful. That night we went out to a place for supper that we had been looking forward to. This specific Arabic resturant is always the loudest and liveliest place in Pest. This night as most there were at least five bellydancers. So we ordered our water pipes, strawberry to be precise and smoked the night away. I still dont know what we smoked, it does nothing to you and that is all I know. The next day it was cold and miserable, but I dressed for the beach for some reason and we headed of for Statue Park. Statue Parks holds just a few of the many statues that remain from the Communist Reign in Hungary. It was very rainy and miserable and we missed our bus so we took an expensive and deathdefying ride out into the country. At one point our taxi driver swerved into the other lane while polietly turning around and asking if we would like one of his cigarettes. So we made it fast enough to the park to catch our tour, however today it was so miserable that the tour was cancelled. While we were waiting for the rain to clear up some journalists/reporters came up to us and then left quickly once they realized that we did not speak hungarian. One of them came up a few minutes later and let us know that this day May 1st was a very important day in Hungarian history. I do not quite remember what it was but something to do with the end of the communist reign. So we sucked it up and went on a self directed tour. Some of the statues here were amazingly large and of course very untrue to what Lenin and others looked liked. About a quarter through the park we had to turn around because I was absolutly freezing, my sandals just were not cutting it. So what else to do than buy some lovely bright red Lenin Communist socks. So the reporters saw this and jumped on the chance to get this picture, so I did a little bit of sock modelling and hoped that my picture would be in the paper. Afterwards we went back into town and ate at our favorite Micky Dees and left to the train station for Heviz. Heviz is a resort town in Hungary that has a natural lake with the mineral bath properties. This is the place to go when you visit Hungary. So we found our pension which was perfect, definitly the best place that we have stayed yet. By this time it was quite late so we went out to eat and then went to sleep. the next moring we got up and went to the shops downtown, it is an extremly small city and we started to notice the change in age demorcraphic. Suddenly the shops werent selling belly shirts and "cheerlearder" pants, now it was full piece colorful suits with lots of orthopedic shoes. Yes this was going to be a very quiet and relaxed place. We made our way to the lake. There is a building over part of the lake that is kept warmer than outside and there are flaps to where the outside connects. So we spent a few hours here in our blow up rings and than left. Afterwards we did some more shopping for souvineers, Josh doesnt agree but purses definitly count as souvinners right?? I very excitedly went and bought the paper Blikk, the hungarian nationial paper because I thought by just some tiny chance my socks would have been the best piece of news, but no luck with my picture in the paper. And by the was they were extremly warm and helped out a lot. The next moring we were up early because we had a lot to do before ten o´clock, check out time. With a few bags each we headed down to one of our favorite places the post office, yes it was time again to send home another load and leave with light backpacks once again. One thing about Hungary is NOBODY speaks any english at all. So some how we sent off our packages, this time priority because we had no idea what she was saying and we do not have a return hungarian address. I thought this time would be better because I was sending of two packages that equaled around five kilos, but not a chance. Josh and I had no idea the cost would be so high so we had to run off to a bank machine. While I was waiting for Josh to do his thing someone tapped my shoulder and I turned around to see .................................................................
MY PICTURE!!! A lady was standing there holding a newpaper with my picture in it. Of course I couldnt understand what she was saying but she gave me the page. So think about this coincidence she had to be sitting there reading the page with me on it at the exact same time I just happenend to be running by. Of course I was pretty much wearing the same thing ( I am backpacking!!) minus the Lenin socks. So that made my day, we went back to the post office and paid around $200 each, sob sob.... Today, mothers day May 14th Joshs mom has recieved one box... two were sent, lets just hope. So we ran to the train station and found out no trains were to go to Croatia until 6:30 that night which was a long time away. So we figured we would got to a different station and see if there were any earlier ones which meant taking a very long bus ride there. So again on the bus we saw the Hungarian friendliness. Many people would stand next to the driver and carry on lenghly conversations. Have you ever been on a bus in Canada, try talking to those guys and you would get thrown off! We caught a train and began the journey to Zagreb the capital of Croatia.

§§§I apoligize for my terrible spelling and grammer, however most of the time I am in a cramped, hot internet cafe in the middle of the day we I should be exploring, so I type fast and dont look back.§§§

The next day we had planned was something I was most excited about because it means so much to me. When I was much younger I got a book on the erupting Mt Vesuvius and the city it covered Pompeii. I loved this book so much and becaue of it I always wanted to become an archaelogist. The city was buried in 6 metres of ashes within a few hours. So the discovery of this covered entact city was an amazing find. Bright and early that day we caught a train to the city of Pompeii, the newer part. The weather was the worst we had found yet very cold and rainy, so we bought some cheap umbrellas from one of the souvineer stands. This is where we try to buy everything we need because you can always talk them down to giving you the item for however much you want to pay. First we began our day by taking a bus up to Mt Vesuvius. At one point everyone is let off the bus and then a virgous hike begins. This was a very verticl hike, kind of like a stairclimber. I am a little embarrassed to say two older priests in full dress pretty much lapped me and Josh. So half an hour later we were near the top and stopped and had a short tour. The mountain is really not that much to see, because another mountain has formed from the eruptions, the last one was in 1944. But at least we can say we have been to the top of Mt Vesuvius. From the top we had a beautiful view of the Italian islands and mountains. I have to say for not wanting to come here in the first place Italy would be the first place I would come back to. Every day is a struggle not to blow our budget but it seems impossible in Italy, there is just so much to buy! The people here are quite nice and helpful, the men stare a little too much but I guess that is normal! So we rolled down the mountain and collected differnt colors of lava rock, that will cost me another $300 to send home. Next we went to the gates of the uncovered Pompeii city. But first as usual we were distracted for a good hour by the different stalls outside selling goodies. I never knew this about Josh but he is one smooth barginer, if something costs 25euros he always talks them down to five and for me they always stay at 15euros even after telling me I am so beautiful! So from now on only Josh does the talking. So we headed inside the gates and began our self-directed tour with a little book that we had boughten. This place was easily 5 times bigger than I expected, there really is a cities worth of building left behind. The four hours we allotted was not even close to the amount of time we needed so it was a bit rushed. Unfortunatly most houses were closed so we only got a little look inside which was driving me crazy!! Pompeii was originally a resort town so all houses are absolutly massive. Whats left behind is the walls so you can see where each room was or where all thirty of them were. As well as walls, paintings, frescos and tile work still exist in some of the buildings, Pompeii is a must to visit, the houses are absolutly amazing but next time I would stay for an entire day. We probably saw about 15% of what was there. So we ended our rainy day tour with the Villa of Mysteries. Here Josh finally saw what he was wainting for the plaster casts of bodies. After we hurried to the train and caught it back home to Rome for our last night here.