Sunny, Warm Mildura At least, that was what I was promised. Every second person, pretty much: "Oh, you'll like it up there, it's warm." And every other person was, of course, "You have to go to Stefano's" Who's Stefano? Turns out he's the guy that does "Gondola on the Murray." Now, if you'd've said that, instead of: "You know, that TV Chef on the ABC.", I'd've gone. "Oh, ok.", instead of giving you a completely blank stare. "Stefano is Jamie Oliver?" I went to a Stefano owned cafe. Called "27 Deakin" There is a sign next to the entrance of the [View Full Entry]

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Yep, that's right ladies and Gentlemen... And back to Europe. It's like I'm addicted to the place, or something. Well. I think what happened is that I finally gave into my parents' pesterings and agreed to show them around bits of where I went to. Apparently it's kind of exciting to them, to think that those "dark countries" as dad will put it; are now open and ready for business. I still think they should go to Bosnia i Hercegovna, Serbia and Romania, but Central Europe will do. The Itinerary; as follows: London (Hi Nath and Nic!) Pula, Istria (Croatia) Rovinj [View Full Entry]

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Oops! It's er... been a while. And people are hassling me (Thank you! It's wonderful to know people are listening!) So... where since Vilnius and the wonderful wierd reüpublic of Uzupio? well, I took the nightmare trip across Poland (Two borders in one day) into Germany. Actually, the second border was fantastic: the customs offical there (the German one) was laughing and joking with his Polish counterpart, and with his customers... I think it's the first time I've ever seen a customs official even smile! I reckon it probably is a perfect foil: If someone doesn't relax at that, they're c [View Full Entry]

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Or several of them. I think they explain themselves, really. Or at least, I have put huge explanations in the caption boxes. One or the other. Oh, and something I forgot in the last post. Apologies to Emile. It really is pronounced "Budapesht" It still sounds silly, though. Curse the Magyars and their non- Indo-Europaen tongue (Finno Ugric, from somewhere along the Urals!) Some monuments as well. More to come. [View Full Entry]

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Argh! The server crashed, and I lost my last two entries. Serves me right for holding them until I got a chance to do photos. This is only a short note, because I haven't written for ages. I've been in Hungary, heading not just to Budapest, but also Eger with it's famous wines, and Szentendre, a city up the Danube. Next was the ukraine, and this was an experience I am unlikely to forget. Even doing nothing was tiring, as you had to still translate everything in your head, back i°nto latin letters. Then decide if you could or couldn't read [View Full Entry]

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From Romania. One: When we were in Sighisoara, we were wandering around just outside the old city. We were wending our way down a narrow, cobblestone street, when a black cat ran across our path, from one doorway to one opposite, and disappeared inside as if the devil was on its tail. Clearly we were all thinking the same thing. But straight after it, following the same path, came a little old woman in white. At about the same speed. It was so bizarre that we all burst out laughing. Two: When we were waiting for the train in Medias, to [View Full Entry]

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Well, I spent three days in Bucuresti, which was about two days longer than is needed. I just kept walking, looking for the pretty old city that should be, must be, just around the corner. Oh yeah, that's right, Ceseceau knocked it down to build his Palace of the People, and the Road that is a few centimetres wider, and six metres longer, than the Champs Elysees. But Far, far more deserted. Finally, after weeks of planning, I met up with Sal and Emile (having slept for most of that day. Do not under-estimate the power of the Overnight transport [View Full Entry]

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Although I write this from Hungary, Several days later, Medias is the last town in Romania we visited, so is dated and placed from there. "Do they have running hot water here?" Has become a by-word for the dumb, pointless question. Our route ran to Brasov, then Sibiu via public transport, then piking up a car in sibiu (Cultural Capital of the EU, 2007), we made our way to Sighishoara, then to Suceava, then Bistritsa, then back to Sighisoara, Sibiu and Medias, to drop the car off and pick up a train to Budapest. As you can imagine, every town [View Full Entry]

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Because I did the thing of saving money on accomodation by using overnight bus and train... two days in a row. But First, Two days in Sarajevo. Sarajevo was... fascinating. I have never been in a country that scarred from it's wars. Ok. It was the hardest hit in the Balkan wars. I know. Yes, Sarajevo was under siege for nearly four years, relieved only by UN Air support and a tiny tunnel. Yes, The town of Srebrenica is in Bosnia. This atrocity and all others were ten years ago, and yet, it feels like yesterday. This is the only country [View Full Entry]

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And yet my computer does not have a USB port, so I cannot show you. I have been in Bosnia i Herzegovina less than 24 hours, and I love it. I am staying in Mostar, which is a little town with one tourism attraction: it's old bridge, the Stari Most (which, btw, is Croatian/Serbian/Slovenian/Bosnian/twenty other languages for: Old Bridge) Actually, the brackets are a point. I just don't get it. They speak the same language (almost), they eat the same things, they have the same sense of humour (wicked), so why? To hear the Official Bosnian/Hercegovan account, Milsoveic started it. [View Full Entry]

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