Boundless energy! Joel I'd like to know where you get all your energy from! I felt tired reading your blog! I'm amazed you had the time to write one up! You guys certainly had an awesome trip. Thanks to all the kind people who helped you out and Jasper and his friends for making you so welcome.
on the way from brasov to sighisoara... ...take a detour to sibiu. nice old german city, the new cultural capital of europe in 2007 (along with luxembourg). the city is amazing, one of the oldest cities built by the germans settled there around 15th century. after sighisoara go to cluj for the bars and clubs, the ebst parties i have ever been.
Dracula is not real, but people in the entire Romania believe in things like ghosts, spirits and haunting souls. there is also a local halloween on nov 30, the night of st andrews. you have to have garlic under your pillow not to be visited by a ghost...
sweet blog man, ive always wanted to go to transylvania. remember in highschool when one of our teachers told us about vlad the impaler? i think it was mr lyle (lol?) and im sure it was you that i had the class with, i guarantee you im not making shit up. so what did u pay the guard with on your limited budget? a sandwich?. ps. im laughing at u vanessa
The Historian There is an interesting novel which is partly based on the DRacula legend, and in particular on Vlad the Impaler: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova . An entertaining read, especially for someone who is interested in Dracula.
dracula or person!? So im confussed.. is vlad/dracular real? like were they?? i know ur laughing at me... but im seriously confussed.. coz ur talkin about vlad like he was real.. but then "son of dragon"?? arghh queens bday.. messes wif ur head!! anyway take care!! talk to ya soon.. xo
further on Dracula Hi....we did the search for Dracula as well. Guess you missed Lake Snagov (just outside of Bucharest) and the island on which there is a small church with what is supposed to be Dracula's tomb (tho it is empty). There were a lot of candles around a stone slab and this dwarf lady forbade us to take photos (tho I did). Dracula (Vlad, if you will) is actually quite a folk hero cause he was very much a nationalist who fought against the Turkish occupiers. Enjoy the rest of your journey!!!!!!
Vampires are real as are aliens, the loch ness monster, werewolves, unicorns, dwarves, bigfoot, elves, hobbits, fairies, the boogie monster, dragons, hobbits and eskimoes.
On another note I am shocked that you didn't want to pay the international transaction fee, that doesn't sound like you at all:)
Sobering Reflections Joel, another great blog. What a contrast; Tunisian roses and Sarajevo roses. I'm enjoying following your travels in the atlas and learning more about history! I especially enjoy your reflections on your travels. God bless!
supp dawg hey joleee!
nice to hear your havin fun too.
nice photos. hope that your exchange is goin well?
i saw little old barry the other day in garden city haha.
have fun son!
xxxlucy (dans sister)
That was a good one joel, great description of Sarajevo with your own feelings, very, very interesting, one of your best. Having just reread that last statement I think I could be a teacher so in that vein..... Keep up the good work, the good blogs, keep travelling, stay safe and have fun:) Oh and concentrate more in class.
Touched Hi Joel thought I'd just write a quick comment.... Spectacular Blog, this one really touched home, not often that I sit a a computer and feel what I've just felt when reading your blogs, don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed every one of your blogs, re-living your travels as little me is stuck in Maritzburg! Lots of love xx
A very interesting read Nice work Joel, this was a really well-written account of Sarajevo's history and also of your feelings and impressions while you stayed there. Sounds like a fascinating place to explore - the sort of city that leaves a lasting impression in your mind and won't just be lost in the long (and ever-growing!) list of European cities you've visited so far.
Your comments on the inefficacy of the UN in Sarajevo are interesting Joel. We learned in Rwanda of the UN not responding to the crisis there and thereby being culpable in the genocide that resulted. Kofi Annan later apologised but that is little comfort to the 900,000+ killed and the many left scared both physically and mentally by that atrocity. Hopefully they will do a better job in Lebanon. Thanks again for the opportunity to share your travels. Love Penny
Camels forever!! Top blog! Loved the stories and photos. You didn't mention camels as a means of transport for those enquiring!!! Perhaps you should promote these too!!!
Re: transport Hey Kel most of the time we got around on louages these are combi vans that do most routes. if i remember the colours right its yellow stripe-regional, blue stripe-between bigger towns and red stripe-the long hauls between major cities. you sometimes have a wait a while until the louage is full but i think we waited max 30 minutes. Apart from buses which seem pretty infrequent this is about the only way to get around. and its pretty cheap too! :P
transport Thanks Joel, we have travelled through both Morocco and Egypt - in both places found it easy to just hire a car with driver to take us around to where wherever, do you know if this is easy and if it is cheap to do in Tunisia? We like having the flexability of not planning but don't have the time to do the buses/trains etc (on 4 week break from Aust). So any other info about getting around would be great!
Re: Sidi Driss Hey Kel Great to hear that youre going to Tunisia, youll love it! The Sidi Driss cost 16 Dinar per night with breakfast included. (Dinner is an extra 5 Dinah and is a great couscous and meat meal with omelettes and watermelon) I was with one friend in a 6 person room and I think there were only about 5 other people spread out throughout the whole hotel, most of them backpackers. It seems that package tours dont include sleeping at the hotel but at about 9am the bus loads of tourists start arriving and continue throughout the day. I became part of the set, and their photos, as they watched me eating my breakfast in one of the smaller rooms above the courtyard... :P Hope that helps! If you have any more questions just email me on joelmeadows@gmail.com
Sidi Driss Hiya we are heading to Tunisia in a couple of weeks and wonder how much it costs to stay in Sidi Driss, your photo's look great! Is it a backpackers or a Hotel ie price per night/showers etc?? Any advice would be great!!
Cheers Kel
Hey Joel. It was cool to read about the wedding you went to, lots of bridesmaids no doubt, eh? Too bad about the camel ride but at least you got to see the south of Tunisia and the Sahara. Have fun in Eastern Europe and keep the blogs coming. Dan
Fantastic blog Joel, your blogs just get better and better mate! Loved the photos (great doors! =P), hearing more about the ferry ordeal, and the story about the wedding feast in Jemnah... That sounded amazing, what an experience (more than makes up for the dodgy camel trip hey?). Looking forward to your next blog, as always. =) And if travelling in Europe gets too expensive for you, you could always join me for some adventures round South East Asia instead?! =D
Barbara
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Boundless energy!
Joel I'd like to know where you get all your energy from! I felt tired reading your blog! I'm amazed you had the time to write one up! You guys certainly had an awesome trip. Thanks to all the kind people who helped you out and Jasper and his friends for making you so welcome.