6 SEPTEMBER 2009, SUNDAY Father’s Day today so after showering and packing I logged into the internet and my Skype account and called home briefly. Then it was an 8am breakfast before checking out and being on our way by 8:45am. It was about a ten minute drive before we had a brief ferry journey across a fjord. Then it was a bit of a drive on to Narvik which is known for being involved in WWII and having several warships sunk nearby. Stopped at a WWII memorial briefly before heading on to a service stop for a 15 minute toilet [View Full Entry]

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FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2009 Late start this morning as we weren’t leaving until 10am, so breakfast was 9:15am. Latest start all tour so far. After packing up the bus and the cook tent we left Steinkjer. While our itinerary said it was a ‘miles under the belt’ day it turned out to be slightly incorrect - with us actually being told we wsere only driving for about five hours today!! Last time I ever believe an itinerary - Top Deck’s itinerary has been a little all over the place. After about an hours drive we stopped and got out and walked [View Full Entry]

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TUESDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2009 - NORWAY Another drive day today, this time no border crossing as we headed north through Norway towards Andalnses. Breakfast was at 7:15am and by 8am we were waving goodbye to those passengers who were leaving us and who actually got up to have breakfast and say goodbye. Had a few stops throughout the day; the first being in Lillehammer - the city that hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics. Nice little town with a great bakery where I bought a piece of cheesecake which was so nice. Slightly expensive but worth every mouthfull!! From there it [View Full Entry]

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SUNDAY 30 AUGUST 2009 - TRAVEL DAY: SWEDEN TO NORWAY Travel day again today. For some reason we got up stupidly early and were ready (including cleaning out the room) about half an hour before breakfast. Breakfast was at 7:15am and we were packed and on the coach by 8am. About three hours later we had a first break for toilets and burgers (for those people still hungry!), then hit the road for another few hours. Then it was a short stop for lunch (today was burritos along with fruit and biscuits and cheese) and then back onto the road. Eventually [View Full Entry]

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FRIDAY 28 AUGUST 2009 - STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN After breakfast this morning we all piled onto bus. Matt (the bus driver) tried to start the engine to discover that this morning it was completely cactus basically. Boys got out and started pushing again in an attempt to push start it like we did yesterday several times; but this time the bus was having none of that and simply refused to start, and then started smoking. When it started smoking we pretty much gave up all hope of getting on the bus again this morning. After a few frantic phone calls by Matt [View Full Entry]

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SATURDAY 22 AUGUST We crossed into Croatia at around 7am or so, making it three border crossings within 12 hours. Hardly anyone was on the bus by this point - presumably they all got off during the evening somewhere. As I was asleep for most of the trip (at least napping) I guess I had missed most of that. Arrived at Dubrovnik bus station at around 10am and headed to the Hostel International Dubrovnik as again there was no little old lady who I could get private accommodation from. Think I was lucky when I got to the HI as after [View Full Entry]

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TUESDAY 18 AUGUST 2009 My alarm went off before 6am but I was too tired to get up so ended up getting to the bus station at around 8am, and into Skopje at around 10am. Another border crossing without any problems. Because my map didn’t include even the ‘new’ area of Skopje where the hostel was I grabbed another cab for a grand total of two euro. Mind you, he tried to rip me off and I know I still paid too much because he said his meter was ‘broke.’ Managed to check into the hostel straight away; and they were [View Full Entry]

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SUNDAY 16 AUGUST 2009 *PRISHTINA Up pretty early so nothing new there. The plan today was to basically wander around Prishtina and see what the city had to offer. Turns out on a Sunday - not much as all of the shops were closed. After orientating myself in town and working out some landmarks to work out how I could get back to the guest house later on; I wandered on past a few mosques (all of which were boarded up) before heading towards tourist information - which I am not sure actually ever existed; and if it does - certainly [View Full Entry]

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WEDNESDAY 12 AUGUST 2009 The easy jet queue was enormous and it took me about an hour and a half to check in, drop bags and get through security, which left me almost no time to top up my mobile phone and get some money changed and dig out my kunas from two weeks ago. I was asleep before the plane took off, don’t even think I saw the security demo. Woke up with about half hour flight time to go and read a little. Got the airport shuttle which was easy, to the bus station. Had expected to be attacked [View Full Entry]

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8 AUGUST 2009, SATURDAY Up bright and early again as my 24 hours in the car park was going to be up just after 9:30am so I had to get the car. I had decided to head west across in the direction of Liverpool so that is exactly what I did. I made a few stops along the way in the Peak District National Park as it was a lovely area. There were lots of little country ‘villages’ and winding roads. The scenery was definitely very green and helped by the fact that the sun was making an effort and that [View Full Entry]

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