http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/jimp/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from jimp en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:58:23 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:58:23 BST After a little difficulty entering Turkey I went straight to Istanbul. I had planned to move around Turkey a bit to see as much as I could but there was just so much to see in Istanbul I decided to take the time and really enjoy the city. As almost all tourists I stayed in Sultanahmet which is next to two of the most amazing Mosques I have ever seen the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. I met u http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/Turkey/Marmara/Istanbul/blog-298662.html I kind of hopped in and out of Bulgaria on my way to and from Romania. I spent 3 days in Sophia just playing tourist then I headed up to Romania for a week. On my way to Istanbul I made a stop in Vielko Tarnovo. Vielko Tarnovo is one of those places you hear through the grape vine and when you get there you end up falling in love. It's such a beautifull city and there was so much to see. Ever http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bulgaria/North/Veliko-Tarnovo/blog-295951.html Well Kosovo is something special let me tell you I had left my plans open a bit to check out the small war torn country now that it has become its own state. I Arrived in Prishtina walked along Bill Clinton Blvd.which is the main Road then tried to find something touristy to do.. Well that was my first mistake there is nothing for tourist to do there other then take photos of UN trucksso http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Serbia/Kosovo/Prishtina/blog-291129.html Monteregro I a beautiful little country wedged in between croatia Albania and Serbia oh and dont forget Kosovo. I entered into Montenegro via Croatia and the road was amazing you follow a mountian overlooking the Adriatic ocean. The water was so clear and green it made the best view. I stayed in the only hostel in Montenegro in a town called Budva. The people running it were amazing and even http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Montenegro/Kotor/Kotor/blog-286855.html Well it was amazing.. Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the countries you say to yourself why would I go there At least that's what I thought before hand. But when I arrived there I soon changed my mind. The Country is very lush and filled with mountains and rolling hills though you cant go hiking without a guide for fear of Landmines. Then you go to Sarajevo the Capitol which the only http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Bosnia-and-Herzegovina/East/Sarajevo/blog-281572.html I was torn between head305ng 305nto Roman305a or just keep on moving 305nto uncharted countr305es. So I called on a few fr305ends I had 305n croat305a to see 305f they were aval305able to hang out. Luck for me they were. I went stra305t to R305jeka to meet up w305th my fr305ends Davor and Majda. Majda 305s a Doctor so she was only able to spend the ev http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Istria/Rijeka/blog-277249.html Half way there through Eastern Europe that is I moved out of Ukraine to Hungary to check out the awe insi305ring Budapest. First off I can say it was nothing like I had expected Budapest is HUGE I found a n305ce little hostel in Pest and from there I set out exploring the city. I spent a good 4 days there then headd to Pecs which 305s a small town on your way to Croatia. Pecs 30 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Hungary/Budapest/Buda/blog-277229.html So after a good amount of time in Poland I felt it was time for something new. I decided to hop on a train into Ukraine for a bit and see what was going on. I took a train into Lviv and found the only hostel to base myself at and set out to see the town. It didn't take long to get a feeling I was in a different world.. All the writing was in Cyrillic and it was hard to find anyone who spoke E http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ukraine/Lviv/blog-271920.html I ended up in poland just as spring was really starting to hit eastern Europe which was a good change. First I headed up to Gdansk to visit my friend Marta who lives up there. Gdansk is in right on the Baltic Coast and is where the first shots of WWII were fired Just thought you needed to know that little fact. I played tourist for a day while Marta was working and then on the following day we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Poland/Pomeranian/Gdansk/blog-268607.html From Latvia I moved south to Lithuania first stop was Vilnius. I found Vilnius to be a very clean and assesable. It was also the turing point of the weather. The snow started to stop you could tell cause every one was starting to creep out of their houses for the first time. I spent a few days touring around seeing the sights and the museums then took a day trip to Trakai. Trakai is a small t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Lithuania/Vilnius/Trakai/blog-268600.html Well here is a place I have wanted to go to for a long time and was really impressed by the city and its history. I went to a museum in Estonia on the occupation of the Baltic States but you didn't see as much there as you did in Riga the capital. As for the history of the area iswell I think this would tell it better then I could httpen.wikipedia.orgwikiHistoryofLatvia I know but its tr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Latvia/Riga/blog-266322.html From Sweden I hoped on a ferry to Tallinn the Capital of Estonia to begin my journey through Eastern Europe. First off I have to say that the ferry had to be one of the weirdest experiences so far. The trip is sold as a cruise for families but the main reason people go on it is for the duty free because things are so expensive in Sweden and Norway. Once the boat set off the line started out the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-266058.html Well I made it my big jump from Madrid to Stockholm and though it was only a three hour flight they are worlds apart as you would expect I guess. I spent a few nights in Stockholm doing all the tourist things you have to then I moved on to Goteberg. Stockholm is a very clean city in fact too clean the buildings are beautiful and everything is on islands and so green and grey I guess you http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/Vastra-Gotaland/Gothenburg/blog-264792.html WOW thats all I can say.. From the beaches of Rio to the shores of Tangier there could not be two more opposite places. I had never been in a Muslim country before and what a shock. Morocco is a bit intence at first well all the time really but you get used to it after a few days from the venders to the friends you meet on the street who just want to help a tourist out for a small price. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/F-s-Boulemane/Fes/blog-255920.html Ole.. Tapas Pallea and Picasso and so much more.. I flew from Sao Paulo to Madrid which was so sad cause I could have spent a lot more time in South America. But then I arrived to Madrid and that felling was soon gone there was a new city to explore. I have been to Madrid before but it was years ago and it was amazing to first see the people and the buildings of Europe again. The one down side http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/Madrid/blog-255910.html I made my way down to Rio after Carnival which would have been an easy bus ride but ended taking an extra 15 hours. Rio is everything you expect it to be.. its beautiful scary intense and relaxing there is no way to explain it. On my first day of sight seeing it was a bit cloudy but then it cleared up and was great. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Copacabana/blog-251341.html I was just passing through Salvador for one of the biggist parties so I figured I had to stop in and check it out. I Spent 7 nights in Salvador and had a chance to really experience Carnival. The only problem was it was to dangerious to take your camera out with you so I have very little photos. I did buy a disposible one but I need to finish the roll then add them. Carnival in Salvador is br http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Bahia/Salvador/blog-251328.html Sammy and I flew to Manaus to do a 4 day trip into the jungle. Manaus is a city of around 2 million I think who gained popularity and wealth from rubber trees found in the Amazon. The Amazon River and the Rio Negro meet right outside of the city. From Manaus we hired a guide and ventured into the jungle for an unbeliavable trip. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Amazonas/Manaus/blog-244529.html The pantanal is a wetland with largest animal population in South America. To get there you go to Campo Grande and take a tour for the amount of days you want to be out.. Sammy and I went for 4 days and had a great time fishing for Pirahnas and animal watching. The only set back were the mosquitos I have never seen so many and there is not enough off in the world to want to live there. Well http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Pantanal/blog-244274.html I was asked to add more Photos of Beaches for those who are in the cold.. Well here you go. I will add to more as I go.. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/blog-244270.html