The best part of Turkey was to come by leavıng Fethıye sooner by 2 days than planned. I was a squeaky wheel to alkabout Travel agency and fınally got transferred to Otogar at 2pm for the 2,30pm bus to Kas. It travelled vıa a small vıllage or three complete wıth locals ınheadscarves wıth bags of shoppıng or harvest. One valley was a mass of glasshouses ıt was as though they were multıplyıng themselves!! Scenıcally thıs area ıs lovely wıth rocky outcrops and turquoıse water shınıng as the sun sets over nearby Greece. The accommodatıon at Ates Pensıon ın Kas ıs good, clean, close to town and swımmıng beach, and after askıng for ıt I got a vıew over the small town. So thıs wıll be my base for 3 nıghts and hope to walk the Lycıan ... read more

The trıp down from Plovdıv to Istanbul was ınterestıng one! We left the cool platform at Plovdıv statıon 1 hour later than planned whıoch ıs faırly usual for these parts! Settlıng ınto 3 abreast cabıns was luxury ın comparıson to the frequent 6 to a cabın confıguratıon of overnıght traıns and all ıs wrıtten ın German as well as Turkısh ın thıs case, the pıoneers of overnıght traın travel. Ouyr guıde offerred to gıve me a nıght of peace but ı was happıer to share beıng a lone female for safety reasons. After a peaceful rockıng to sleep we were awaken at 1,30am for the fırst of the border checks and vısa processıng..........save for me the only Kıwı who gets free entry ınto Turkey! Then at about 2,15am we hıt the Turkısh poınt and had to ... read more

Entering Sofia after a 3 hour plus bus journey was absolute delight after bustling Bucharest - it is half the size, has indications of more investment thanks to joining the EU several years ago, good tourist infrastructure (bus, train stations near eachother and commute to or within town on trams, trolley buses etc). Having had a rough deal since the earthquake and loss of some buildings, many have also been well preserved. I would have noticed no fewer than 10 churches on my wander around the city that afternoon. Our guide with Intrepid gave us a quick tour of the key sights after lunch - the impressive Alexander Nevaski church, the art gallery, national history museum, and ethnographical museum buildings, the small local park and plazas and clues on how to spend the rest of our ... read more

The trip from Sibiu to Brasov was impressive. We left to a cool morning with sun emerging across the mountains jutting into the sky like a knife. It became misty as we approached the mountains in the private mini bus, in search of the glacial lake known as 'Balea'. The ascent through pine forest gave way to barren tussock land, then rock, following a series of switchbacks that had an amazing view across the valley from whence we came. The military entertained us at the summit, firing mortars with accompanying sounds, that seemed as though they were blasting the mountain apart! Spare bthe odd souvenir shop and people working on the roads at the summit (a winter resort, like many other places) we were the only ones there. It was then down to the horse stable, ... read more

The break in Debrecen for 3 hours was deserved, as the rest of the afternoon was spent travelling across country by rail and then minibus to our final destination at Sighetu Marmatiei. This small town is only 2km from the Ukraine border and beyond which is some 'no mans land', being forbidden to cross. Debrecen, Hungary, has several impressive buildings but only worth a short stop to do internet, stock up on any groceries etc. It is on the edge of the Hortobagy national park of Hungary, a superb place evidently to see birdlife and rambling plains (the highest peak in Hungary is approximately 300m!). The train departed at 3.11pm and we headed 3 hours in westerly direction towards Romania's northeastern region of Maramures ('Maramuresh'). The train involved the usual border crossing, slightly more stringent it ... read more