Down by the sea in Split

Best night train I've had as I actually managed to get a bit of sleep! Still not the comfiest way to travel though! It was so nice to walk out of the station and have the sea right in front of you. Such a beautiful place to visit. The streets are picturesque and have small alleyways with lots of shops and restaurants. I was right next to the old palace walls which surround a small area of Split. Nearly as beautiful as Venice and it certainly reminded me of it in some ways. 

Old Palace walls

Market

So my first stop was to climb the bell tower to get a view of everything. Well worth the steep climb to the top! Afterwards I checked in to Booze and Snooze hostel but there would be no boozing for me as I had a nasty cold! A pretty good hostel and very central. After a kip I went exploring for the rest of the day. So nice to just get lost in a new place as you see so much more. A filthy mixed grill and a walk to the beaches followed which was so nice at sunset. 

Narrow beautiful streets

Sea front

Streets of Split

 

Bell tower view

The next day I visited Hvar island which is about an hour from Split. Such a beautiful island. I spent the day there climbing to the top of a fortress which overlooked the island. Again the views were amazing! I also sunbathed and had a swim while I was on Hvar as well as destroying a load of food! A great island to visit and next time I'm here I'll party as Hvar is meant to have amazing nightlife. 

Hvar island

Half way up the steep climb

At the top!

Love this place

I bloody love food

So my two days in Split were spent chilling and viewing some amazing scenery. It was nice to relax for a bit as interrailing can be quite hectic at times. My next stop is Rome! As I'm so unorganised I've been forced to get a flight there as my route has been so unplanned it would take 24 hours plus on the train to get there. When will I learn!? 

S x

Hungary for Budapest

So after a very cramped train journey, we finally arrived in Budapest! We had booked up a quaint little place called 2Night hostel which was close to the Danube. After grabbing a few hours sleep, it was time for a delicious meal and a few drinks. We went to one bar where they told us our second drink would be our last order and for us not to worry as they hadn't called the police...No idea what their problem was as it was just a quiet drink! 

After avoiding a delightful stay in a Hungarian prison cell, we made our way to the Cinetrip spa party (Sparty). Each week they hold a party at the natural thermal spas but this was a special event there with a massive light show and dj's. It was unreal! One of the best things I've ever done and easily competed with Ibiza. Raving in the water to some great tunes with a drink in hand was unique and one of the highlights of my trip. Things did get a bit perverted towards the end as I'm sure a few people were banging in the pools. Very hygienic. 

 

Spa party

 

Might be poor quality but here's a video of the spa party

After such a good night we spent most of Sunday recovering. We were both feeling pretty run down so a day of chilling was in order. We got up late and had a wander around a few sites before grabbing a meal and watching some of the footy. A memorial next to the Danube for the Jewish victims of the Holocaust was unique and so interesting to see.
 

By the Danube

Holocaust memorial

Nice area in Budapest

The evening was spent having a filthy curry and apparently having a night off from partying. This didn't last for long. We clearly have issues. We made our way to a 'ruins' bar called Zsimpla. These bars are very unique as they are designed to be run down and everything looks very old. We had a great night and ended up jogging back through the city to our hostel at about 4am. Who needs a taxi when you have legs of steel! Monday was my last full day in Budapest and it was going to be a good one. We had some grub and then went to check in at our new hostel....Grandio. There are a range of party hostels in Budapest which are on a scale of how crazy they are. We managed to book a night in the one that was advertised as the craziest hostel. To put it in to context, the hostel description begins with, "You can sleep when you're dead". Good point. From outside it looks like a prison but as you walk in it's very cool. A big courtyard with hanging trees and a bar which is surrounded by a balcony above. It is similar to the ruins bars and has lots of graffiti and cool pictures. If I had to describe it, I would say it is a combination between a Brazilian slum and an artistic masterpiece. I also forgot to mention two key features... It has it's own 'rave cave' and sex bed. Seriously I'm not joking. The rave cave can only be described as a crack den for the wasters of society. We fitted in perfectly. 

Awesome courtyard at Grandio

Nice exterior

So after checking in to the slum where we could potentially spend our last night on this planet, we went to the highest point in Budapest to check out the view. Stunning! After such a long trek we went back to the thermal spas and actually relaxed there all afternoon. The whole place was open this time so we sampled the saunas and all the natural spas which are at a range of different temperatures. We were relaxed and ready to party! After meeting a few people, we drank in Grandio courtyard and also went back to Zsimpla and had a great night. To finish off the evening, we drank in the rave cave and had a good laugh. Two people were passed out on the sofas and clearly they had an awesome night! 

Monument overlooking Budapest

Budapest!

Pete trying not to fall down a slope

Camp pose

Crack den/hostel/hell on earth

Classy

The next day was tough. My body was in a state and I had a night train to Split in Croatia. It was the last day that Pete and I would be travelling together so after two weeks of partying and irritating the eastern European population, we went our separate ways. Glad to see the back of that waste man! So as I type this, I'm on a night train to Split. In my cabin is a Hungarian family and the train guard has gone off with my Interrail ticket which I hope he's bringing back. My Hungarian isn't very fluent yet. I can't wait for two days relaxing by the sea and sampling lots of food. Right time to attempt to get some sleep! S x

One day in Vienna

So after a hot twelve hour night train with barely any sleep, we arrived in Vienna! We made our way to the hostel and dropped our bags off at 7am as check in wasn't until 2pm! We were starving so we decided to try a traditional Austrian delicacy...Burger King. Sitting outside on a beautiful street in Vienna eating a breakfast burger was a bit surreal. 

Classy

Somehow we dragged our bodies around the city and took in all the sites. The buildings are truly stunning and the work that has gone in to creating them is insane. We managed to see all the sites in a few hours which was perfect as we were in no fit state to carry on walking! A pit stop at a restaurant for a nice lasagne meal was required before heading to our hostel. As we are respectable members of society who always maintain our dignity, we slept in the lobby until check in. Very classy.

Amazing buildings

Me doing one of two poses from my repertoire 

Crazy bloke on a horse

We chilled for the rest of the day until the evening when we went to an irish bar for a few drinks and food. It was a Friday night so we had no choice but to go for a night out! After drinking in our hotel we headed out to vault gardens which was a great club. Very classy for down and out backpackers but nonetheless we had a great night. A gorgeous fried duck and noodles meal was required afterwards before stumbling back through the picturesque streets of Vienna. 

More bloody horses

Filthy lasagne

As I write this I am sat on the floor of a train with at least twenty other people who have been as stupid as me in not reserving a train seat. A cute little girl is trying to play with my phone as I attempt to write this blog! It's very crampt and uncomfortable but I wouldn't change it as it's another experience! I arrive in Budapest in a few hours and so many people I've met have told me how amazing it is. The spa party tonight should be awesome. However before that my focus is on trying to get comfortable on this floor. Could be tricky

S x

Berlin Baby!

Berlin baby! I went when I was younger but I couldn't really remember it so it was time to refresh my memory! 

After checking in at Wombat Hostel in a super hipster area of Berlin, we grabbed some food next door at Louisiana Kid restaurant. Delicious food! It was then time to head upstairs and visit the hostel bar. We met some English and Irish girls and guys and decided to all go to a club called Weekend later on. We arrived and didn't even know it was a club as there are no signs advertising it. Clubs are visited on a word of mouth basis here which add to the hipster vibe! We took a lift to the 15th floor of a hotel and it was amazing there. Good house music all night and a balcony overlooking all of Berlin. Watching the sun start to rise there was awesome. 

Wombat hostel

Weekend club

Sunrise 

The next day we visited the Berlin Wall which was great. Great street art all over the wall now and lots of people jamming with their instruments nearby. Such a chilled vibe which I love. The evening involved a nice meal and spending time in the bar. We met some people from Finland and France who joined our posse to head to a club called Suicide Circus. Such a nice name for a club. A very underground and run down feel to the place which is very unique. It took an hour to get in and the bouncer on the door was extremely intimidating! You would not mess with this bloke! The bouncers here are known for being strict and if you don't have women with you then you don't get in! Again good house music all night and I got in at 6am. People were still queuing to get in as I left! Nutters! 

The wall

Jamming session 

English and Irish wasters

A 10am check out the next morning was missed but luckily the guy didn't mind that we were late. The rest of the day was spent in a zombie-like daze exploring Berlin. We visited the Brandenberg gate and Checkpoint Charlie before going to a park and sleeping on the grass. An act of desperation by two broken men in a world of pain. 

Checkpoint Charlie

Brandenburg Gate

I was too hungover to find out the name of this building. We just slept on the grass here.

We dragged our lifeless bodies back to the hostel to collect our bags and then made our way for the night train to Vienna! Austria looks awesome so I'm looking forward to our day there tomorrow and then Budapest at the weekend where we have some awesome nights planned.  One in particular will be a 'Sparty' which is a rave at some natural thermal spas. Can't wait!

S x