Hello from Prague
We have travelled from Hungary to Prague via a fleeting visit to Vienna. Unfortunately we ate out in Budapest on what was to be our last night there but the next morning we were too sick to travel - no more Hungarian Goulash for me! So that meant we could only spend one night in Vienna which was disappointing but we did managed to have a couple of hours walk around the city centre and see some of the major sights. There was another amazing building, sculpture or sight around every corner.
Prague is very beautiful and we are staying just out of the centre in a quiet area called Vyseghrad which was the original centre of Prague with castle before relocation to the present site on castle hill. Today we wandered the town centre, up and down little streets finding another photo opportunity around every corner and wonderful shops to browse. Tomorrow we are going to visit the castle area. We are staying in an apartment owned by an Aussie so it's great to hear a familiar accent, and Michael is very helpful and has shown us some great spots to visit and see. Good restaurants around here and lovely parks to wander in the afternoon when the locals are all out walking their dogs and taking their babies for a stroll in their prams! Prague is very safe and everyone is still out on the streets walking til quite late.
From here we head to Amsterdam on Wednesday night - a little change of plan, so another overnight trip although think it will be a bit more upmarket than the Turkish and Bulgarian trains (a least I hope so!).
Love to all and thinking of you,
Love Ya Mum and Nan, xxxx
Kerrie & James xxxx
PS hopefully some more photos next time.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
the Skinny Controller
This photos for Liam and Wil - this is the "fat" controller in Hungary - I think he's been on a diet!!!
Love Kerrie
hello again from Budapest
Today we went on the hop-on-hop-off bus around Budapest and saw all the major sites - just beautiful! We spent quite a lot of time at Buda Castle area - great views across to the Pest side of the Danube. The bus is a great way to get around the city as it's quite a long way between sights and anything to save my legs is good! James is feeling better today - especially now that he's on a computer next to me at the internet cafe!!! No actually he's enjoying seeing the buildings and attractions of the city and especially now that he knows there are no long overnight train trips! Some good photo opportunities today. Tomorrow we are off to Vienna on the morning train - only around 3 hours - yippee! Love Kerrie & James xx
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
In Budapest
We are now in Budapest after another - hopefully last - long train trip. James is over the trains after being sick on the last overnight trip. We decided to change our accommodation plans in Budapest and live it up a bit - we are staying in a very new 4 star motel near the centre of town - very swish and comfortable to recover from our travelling.
We have just had a couple of hours walk around the centre of Budapest and it is beautiful - large ornate buildings, the Danube, statues, river boats, beautiful flowers, cobbled streets, good coffee, castle- wow! Tomorrow if James is feeling OK we will buy tickets for the hop-on-hop-off bus to see the sights of the city. Good photo opportunities abound in Budapest - will need to buy more memory cards for the camera.
Thinking of you all back home - we've had some moments in the past few days in Bulgaria and Serbia but managed to get through them and feeling good here in Hungary.
Still not able to post photos but maybe later on.
Love to everyone,
Kerrie & James xxx
We have just had a couple of hours walk around the centre of Budapest and it is beautiful - large ornate buildings, the Danube, statues, river boats, beautiful flowers, cobbled streets, good coffee, castle- wow! Tomorrow if James is feeling OK we will buy tickets for the hop-on-hop-off bus to see the sights of the city. Good photo opportunities abound in Budapest - will need to buy more memory cards for the camera.
Thinking of you all back home - we've had some moments in the past few days in Bulgaria and Serbia but managed to get through them and feeling good here in Hungary.
Still not able to post photos but maybe later on.
Love to everyone,
Kerrie & James xxx
Sunday, October 12, 2008
We're Here!
At Gallipoli and James on the beach at ANZAC Cove (beached as bru!!)
Kerrie at Hagia Sophia
Well after a week of travelling we are finally able to post - somehow our blog got blocked but now it's fine again.
We arrived in Istanbul last Sunday night after a very long 30 odd hours of travelling - 8 hour stop over in Dubai and a loooong flight from Brisabane to Dubai. Arriving in Istanbul at night was interesting and as our driver took us past the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and other icons I could hardly believe we were there. Istanbul is busy, huge, crazy with traffic, friendly and has loads of cats! I've had my hand kissed three times (just for buying kebabs!) and received one marriage proposal!!! James also received the traditional Turkish greeting practised by men with a hand shake and a kiss on each cheek - not sure how he felt about that but he received it graciously!
Our tour down to Gallipoli and Cannakale was wonderful. We toured the Gallipoli peninsula with an English speaking guide who had incredible knowledge of the WW1 campaign and really brought it to life. Standing at ANZAC Cove was very special and brought tears to my eyes as we thought of all the lives lost there.We crossed the Dardenelles on a car ferry to Cannakale just as the sun was setting - spectacular.
On our second day we toured Troy with Mustafa - another very informative guide who also spoke excellent English. Pretty amazing to see such history.
In Istanbul we visited the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Spice Market and lots of smaller streets and shops. The people were always very friendly, helpful and interested in where we came from - lots of comments about kangaroos, Sydney, oi oi oi!, and g'day mate!!!
Today we arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria after a long overnight train trip with two extended stops for passport control in the middle of the night. The train station here is an unpleasant concrete bunker which appears to be out in the middle of nowhere. When I enquired about our overnight trip to Budapest I was told by the lady at international booking that it was not possible during the week - oh bugger. It seems we have to change at Belgrade so we will set off tomorrow in case the trains don't connect and we lose a night along the way. After being fleeced by the taxi driver from the train station to the hostel (even though I thought I had good information about them) I'm thinking Sofia is not going to be our favourite spot - maybe some sight seeing tomorrow before we leave might fix that.
We were hoping to post a photo but unfortunately the computers here down have USB ports - maybe at our next stop. Take care everyone - oh and happy back to work tomorrow - we'll be thinking of you!!!
Happy Birthday Jas for Monday - love you heaps and kisses for my babies xxx. Have a good day with Nanna and give her a big kiss from us.
Kerrie & James
We arrived in Istanbul last Sunday night after a very long 30 odd hours of travelling - 8 hour stop over in Dubai and a loooong flight from Brisabane to Dubai. Arriving in Istanbul at night was interesting and as our driver took us past the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and other icons I could hardly believe we were there. Istanbul is busy, huge, crazy with traffic, friendly and has loads of cats! I've had my hand kissed three times (just for buying kebabs!) and received one marriage proposal!!! James also received the traditional Turkish greeting practised by men with a hand shake and a kiss on each cheek - not sure how he felt about that but he received it graciously!
Our tour down to Gallipoli and Cannakale was wonderful. We toured the Gallipoli peninsula with an English speaking guide who had incredible knowledge of the WW1 campaign and really brought it to life. Standing at ANZAC Cove was very special and brought tears to my eyes as we thought of all the lives lost there.We crossed the Dardenelles on a car ferry to Cannakale just as the sun was setting - spectacular.
On our second day we toured Troy with Mustafa - another very informative guide who also spoke excellent English. Pretty amazing to see such history.
In Istanbul we visited the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Spice Market and lots of smaller streets and shops. The people were always very friendly, helpful and interested in where we came from - lots of comments about kangaroos, Sydney, oi oi oi!, and g'day mate!!!
Today we arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria after a long overnight train trip with two extended stops for passport control in the middle of the night. The train station here is an unpleasant concrete bunker which appears to be out in the middle of nowhere. When I enquired about our overnight trip to Budapest I was told by the lady at international booking that it was not possible during the week - oh bugger. It seems we have to change at Belgrade so we will set off tomorrow in case the trains don't connect and we lose a night along the way. After being fleeced by the taxi driver from the train station to the hostel (even though I thought I had good information about them) I'm thinking Sofia is not going to be our favourite spot - maybe some sight seeing tomorrow before we leave might fix that.
We were hoping to post a photo but unfortunately the computers here down have USB ports - maybe at our next stop. Take care everyone - oh and happy back to work tomorrow - we'll be thinking of you!!!
Happy Birthday Jas for Monday - love you heaps and kisses for my babies xxx. Have a good day with Nanna and give her a big kiss from us.
Kerrie & James
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Tomorrow
Well we are off to Brisbane tomorrow to stay the night with my aunty and uncle and then on Saturday night we fly out at 8:05. Most of our things are packed and ready to go and I hope that everything is organised at home for when we leave. Apart from getting ourslves organised I need to make sure that our cats, Sally & Lily, and our dog, Sophie are catered for when we are away. My mum will be looking after them for us so she is armed with a list of do's and don'ts and enough food to last a year apparently!!!
Our first stop is Dubai for eight and a half hours and then it's on to Istanbul where we arrive around 6:00pm on Sunday. We have a transfer arranged to our hotel and I guess some much needed rest before we start to explore the city on Monday morning - Grand Bazaar here I come!!!
Our first stop is Dubai for eight and a half hours and then it's on to Istanbul where we arrive around 6:00pm on Sunday. We have a transfer arranged to our hotel and I guess some much needed rest before we start to explore the city on Monday morning - Grand Bazaar here I come!!!
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