Ljubljana! Charming and Tiny Capital City...

 The next stop on the trip was Ljubljana and honestly I didn't think I was going to make it! So far I have had pretty simple and straight forward train journeys. This has to have been the worst travel day I have ever experienced! So the day started off with arriving at the station with plenty of time to spare. However, when I arrived my train was not on the board. Feeling a little confused, I told myself it was too early for the information to show and the train would come up after a little bit of time.

When it got to 15 minutes before, I started to panic a little, and decided to drag myself all the way down to the wrong end of the station to the only information desk. When I got there they told me to go to a little hut outside the station, and on the opposite side of where I was. When I finally arrived there, they told me I had to get on a different train because the schedule was wrong (hence why I couldn't see my train number on the board). Oh, and he also told me I had 3 minutes to get there.

I made it onto the train by the skin of my teeth! I was so grateful to run into a group from Australia, who said they were just as confused as me! We hadn't been given any information whatsoever, as we were told it was a direct train. So then we were told we had to get off the train, switch to a bus, then get on another train. Through all of this we continuously asked if we were going in the right direction... And everyone we asked said yes! We were then later dumped at a station, which was completely abandoned. After trying to communicate with the ticket office, they told us the next train to Ljubljana was the next day.

We had taken the wrong train somewhere along the journey! After a bit of talk, the four of us decided to share a taxi just over the border of Slovenia, where trains to Ljubljana run every 30 minutes. We thought the €40 each would be better off than finding accommodation for a night, when we all had places to stay in Ljubljana. The extra cost was a bit of a pain, but it's just one of those things! 2 trains later, I finally arrived! I have never been so relieved!

Despite the mad journey to Ljubljana, I had an amazing time. Arriving in Ljubljana was like discovering a little hidden town that not many people know about. It's so crazy to think this sweet little city is the country's capital! The cobble streets and pretty buildings make it seem like a hidden treasure. It was absolutely beautiful.

Where did I stay and how long for?

I stayed at Hostel Vrba for 3 nights. I would really recommend this place for travellers, as it is close to the centre and I found it as being one of the top rated hostels on Lonely Planet. It was a lovely and clean little hostel.

Highlights

Enjoying a beer, and swinging at the bar at the same time! Heading to the district of bars where you'll find very few tourists and wandering the street food market. (no surprise there)

Itinerary

8th June - After a long day of travelling I decided to run across the street to get a pizza, as I was exhausted! Decided to go for a little explore and came across a crazy little place that had swings at the bar! In Ljubljana, they have 2 different beers called Lakso and Union. They're both made by the same brewery, but apparantly in Slovenia, its a big deal to pick your favourite and stick to it. So the natural thing to do as a tourist is to ordered one of each and try both. I hate to say it, but I thought they tasted very similar, so after that I just went on which bottle I preferred the look of, which was Union! Eek!

9th June - was a long day of rain rain rain. I decided to stay in the hostel in the morning, in an attempt to get my blog written. Now that I am moving around a lot more frequently, it's really tricky finding the time to get it done! In the afternoon, I decided to head over to a little cafe called Mihalek. I'd read about this in one of the tourist maps, and this cafe serves cakes and ice cream which are homemade, vegan, flour and sugar free. I'm not vegan, I am a full on meat eater! But I do love sampling sugar free desserts! It was quite far away so I was wandering for a while in the rain, but it was so worth it when I arrived. The desserts looked so delicious and I went for a Walnut a chocolate Torte and an espresso. It was delicious! You'd never think it was sugar free! It was so decadent and tasty, and I couldn't finish it I was so full! That evening, I was feeling a little ill again! I was very dizzy and had the worst headache so I just chilled out in the hostel, chatting to a few people and watching movies.

10th June - I decided to go on another free walking tour, as I really enjoyed the one I went on in Budapest. It was so great to learn about the capital and the tour guide was so funny and charming. On our tour we passed through the street food market, which really got my mouth watering. Anyone who knows me, knows my love for street food so naturally when the tour was over, I made a beeline back and wandered the stalls before choosing a delicious looking plate of steak and potato wedges. It was such a good choice! I hadn't eaten steak in a while and it was so tasty! I strolled around the streets some more, snapping photos. In the afternoon I headed over to Cacao, a cafe everyone had been raving about. Someone said, if you go to Ljubljana and don't visit Cacao, then you've wasted your trip! I have to say I do agree with them! Just off to the side of the main square, Cacao serves a range of ice cream, ice cream cake and lots of cakes and tarts. I got a scoop of Sacher flavoured ice cream and a scoop of tiramisu. The Sacher flavoured ice cream was definitely my favourite! It was so decadent, I felt like I was eating a slice of torte! Feeling extremely full, I then wandered along the river as(hooray) the sun was finally out. I spent the afternoon sat by the river in the sun.

Dragon Bridge

When I headed back to the hostel, a new group had arrived. It's really nice to see some fresh faces and get chatting to new people. We decided to head out as a group for some drinks and we wandered along the river to one of bars for a few beers. We then headed to a hidden area of Ljubljana, Metelkova Mesto, which is a former barrack. There was so much going on, and each night the place comes alive with parties and alternative events. This was definitely off the beaten track and it was so refreshing to be surrounded by locals.

11th June - this morning I left to make my way up to Lake Bled. One of the guys I had met the night before was driving up to Bled for the day and was giving two other girls a lift up. It was so sweet of him to offer me a lift and I was very quick to accept. A car journey was so refreshing as, I do admit that train journeys were starting to take their toll, particularly after the nightmare experience of getting to a Ljubljana! 

Top Tips/recommendations for Ljubljana 

• Go on a free walking tour to learn about the city (but don't forget to tip!)
• Wander the street food markets for some delicious choices! 
• Stop at Cacao in the afternoon for a warm drink and some ice cream..or cake.. Or both!
• Visit Metelkova Mesto for a taste of a locals night out on the town. 

Veliko Ljubenzni!

Franki xxx

Budapest! The Good Vibes...

My next stop on the trip was Budapest! I was really looking forward to this one, as for a mid travel treat, I decided to book into a hotel, as they are so cheap in Budapest! It was great to have a few days to relax and just have some time out from the madness. I had less time in Budapest, and didn't do too much touristy sight seeing. But it's perfectly fine to have a few days to recharge! I loved Budapest so much, it was definitely a highlight for me and there is no doubt that I will return! So anything I didn't manage to do this time, I'll make sure I do the next!

Where did I stay and how long for?

I stayed in Bliss Hotel & Wellness for 3 nights. This was such a lovely hotel and I would highly recommend it for a little piece of luxury at a very reasonable price. My room was so lovely, it had a small balcony and I have never seen such a big shower! The section of the hotel I was in also had a little terrace for guests to enjoy on sunny days. The hotel had a pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, gym and they also offered massages.

Highlights

Experiencing a night in the ruin bars and relaxing in the spa in my hotel! 

The Itinerary 

5th June - I arrived mid afternoon, after a slightly stressful time at the train station, involving wandering up and down for the not so clearly advertised information desk. When I arrived I wasn't feeling all that great, so I hung about in the room and on the balcony for a while, and then headed out for a quick stroll and some dinner. When I got back to the hotel I just fancied a chilled out evening so watched a couple movies on Netflix.

6th June - I woke up and decided to head downstairs for a swim in the pool. It was lovely and warm and it felt so refreshing to get swimming. I made use of plenty of the facilities and went in the jacuzi and the sauna! It was so nice to just feel relaxed. I decided to book a massage for the night before I left, as the prices were so cheap! I booked in for a 1 hour Swedish massage, and it cost me £20! Then in the afternoon I decided to go on one of the free walking tours they offer in Budapest. This was a great way to learn about the city when you don't have much time! The tour guides taught us about the rich history of Budapest, and both sides, Buda and Pest. We also walked over the chain bridge to the Buda side, for some great views of the city. I'd highly recommend it, particularly if on a budget. (Although, don't forget to tip what you can afford!) I met a few lovely people and got chatting to a fellow solo traveller. We really hit it off and decided to go for drinks that evening, and discover some of the great ruin bars of Budapest. The two bars we spent most of the evening in were Kuplung and Szimpla. (Szimpla was recommended to me by Eszter, who I stayed with in Vienna!) we had such a great night and the drinks are unbelievably cheap! If you're after a budget weekend away somewhere, Budapest is definitely a great location! 

Walking the bridge from Pest to Buda

7th June - No surprises here, but I wasn't feeling too fresh the next morning! So I lazily watched a movie in bed, before heading out for a quick stroll around the area and then heading back to make use of the spa facilities in the hotel. I then met up with the same friend for some dinner where we went back to the ruin bar, Kuplung (which does food by day). I ordered a bowl of Goulash, the Hungarian specialty, which I had never tried before! It was delicious, and a little comfort food was exactly what I needed. I then headed back to my hotel for a relaxing, evening massage! I then got an early night, as I was up at 6 am the following day to catch my train! 

I would normally give some recommendations for Budapest, but as I wasn't there that long and just really used the time to relax a little, there's not much I can recommend! I will however, write a new Budapest bucket list for when I return!

• Spend the day at one of the thermal baths (sadly I didn't have enough time for this!)
• See the Shoes on the Danube Bank
• Go to Fisherman's Bastion
• Explore more of the ruin bars! 

I will definitely be back soon, and will make sure I do everything I didn't get a chance to this time!

Sok Szeretettel!

Franki xxx

Vienna! Solo Wanderings Begin...

The next stop for me was Vienna and this was a big step, as it was my first city completely by myself. But as I set off on the train I felt really good about it and excited for how the next few days were going to turn out. Despite having a few ups and downs, (solo travel is one big roller coaster) I did have a really nice time in Vienna and I'm so glad I got to tick it off my bucket list.

Where did I stay and how long for? 

For this trip I decided to use Airbnb and stayed in an apartment in the centre of Vienna with a lovely girl named Eszter, for 4 nights. I had my own room, but shared the bathroom and kitchen. This was my first Airbnb experience but it was such a lovely way to travel. I have a few more Airbnb bookings on this trip, but I'm sure I will always turn to using it whenever I go away. It's so great to get to know your host, and being a local they can give you the best advice on where to go and what to see. It's so lovely to get such a different feel from a city, as you settle in for a few days and feel like one of the locals yourself!

Highlights

Seeing the Hundertwasserhaus Apartments, wandering the Tiergarten and attending a CrossFit class in Vienna! 

The Itinerary 

1st June - I arrived pretty late after a long day of travel. The train journey was smooth and enjoyable. I eventually arrived at Eszters apartment after taking the U-Bahn. I grabbed myself some dinner and was let in by a friend of hers. The apartment was so lovely and spacious. My bedroom was spacious and had a big comfy sofa! When Eszter arrived home we had a lovely long chat, getting to know each other and talking about my plans for my stay. I discovered that she was Hungarian, and studied in Vienna. She gave me some great tips for where to go for my next stop, which was Budapest. After a long day I called it a night!

2nd June - For my first day in Vienna, I decided to get about exploring the sights of the city. I started it off by going to Stephansplatz and gazing at St Stephens Cathedral. I had a stroll around the area, and headed over to Demel, a pastry shop with really good reviews. It was so busy, so I didn't buy anything. But I did wander round and admire the displays and the chocolate and sweets they sold. After mindlessly strolling around and getting a little lost, I came across Volksgarten park, a beautiful park with paths, fountains and flowers. I made my way over to Mozarts Apartment to have a look at the exhibition. After some lunch, I made my over to the Hundertwasserhaus Apartments. These were incredible and I would highly recommend them. There was a small cafe attached so I ordered a piece of apple streudal and some fruit tea and sat in the sun, gazing at the gorgeous colours and paintings on the building. Towards the end of the day I strolled through Museums Quartier with my headphones plugged in, before heading back to Volksgarten to sit in the sun with my kindle for a while. 

3rd June - Today was the day I had booked on a drop in class at CrossFit Vienna. I joined a CrossFit gym in Leeds back in February, and have become addicted ever since! It was really nice to drop in and experience a class in another box. It was like a home away from home! Everyone was so friendly and it was such a lovely atmosphere. I had such a great time and as I was starting to feel a little homesick that morning, it was a real mood uplifter. That afternoon I went to ride the Reisenrad! It was great to see such pretty landscapes of the city. I also headed over to the Danube and strolled along for a while, before finding a comfy looking spot and just chilling out for a bit. After this I headed home, to find Eszter with a few of her friends. I joined them for a few drinks and we accidentally ordered the biggest pizza I have ever seen! I could only manage 1 slice but it was so nice to chat with new people. 

 

4th June - On my last day, I headed to the Tiergarten, which is home to the oldest zoo in the world! I had a (very quick) look around the zoo, before feeling slightly foolish, as I was surrounded by kiddies! So after this I just wandered around the Tiergarten and had a look at Schonbrunn Palace. In the early evening, I decided to go and see a film, so I found an English cinema and booked to see Alice Through the Looking Glass. Im a big Alice in Wonderland fan, so was really excited to see the new movie. It was so nice to feel a little more at home too. I went to the 'English Cinema Haydn', which is a family run, independent cinema. It was so lovely! The walls were decorated with old posters and movie reels. 

5th June - Today I said goodbye to Eszter and made my way to the train station to head towards my new city, Budapest!

Top Tips/Recommendations for Vienna

• Grab some apple strudel, or Sacher torte at the little cafe next to the Hundertwasserhaus Apartments
• Wander round the Tiergarten for some beautiful photo opportunities. 
• See as many parks as possible, they're all so beautiful! 

 

Veile Liebe Vienna!

Franki xxx

Kraków! Old Town Fairytale..

My adventure continues with the beautiful delight that is Kraków, Poland. I have to admit after the visit we had in Berlin, I was almost sure I would be disappointed with my visit to Poland in comparison. But I was blown away as we wandered into the Old Town of Kraków, dragging our suitcases and feeling very sticky! I could have happily stayed in the Old Town for the entire stay. I've never seen a town like it. There are so many little side streets, nooks and crannies to discover, that each visit is just as charming and new as the last. 

Where did I stay and how long for? 

We stayed (again with brother and mum) in a hostel called Location Aparthostel for 4 nights. The room we stayed in was very spacious, and although it was a slightly longer journey to the bathroom, it was a lovely place to stay. The staff were friendly and so kind. We were accidentally placed in the wrong room, and the receptionist felt so terrible that we woke the next morning to find that she had bought us crossaints and coffee! 

Highlights

Ice cream and a jazz bar in the Old Town (not at the same time!), the visit to Auschwitz and the salt Mines. (Which doesn't leave much left!)

Old Town

The Itinerary 

28th May - We arrived in Kraków by train, at around 6pm. It was a huge relief to finally arrive, as there was a little confusion with the last few stops of the train. Long story short, I ended up getting off at the wrong station and getting into a bit of a panic struggling to get back on again! It took a while for me to calm down as I was feeling some anxiety but it's a mistake that's been made at the beginning of the trip, and I'll be sure to triple check everything else from now on! 

As I wasn't feeling my best, we decided to just head out for a quick bite to eat and then have an early night. Seeing the Old Town for the first time was definitely a mood changer. I began to immediately perk up after strolling the cobblestone streets and looking at what the town had to offer. After wandering for a while we stopped at a little pizza Place, as it was quick and the other restaurants were quite fancy. This was another amazing pizza place, and I've not even gotten as far as Italy yet! They served such a huge variety of toppings, including individual calzones! I ended up getting a bolognaise flavour calzone, which was delicious and definitely the comfort food that I needed. After dinner, we treated ourselves to some ice cream from, in my opinion, the best ice cream parlour on the square. (I can't remember the name but it's the one with crowds of people swarming round it). I got caramel flavour, and what looked like strawberry shortcake, as it had little pieces of biscuit in it. It was to die for! We then headed home and had an early night, ready to wake up fresh in the morning.

29th May - As every day in Berlin was jam packed full of activities, we decided to have a relaxing day of wandering and getting lost in the many streets of the Old Town. We walked through the Cloth Hall, admiring Traditional Polish dress, jewellery and children's toys. We walked up to the Mury Obronne, giving a fantastic view of the pretty streets. We then had a quick look around the Barbican before grabbing some lunch. In the evening we went out for dinner before grabbing a few drinks at a Jazz Bar and listening to this music :)

Nearby Park

Barbican

30th May - We took a day trip to Auschwitz. This has always been something on my bucket list. World War II and the holocaust was always something that really interested me in school and I'm so glad I got the opportunity to go and learn more about the terrible history. It was very sad and difficult to see the living conditions, the objects and possessions on display and most of all, the gas chambers. But I'm really glad I went. It's such an important part of history, I think it's something everyone should see given the opportunity. 

31st May - We took a day trip to the Salt Mines. This was such a cool place to visit. We were down more than 50 floors and what fascinated me the most were the sculptures that were completed by hand, by the minors in their spare time. There was even a beautiful church. The walls were covered in religious scenes and the chandeliers were made out of salt crystals. 

How many floors?!

In the afternoon we headed over to Schindlers Factory, but we had just missed the cut off for entry. As I was leaving early the next day, I had no time to come back again in the morning. But we did take a quick look at the last remaining fragments of the Ghetto Wall.

1st June - After a quick breakfast in the sun, I made my way up to the train station to start my solo adventure and another full day of travelling. My train went from Kraków to Katowice and from Katowice to Vienna. 

Top Tips/Recommendations for Kraków

• Walk up to the Mury Obronne for some great snapping opportunities
• Find the ice cream place with the swarm of people around it! It's the place to be! 
• Take a day trip to Auschwitz. 

 

I will definitely return to Poland soon. It may turn out to be one of my favourite places.

dużo miłości,

Franki xxx