Bulgaria

Sofia

July 8-10th 2008

Sofia is surrounded by mountains and is

Day 4 cont

I landed around 5:40pm, ten minutes late, to Sofia. I got some local currency out of the ATM, (I love that in Europe they give you small money, not just 20’s) and attempted to find my mini bus. I soon learned that the mini-bus and normal bus only come go to the hold airport terminal; which doesn’t make a whole lot of since. Instead I took a cab. It was only about 5 Euros, which was worth it. I went into the hostel and they told me that my reservation was for the other hostel down the street. So the nice old lady walked me over to the other hostel and I checked in to the new place. I was in a room with about a dozen other people and I don’t remember signing up for a room that large, but oh well. I went out after checking in, just to get some fresh air because they allow smoking in the common room, and I was dying. I bought some water, tissues, apple juice, flip flops, an Ice cream cone, and took some pictures! Such random stuff! Then I went back to the hostel and watched TV for a while before going to bed.

Day 5

Once again I didn’t see a lot of sights. After breakfast and some morning TV, decided to head out with no map. I didn’t have a destination but I was in the mood to shop, I wanted a new dress for Greece. I probably went into every store, regardless of whether I could afford the clothing or not! I spent the entire afternoon checking out stores in search of a dress. It turned out to be the greatest idea, because I happened to see a lot of the city, and get a feel for the culture. I was not expecting to find so many shops in Sofia, but what they lack in sights, they have replace with shops. For lunch I had an American style hotdog, which was freaking good. It was so good I made a point to go back and have another. After the shopping I grew a little tired and in need of R&R, so I returned to the hostel. I hung out in the common room for a while, then went to read in the bed room, where luckily no one was. I read for an hour then took a nap; and what a glorious nap it was! After the nap I was ready to go back out and see some more of the city. I walked and took some pictures, growing hungrier by the minute. I stopped at Subway to add more Americanism to my day! I ate my sandwich in the park while watching some kids play. When I finished the sun had set and it was time for me to go back. At the hostel, I packed and prepared to leave the next day. I watched some TV then went to bed.

Day 6

I didn’t hear my alarm go off, because the night before I had put earplugs in, due to this annoying guy’s snoring. But fortunately for me I had woke up on my own, and started to get ready. This guy came in shortly after I woke up and said that he was going to wake me up because he hard my alarm go off. I thought that was really nice, and If I hadn’t woken up he would have saved my ass! Anyway, I fixed myself some breakfast since the hostel people were still sleeping. I had to wake them up though to call a cab and she didn’t seem too happy about that! I went down stairs to meet my cab and found it waiting for me. We encountered little traffic and arrived at the airport within 10mins. I checked in and was in the air at around 10am. I arrived in Athens at 11:45am… read about the rest of the trip on the next blog about the Greek Islands!

Bulgaria is a 3. Sofia has a lot of shopping but not many sights, those lie outside the city!

Romania

Bucharest

July 7-8th 2008

The "Central Park" of Bucharest.

Day 3 cont
I arrived in Romania and instantly liked it better than Moldova. It was a much more developed and there public transportation proved to be more trustworthy. I did as instructed by the hostel and took the bus the correct stop. I found the street that the hostel was on, but I didn’t know which way to start walking. Right or Left? I chose Right, which to my luck was the correct direction. While walking to my hostel I saw several movie theaters, and made a mental note to inquire whether or not they have original versions; aka in English! I was ecstatic to learn that in all of Romania all their films are in English with only subtitles. HAZA!! I loved Romania instantly! Don’t think me wrong for seeing movies while on a trip to Romania. It was my vacation and as such I am free to do as I please. That and I had time to sight see later. I was tired, hungry and needed a little relaxation so I decided to grab food and see the 11am showing of Wanted. After the movie I took a little nap, ate lunch and then went to see the 14:45 showing of Hancock. I wasn’t tried and had energy so I went for the sightseeing. I walked for about 2hours, taking pictures, stumbling upon the central park of Romania, the house of parliament and national opera house. I went back to the hostel for some RR and to escape the heat; didn’t work the hostel was so hot. Anyway, I inquired about another huge movie theater that had more OV moves. After learning that the location was not that far or hard to get to I made plans to go. While waiting to leave I met a girl from the US who ended up going to the movies with me. We saw Prince Caspian. We caught the last bus to the hostel and I was in bed by 1am! What a good, long day!



Day 4
I vowed not to get out of bed until after 10am, I held strong and read until after 10! I got dressed and to my delight found that breakfast was supplied and free. The strangest thing happened and all of the sudden had a head cold. I thought it better to stay inside before I had to leave for the airport. I left for the bus at 1:30 and arrived at the airport at 3pm. I checked in and then waited for the flight. I really liked the bus ride to the airport, because it gave me a chance to see a lot of the city that I hadn’t. There was this amazing row of houses lined perfectly along the main road. They were of Vanderbilt style with as much Grandeur as the ones in Road Island. You could see the ball rooms form the road and the massive chandeliers that hung in them; quite unexpected for Romania. I suspect very rich or important people live there. Anyway, I was in the air by 4pm and on my way to Sofia, where the adventure continues.

Romania was a 4. Cheap, pretty and they have a lot of movie theaters with original versions!

Moldova

Chrisinau

July 5-7th 2008

This Mosque is one of the prettiest buildings in the city, and the inside is as nice as the outside.

Day 1
I don’t know if it is just me or if bad luck follows everyone around? To be honest I can’t really complain because there was only one unlucky circumstance on my trip! My bad luck started and ended when my train from Rheine to Munster (where the airport is) was cancelled. The next train would arrive at the airport after the flight was supposed to take off. I was in a bind, I couldn’t take train, the best way to get to Munster, nor could I even think of taking a cab; it would have been 60 Euros, easy. I didn’t know what to do so I called Victoria and she asked her landlords if they could take me to Munster, thankfully they said yes. I got lucky again when I got a nice lady at the check in counter for Airberlin. My carryon luggage was a lot heavier then the allotted weight, but I had a really tight connection in Rome. I was so relieved when she said: I didn’t see the weight, you can take this as carry on!” It was a good thing too, because when I got to Rome I had to walk like 2 miles to get to the next gate, re-check in, and then board the plane. Anyway I made it to Moldova only 30mins later than expected. I found the “mini-bus” as they call them, and it took me to the bus station, which is just a little runoff where they all happen to stop; there is no formal sign or anything! I couldn’t find my connecting mini-bus so I just took a cab, for like 2 euros. I arrived at my hostel with much curiosity since it looked a bit run down! The inside was small but clean and not even close to being the worse I have ever stayed in. I dropped my stuff off, paid, and then went out for dinner. In Moldova they really don’t like it when you don’t order drinks (aka alcohol!). I ordered my pizza, and the waitress looked at me for a while, expecting me to get a drink. I did not budge! Even after she came over later with the menu and opened it, in front of me, to the drinks page; I simply closed it and resumed my people watching. After dinner I went back to the hostel, read for a little while and then went to bed!



Day 2
Today was a well different. I wasn’t really in the mood to do the “touristy stuff,” which is no surprise as that was a phase long since passed. I now consider my self, not as a tourist but as a wonderer. I take pictures like tourist do, but I do not seek out the most important sights to see, I simply wonder upon them. I roamed the streets, not in a hurry, yet not empathically. I people-watch, observe buildings, cars, noises and cultures. I often have a purpose, which is usually driven by hunger or thirst, but a purpose nonetheless! On this morning the purpose was food and thirst! I woke, changed quickly and went to fulfill my purpose. I found a supermarket, bought some bread, some bananas and apple juice! I ate as I walked. I walked to the city center. On my walk I passed a large church, which appear new, and park that was quite large. For most of the morning I simply walked and checked out the shops. I walked through all of “downtown” happening upon a mosque. I couldn’t go in because I was not dressed appropriately (it was rather warm and I was wearing a skirt). I ventured back in the direction I had hence come, when it started to train. I ducked into a Gallery full of shops and killed some time there. After the rain subsided I sat in the park and red my book. I ended up meeting this guy around 18, that was from Germany and staying at my hostel. We talked a little while we walked, then he showed me to the internet café. I was at the internet café for an hour, acquitting that I went back the hostel; where to my pleasure all the inhabitants were conversing! I joined in and we soon became fast friends; 7 in all. We all decided to go to dinner together. We went to a local place called Andy’s! They love their pizza in Moldova! I had chicken fingers to spice things up a little. After dinner we went to the supermarket to hangout and have drinks! Sounds weird but it was actually fun and there weren’t too many hobos hanging around! I went to be early because I had to catch a flight at 7am the next morning.

Day 3
I made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. I happened to get lucky again and was able to split a cab on there way there with a kid from the hostel. I had a little money left over and decided to use it to get snacks for the day and water. The money went farther than I thought and I got a little breakfast too! I boarded the plan on time. It was a little propeller plan and It was the smallest I have even been in. It is the definition of a puddle jumper! But it got us there and efficiently too. Thus my time Moldova was over. See Romania for more of my 10 day trip.

Moldova is a 2. Cheap, small but developing nicely. It could one day be a tourist destiation.

Ukraine

Kiev

June 20-22nd 2008

On a bridge looking at Independent Monument Square.

Day 1

Waking up early and catching flights is becoming a regular event in my life! This time I did it to go to the Ukraine. I had to fly out of Koln/Bonn airport. So I took a bus to the S-bahn station, then a train to another train, and then finally arrived at the airport. At the airport I learn that my flight was cancelled! I thought, just great, I’m going to get there so late, or there isn’t going to be a flight at all! I had to wait in line for 30 minutes for them to tell me that I was already re-booked on another flight. Luckily I arrived early and had time to run to the other check in counter and still make my flight. I fly into Prague and had a lot of time in-between my flights. I tried to sleep but that didn’t work out so I walked around. I found this free place to use the internet and as I was getting ready to sit down at the computer I glanced over to the guy next to me and he was looking at Eastern European women; naked and doing interesting poses. He was taking notes and writing stuff down on a piece of paper!! I thought weirdo! Anyway, I checked my stuff online, walked around some more and then ate KFC at 10:30am, a first for me so early. After breakfast I went to board the plane. I finally got to Kiev by 2:30pm, and hour later than scheduled. I attempted to follow the direction that the hostel gave me. So I took the bus to the train station, got lost, asked for directions and finally found the metro. I couldn’t read anything so I just followed the crowd, going down, down and down. I asked this girl, by pointing, how to get to my desired stop. She pointed in response. I had no idea if I was going to the right place or not, but I had to take that chance. I got out of the metro station, baffled as to where I was or where to go. So I said, screw it I’ll just walk and take a taxi, and that is what I did. I walked and ran into some interesting stuff, took some pictures then hailed a cab. It took less than 2 minutes in the cab, indicating that I did in fact get off at the right spot! I checked in, rested a little, and then went to find food. I ate at this place called Pizza Leggera. I had lasagna and it was delicious! After that I just sat around, met some interesting people, chatted for a while, watched TV, and then went to bed.



Day 2
The bed was total crap so I didn’t sleep long even though the day before I had slept less than 4 hours. I felt more refreshed then I did the day before, so it wasn’t bad. I got dressed, and then went to the TV room to wake up more. I talked again with the people that I met the night before. They were heading out for breakfast so I joined them. We ate this bakery down the street, then I went back to hangout some more and these American girls that I met the night before were going out, so I joined them. We walked all around the city seeing the St. Sophia’s Cathedral, and Assumption Cathedral. We then ventured to Independent monument, which was a huge square with an underground mall right in the center of it. The mall was just like the ones that you would find in the states. I was impressed. Anyway we ate at Double Coffee the great chain diner that I mention I found when I was in the Baltics. They had it in the Ukraine too and it was just as good as I remember! After lunch we headed back to the hostel to take a little break. On the way I decided to go into St. Sophia’s Cathedral, which was a good idea considering right when I get in there it starts to rain. It was small on the inside but interesting and very old. After that I decided to go to the opera house and see if there was anything playing that night. There was so I bought a ticket. I didn’t know what the show was, but I didn’t care. I went back to the hostel and rested until the opera. At the opera I found out the name was Norma, an opera set in ancient Rome, so naturally it was all in Italian. The only downfall was that the translation was only in Ukrainian! But I read the acts before it started, so it was fine. After the opera I went to the hostel and talked to this German lady for an hour in German, which was pretty challenging considering it was late and I was tired! I finally went to be at midnight.



Day 3
As usual I woke up early, changed, watched TV, and then headed out for breakfast at McDonalds! After that I just walked down the streets that I hadn’t been before in hopes to explore more of Kiev. I succeeded. I saw some really nice parks and buildings along the streets I choose. At the end of one street, I found more underground shops. I went under to check it out, and then came up totally disoriented! But what I had stumbled upon was great. They were filming some type of old film in the city of Kiev. I’m not sure if it was American or Ukrainian film or what really, but they had all these old time cars, and the extras had 60’s looking clothing on. I hung out there for a while watching the movie come to life, but decide that I needed to rest so I headed back to the hostel. I watched TV for a while, and then the American girls were going for lunch so I joined them for another round at Double Coffee! After lunch I had to go back and get my stuff to go to the airport. I took a cab, and enjoyed the hassle free ride! I got to the airport early and yet the flight was still late. So that meat that I had to run to my next flight. I thought I was going to miss it, but oh wait it was an hour late; which meat that I was going to miss the train and maybe not get another one to Düsseldorf. AAAHHHH. It all worked out though although I did arrive home 1.5 hours later that expected!




Kiev was a 3. Big, pretty, modern with plenty of interesting people and good food!