It looks like I will not be getting internet in my apartment for another three weeks or so. But the good news is I`ll have a backlog of posts by the time that happens.
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Monday, 20 July 2015
#106 One week to Japan
Well, it's actually five days until I depart Ireland, but my first official day there is next Monday.
Here's where I'm at;
Packing
I just finished packing today, after a few trial runs last week. Basically, I threw in the clothes and stuff I wanted to bring and weighed the cases to see roughly how much space I had. I actually had quite a few kg left in each case which was a great surprise, so I gathered more clothes to put in. Earlier today I packed the cases again and the weight is perfect, happy days! Packing four days in advance basically means I can sleep easily for my last few days in Ireland, and spend it hanging out with family and friends instead of panicking and stressing about it the day before.
Flight details
We're flying Dublin - London, then London - Tokyo with British Airways. They have one free 23kg check in bag, carry on hand luggage and then also a handbag or briefcase. I think 23kg check in is a tiny allowance for moving around the world for a year, but thankfully they only charge €75 for another 23kg bag, so I've got 46kg total, plus a carry on bag and a handbag.
Here's where I'm at;
Packing
I just finished packing today, after a few trial runs last week. Basically, I threw in the clothes and stuff I wanted to bring and weighed the cases to see roughly how much space I had. I actually had quite a few kg left in each case which was a great surprise, so I gathered more clothes to put in. Earlier today I packed the cases again and the weight is perfect, happy days! Packing four days in advance basically means I can sleep easily for my last few days in Ireland, and spend it hanging out with family and friends instead of panicking and stressing about it the day before.Flight details
We're flying Dublin - London, then London - Tokyo with British Airways. They have one free 23kg check in bag, carry on hand luggage and then also a handbag or briefcase. I think 23kg check in is a tiny allowance for moving around the world for a year, but thankfully they only charge €75 for another 23kg bag, so I've got 46kg total, plus a carry on bag and a handbag.
As an interesting side, you can check out what the onboard movies, tv shows etc will be on your flight on your airlines website before you travel (I think most airlines do this). For BA, it's here: http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/entertainment/in-flight-entertainment
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
Excited to announce this is the exact place I'm going! It's a city of about 800k people, situated on the bullet train line and halfway between Tokyo and Kyoto, about 1hr 30mins from each. The bullet train is expensive, and I can get a bus to Tokyo for much less but it takes like 4-5 hours. Overall, Hamamatsu seems to be a good location for travelling easily around Japan.
Tying up loose ends
There are things to do before leaving your home for any length of time. I decided to get my laptop fixed - it's been overheating and I felt it was easier to get it sorted before I go. I threw out a lot of clothes I hadn't worn in the past year or so (well, gave them to charity shops). I cleaned my room! I'm meeting up with some old friends this week. I guess it just depends on the person what needs to be done.
Wednesday, 24 June 2015
#105 30 Days to Japan
In case anyone was wondering, I haven't heard any more information regarding Japan and my placement, and therefore there is really nothing to update you with.
I can start the 30 day countdown though, which is exciting!
Obviously it would be more exciting if I knew exactly where I was going in 30 days, but there you go...
In other news, according to the weather it's 7pm in Shizuoka city right now and it is 24 degrees celsius. I now ask you to take a moment and pray that my accommodation has some form of air conditioning. Amen.
I can start the 30 day countdown though, which is exciting!
Obviously it would be more exciting if I knew exactly where I was going in 30 days, but there you go...
In other news, according to the weather it's 7pm in Shizuoka city right now and it is 24 degrees celsius. I now ask you to take a moment and pray that my accommodation has some form of air conditioning. Amen.
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
#104 Japan on the horizon (again)
Shizuoka City and Mt Fuji
Big news: I'll be moving to Japan in a couple of weeks as part of the JET programme!
JET stands for Japan Exchange and Teaching, and each year brings over thousands of people to live and work in Japan as English teachers.
As you might know I was last in Japan in Autumn 2012 (and have many posts about it on this very blog), so I'm excited to be going back three years later.
When applying with JET you can have three preferences as to where in Japan you want to live, but ultimately you might not end up anywhere near them. In my case I listed a few places on Honshu (the main and biggest island), and while I didn't get any of my top 3, they have placed me in Shizuoka Prefecture (this is in Honshu, about 3 hours drive from Tokyo) so I'm happy.
At the moment I have just been given the prefecture name - so I still have no idea what part I will be in, or whether to expect living in a city or in the middle of nowhere. Most JETs know more details like the name of the city or town they are in, but as a prefectural JET I have to wait an extra few weeks to find out (such is life as a JET - the application process is long and competitive. I applied in Dec 2014!).
Map of Japan
From what I've gathered so far, Shizuoka has a big coastline and quite a lot of nature. To the South the Izu peninsula has amazing islands, beaches and hot springs. Further North and in the centre is Mt Fuji.
Izu Peninsula
There are hundreds of blogs about JET, applying, the process, what to expect when you arrive, etc etc. Many of these people are very capable, so I'm going to leave them to do what they do best. My aim is to use this blog as a vessel to highlight my adventures and some hidden gems in Japan (that aren't Tokyo!). This is a travel blog after all.
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
#103 Galway town, Ireland
Galway is famous for quite a few historical sites, but the town itself isn't that big. Sometimes it's called a city, but it would be very small in comparison to any European counterparts.
Some of the most well known places are probably big let downs; Eyre Square is literally just a (small) park, The Spanish Arch is literally just a (small) archway.
However, the museum has free entrance and some interesting exhibits, and Salthill would be lovely if it's a nice day (when I went it was incredibly wet and windy - typical West coast weather!).
It's very popular for its nightlife (and food) and has some places (like hostels) you could stay while on your way around the surrounding countryside.
Cathedral, near the University
Eyre Square
Galway City Museum
The Spanish Arch
Saturday, 4 April 2015
#102 Dublin for Free
I love free things, and this capital city is no exception. Dublin is quite small and a lot of things are quite easy to get around on foot. We're often listed as one of Europe's more expensive countries, but as a tourist there is plenty to do that is completely free!
Free Walking Tours
Sandemanns Walking Tours - I thought this was good, it encompassed most of the important information on the city and country as a whole, but it didn't go near O'Connell St which was disappointing.
O'Connell St and the Spire
The real stars of O'Connell St are the GPO (General Post Office) and the statues - many of which still have bullet holes from the 1916 Easter Rising almost 100 years ago (the Rising was the first in many events which eventually led to Irish independence from the British). The Spire is a new addition and a new popular landmark and symbol for Dublin - although it's not much to see, just a really big needle!
Phoenix Park
This is like the biggest metropolitan park in Europe or the world or something, but all you need to know is that it has wild deer and if you're around early in the morning you could spot one (or several)! It's also home to some other places like Dublin Zoo (good but a little expensive I think) and the residence of the President (free - see below).
Aras An Uachtarain (The official residence of the President of Ireland)
This has tours every hour from like 10am to 3pm every Saturday only. It's free, but you should be early to ensure you get a ticket.
Ha'Penny Bridge
This is one of the locations from the book Ulysses by James Joyce, and a short walk from O'Connell St in the city centre.
Leinster House (home of the Irish Parliament)
I haven't got around to this yet, but apparently there are a few tours a day Monday to Friday, but places are limited.
National Gallery of Ireland
I once overheard an American tourist refer to this as "the art centre" which was incredibly offensive. I have zero interest in art, but from what I understand there are some important pieces on display here, and it has a central location too.
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
There are three national museums in Dublin (the other two being natural history and fine arts) but this one is the best, and definitely worth a visit. It boasts a big collection of Celtic and viking items, as well as a few famous pieces like the Tara Brooch, Ardagh Chalice and a few 'bog bodies' - bodies preserved for thousands of years in Irish marshland.
Natural History
This is a really old, musty museum full of dead and stuffed animals. Definitely quirky, but quite small and not worth a visit if you only have a limited time.
Fine Arts
Located in an old military barracks. I haven't had time to visit yet, will update when I do!
Chester Beatty Library
This has the worlds largest collection of Kor'ans. Or something like that? I really liked this place, it's modern and the collection is a cool mix of things from around the world.
Trinity College
This place really isn't that special these days - any Irish student can choose to go there if they wish, it's not fee paying, prestigious or only open to really smart people. But it is home to the Book of Kells (it usually costs money to go in - but grab a passing Trinity student as they have free entry and can also bring a guest for free!).
There really isn't much to see here, I've heard it being compared to some of the 'old towns' around Europe, but it's definitely not on par with any of these! It's popular for having cobblestoned streets and lots of bars which are incredibly overpriced and popular with tourists.
The Science Gallery
This has exhibits which change every few months, it's interesting but small and again not worth a visit if you have limited time
Irish Museum of Modern Art
I may have already mentioned my indifference towards art, and therefore I haven't made it a priority to visit here yet, so cannot comment on anything except the fact it's free ;)
Dublin Docklands
This area was falling apart for many years, but has undergone complete redevelopment and is now home to hundreds of shiny new offices housing international companies like Google and Facebook. The area also boasts the Convention Centre, 3 Arena, and lots of new bridges. If the weathers nice and you have some free time, it would be nice for a stroll.
Shopping
The main places for shopping in South Dublin city are Grafton Street and the adjoining Stephens Green Shopping Centre, while north of the river you should visit Henry Street and the adjoining Ilac and Jervis Shopping Centres.
If you're a fan of Primark/Pennys, you'll find one of the biggest ones in the country on Henry Street, a 5min walk from the Spire on O'Connell St. You'll find Europe's first Forever 21 at Jervis Centre, and the Disney Store is on Grafton St. The main tourist gift store is Carrolls, which have a few locations around the city. Obviously it's overpriced, so maybe check out some of the smaller shops too.
Free Walking Tours
Sandemanns Walking Tours - I thought this was good, it encompassed most of the important information on the city and country as a whole, but it didn't go near O'Connell St which was disappointing.
O'Connell St and the Spire
The real stars of O'Connell St are the GPO (General Post Office) and the statues - many of which still have bullet holes from the 1916 Easter Rising almost 100 years ago (the Rising was the first in many events which eventually led to Irish independence from the British). The Spire is a new addition and a new popular landmark and symbol for Dublin - although it's not much to see, just a really big needle!
Phoenix Park
This is like the biggest metropolitan park in Europe or the world or something, but all you need to know is that it has wild deer and if you're around early in the morning you could spot one (or several)! It's also home to some other places like Dublin Zoo (good but a little expensive I think) and the residence of the President (free - see below).
Aras An Uachtarain (The official residence of the President of Ireland)
This has tours every hour from like 10am to 3pm every Saturday only. It's free, but you should be early to ensure you get a ticket.
Ha'Penny Bridge
This is one of the locations from the book Ulysses by James Joyce, and a short walk from O'Connell St in the city centre.
Ha'Penny Bridge
Leinster House (home of the Irish Parliament)
I haven't got around to this yet, but apparently there are a few tours a day Monday to Friday, but places are limited.
National Gallery of Ireland
I once overheard an American tourist refer to this as "the art centre" which was incredibly offensive. I have zero interest in art, but from what I understand there are some important pieces on display here, and it has a central location too.
Archaeology Museum
There are three national museums in Dublin (the other two being natural history and fine arts) but this one is the best, and definitely worth a visit. It boasts a big collection of Celtic and viking items, as well as a few famous pieces like the Tara Brooch, Ardagh Chalice and a few 'bog bodies' - bodies preserved for thousands of years in Irish marshland.
Natural History
This is a really old, musty museum full of dead and stuffed animals. Definitely quirky, but quite small and not worth a visit if you only have a limited time.
Fine Arts
Located in an old military barracks. I haven't had time to visit yet, will update when I do!
Chester Beatty Library
This has the worlds largest collection of Kor'ans. Or something like that? I really liked this place, it's modern and the collection is a cool mix of things from around the world.
Trinity College
This place really isn't that special these days - any Irish student can choose to go there if they wish, it's not fee paying, prestigious or only open to really smart people. But it is home to the Book of Kells (it usually costs money to go in - but grab a passing Trinity student as they have free entry and can also bring a guest for free!).
Temple Bar
Temple BarThere really isn't much to see here, I've heard it being compared to some of the 'old towns' around Europe, but it's definitely not on par with any of these! It's popular for having cobblestoned streets and lots of bars which are incredibly overpriced and popular with tourists.
The Science Gallery
This has exhibits which change every few months, it's interesting but small and again not worth a visit if you have limited time
Irish Museum of Modern Art
I may have already mentioned my indifference towards art, and therefore I haven't made it a priority to visit here yet, so cannot comment on anything except the fact it's free ;)
Docklands
Dublin Docklands
This area was falling apart for many years, but has undergone complete redevelopment and is now home to hundreds of shiny new offices housing international companies like Google and Facebook. The area also boasts the Convention Centre, 3 Arena, and lots of new bridges. If the weathers nice and you have some free time, it would be nice for a stroll.
The main places for shopping in South Dublin city are Grafton Street and the adjoining Stephens Green Shopping Centre, while north of the river you should visit Henry Street and the adjoining Ilac and Jervis Shopping Centres.
If you're a fan of Primark/Pennys, you'll find one of the biggest ones in the country on Henry Street, a 5min walk from the Spire on O'Connell St. You'll find Europe's first Forever 21 at Jervis Centre, and the Disney Store is on Grafton St. The main tourist gift store is Carrolls, which have a few locations around the city. Obviously it's overpriced, so maybe check out some of the smaller shops too.
Saturday, 21 March 2015
#101 London
LONDON!! So just before Christmas I went on a trip to London, and I have only just got around to telling you about it. Sorry!
I went from Ireland and got the bus/boat over - it was cheap and it was good. The ferry was delayed by about 2 hours on the way over (bad weather), but I had two seats to myself on the bus (each way!) and we made regular stops at petrol stations so you could take a smoke break, pee, stretch your legs, grab a coffee etc. For the €53 it cost I can't fault it and would definitely recommend it! (Read more about it here; travelbanter.blogspot.ie/yes-it-is-cheaper-than-flying).
It wasn't my first time in London, but it was the first time as an adult so I could decide what I wanted to do! As you know I had a small budget, and I'm not fond of paying for things, so all of what I did was free! This included Camden markets, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Tower of London and Tower bridge, British Museum, Harrods, Baker St, Buckingham Palace, Oxford St, Victoria and Albert Museum, looking at Christmas lights etc etc.
In fact, once you get your transport sorted (some form of Oyster card - it's not cheap but it's 100% necessary!) you can actually visit many of the major famous places in London for free. If you're thinking of going inside somewhere, check review sites ahead of your visit, as some of them will give you a good indication if it's overpriced and mediocre.
It being Christmas we also went to Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park. And it was wonderful! It was absolutely packed full of people, craft stalls, food stalls and amusement park rides. It really was a winter wonderland, and entry was free which was the best part!
I was lucky with the weather, and the day we decided to do the outdoors sightseeing (Big Ben etc) it was blue skies! I don't think you need a bus tour or to pay in to most things - you can pretty much find all you want to do quite easily once you work out the tube!
I went from Ireland and got the bus/boat over - it was cheap and it was good. The ferry was delayed by about 2 hours on the way over (bad weather), but I had two seats to myself on the bus (each way!) and we made regular stops at petrol stations so you could take a smoke break, pee, stretch your legs, grab a coffee etc. For the €53 it cost I can't fault it and would definitely recommend it! (Read more about it here; travelbanter.blogspot.ie/yes-it-is-cheaper-than-flying).
It wasn't my first time in London, but it was the first time as an adult so I could decide what I wanted to do! As you know I had a small budget, and I'm not fond of paying for things, so all of what I did was free! This included Camden markets, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Tower of London and Tower bridge, British Museum, Harrods, Baker St, Buckingham Palace, Oxford St, Victoria and Albert Museum, looking at Christmas lights etc etc.
In fact, once you get your transport sorted (some form of Oyster card - it's not cheap but it's 100% necessary!) you can actually visit many of the major famous places in London for free. If you're thinking of going inside somewhere, check review sites ahead of your visit, as some of them will give you a good indication if it's overpriced and mediocre.
It being Christmas we also went to Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park. And it was wonderful! It was absolutely packed full of people, craft stalls, food stalls and amusement park rides. It really was a winter wonderland, and entry was free which was the best part!
I was lucky with the weather, and the day we decided to do the outdoors sightseeing (Big Ben etc) it was blue skies! I don't think you need a bus tour or to pay in to most things - you can pretty much find all you want to do quite easily once you work out the tube!
I cannot remember where this was!
British Museum (free!)
Harrods at Christmas
Festive ice skating
Trafalgar Square
Big Ben
London Eye
Oxford St
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Thursday, 19 February 2015
#100 The Centenary Post and the First of 2015
I can't believe I haven't updated this since last year! I recently moved house and job and I also had a terrible cold that has just about cleared up now, and those are my excuses.
Funds are still low so have no plans for travel anytime soon, but now I live in the Irish capital of Dublin I hope to start promoting it and giving some tips here.
Funds are still low so have no plans for travel anytime soon, but now I live in the Irish capital of Dublin I hope to start promoting it and giving some tips here.
Tuesday, 30 December 2014
#99 Geocaching: A Real Life Treasure Hunt
I just wrote a post about this over on my personal blog so you can read it over there philippasue.blogspot.ie/2014/12/your-new-favourite-hobby-for-2015
But basically, it's a treasure hunt. You download the Geocaching app, and then you use the GPS on your smartphone to locate the nearest Geocache. When you find it, depending on the size, there could be a log book for you to sign, and maybe a prize too! Of course, you can also make your own for other people to find too.
I have just discovered it, and I can't wait to get out there and start finding them! You can even use it as a world wide adventure, and use the app to find Geocaches hidden in other cities and places around the world.
To find out more the website is here: geocaching.com
and the (free) android app is here: play.google.com/store/apps/geocaching.intro
But basically, it's a treasure hunt. You download the Geocaching app, and then you use the GPS on your smartphone to locate the nearest Geocache. When you find it, depending on the size, there could be a log book for you to sign, and maybe a prize too! Of course, you can also make your own for other people to find too.
I have just discovered it, and I can't wait to get out there and start finding them! You can even use it as a world wide adventure, and use the app to find Geocaches hidden in other cities and places around the world.
To find out more the website is here: geocaching.com
and the (free) android app is here: play.google.com/store/apps/geocaching.intro
A map of Ireland showing all the Geocaches
Sunday, 23 November 2014
#98 London on the horizon
I'm going to London in a few weeks. I've been to London before, it was 5 years ago on my 18th birthday, and my older sister and I went for a weekend. We did the London Eye and the London Dungeons and we got one of those bus tours around everywhere else. It was the end of November and the Christmas lights were all up which was a nice touch.
So I've already been. But then I was only 18 and I was chaperoned by my older sister. This time I'm old and hardened and well travelled and I'll be with a friend (who I haven't seen for nearly 2 years, so you know it's gonna go down!).
London is horribly expensive, but then I've seen the major sites and I'll be with a friend who also happens to have a spare bed in her room which is wonderfully convenient!
Thankfully I'm a native English speaker and occasional viewer of Eastenders so there will be no language barrier to contend with on this occasion, and I think my biggest worry will be the currency. The pound-euro rate has more ups and downs than a rollercoaster, so even though I'm not going for a few weeks I've started eyeing up the exchange rates in order to try and get the best value.
The transport around London is pretty expensive, I'll probably be getting a £30 Oyster card, and travel within zones 1 and 2 (basically central London) has a max daily charge of £7. So (avoiding peak times!) it should be £28 over 4 days. Peak times are 6.30 am to 9.30am (easy enough to avoid I think) but again also from 4pm to 7pm, which is slightly more difficult to avoid, but by (Prince) George I'll try my best!
Christmas!
So I've already been. But then I was only 18 and I was chaperoned by my older sister. This time I'm old and hardened and well travelled and I'll be with a friend (who I haven't seen for nearly 2 years, so you know it's gonna go down!).
London is horribly expensive, but then I've seen the major sites and I'll be with a friend who also happens to have a spare bed in her room which is wonderfully convenient!
Thankfully I'm a native English speaker and occasional viewer of Eastenders so there will be no language barrier to contend with on this occasion, and I think my biggest worry will be the currency. The pound-euro rate has more ups and downs than a rollercoaster, so even though I'm not going for a few weeks I've started eyeing up the exchange rates in order to try and get the best value.
The transport around London is pretty expensive, I'll probably be getting a £30 Oyster card, and travel within zones 1 and 2 (basically central London) has a max daily charge of £7. So (avoiding peak times!) it should be £28 over 4 days. Peak times are 6.30 am to 9.30am (easy enough to avoid I think) but again also from 4pm to 7pm, which is slightly more difficult to avoid, but by (Prince) George I'll try my best!
Not this kind of oyster though
Sunday, 16 November 2014
#97 Budapest, Hungary
Budapest. Cheap, wonderful, exciting! I was really impressed with Budapest (ha, it rhymed!). The Hungarian capital inhabitants weren't the most polite or helpful, and the language is completely unintelligible, but if you get past these minor details it's a wonderful city.
The most famous sight is the Parliament building, located on the banks of the Danube river. You can get a great view of here from Castle Hill and Gellert Hill.
Castle Hill is just absolutely fabulous! It is home to Fisherman's Bastion, a fairytale-esque wall, the colourful Matthias Church, and of course Buda Castle (Fun Fact: the Katy Perry video for 'Firework' was filmed there!). It also has some winding streets with cute cafes and shops. It has a magical atmosphere (even with the hundreds of bus tours and groups) and was a real treat.
To get there take the 16 or 16A bus from the sloping hill opposite Szell Kalman tér station, it leaves regularly and only takes about 5 minutes. I took the bus, but despite what you hear on the internet I don't think it would be a struggle to walk it.
Gellert Hill is less impressive and much smaller in comparison to Castle Hill, but is nice all the same. The main focus is a large 'Lady Liberty' type statue, and it still offers wonderful views of the city. It's not as easy to access, you need to walk up quite a few steps in a park type area to get to the top. It's lined with benches and I found it quite a nice walk, but I noticed some less-fit and elderly were struggling a little towards the top. Some bus tours drive you very close to the top, you only need to walk a short way uphill, no steps or anything involved, and I would reckon is suitable for absolutely everyone.
Other sights include the Shoes on the Promenade memorial, which is located very close to the Parliament building. Then there are the baths which are purported to be a 'must-do', but the thoughts of hanging out in our swimwear surrounded by other tourists didn't really appeal to us so we gave it a miss. There was plenty for us to do in the 2 days we spent there without wasting time going for a swim.
For nightlife, your only option is one of the ruin bars. Basically they're all just very hip and indie bars with oddball décor and layouts, with cheap alcohol. We popped into one before dinner and since it was early it was quiet, but it gave us a chance to look around and it did look pretty cool.
There are many cruises along the Danube available, but it would be useful to perhaps book in advance (especially on weekends) as there are hundreds of bus tours who take up quite a lot of space! (Alternatively if you are there for a few days, perhaps go to the office the day before and buy your ticket for the next day). We took a night time cruise, and it was lovely to see the Parliament building and Castle Hill lit up, since we had already seen both during the day.
The currency there is the Hungarian Forint, and 300 forint is about €1. Prices are cheap - a 72 hour travel card is about €13.
We got the train in from Bratislava, but Ryanair fly there too. The train is cheap, so I would recommend a trip to a neighbouring country since you're in the 'hood (Slovakia or Austria are probably the closest).
The most famous sight is the Parliament building, located on the banks of the Danube river. You can get a great view of here from Castle Hill and Gellert Hill.
Parliament (view from Castle Hill)
Castle Hill is just absolutely fabulous! It is home to Fisherman's Bastion, a fairytale-esque wall, the colourful Matthias Church, and of course Buda Castle (Fun Fact: the Katy Perry video for 'Firework' was filmed there!). It also has some winding streets with cute cafes and shops. It has a magical atmosphere (even with the hundreds of bus tours and groups) and was a real treat.
To get there take the 16 or 16A bus from the sloping hill opposite Szell Kalman tér station, it leaves regularly and only takes about 5 minutes. I took the bus, but despite what you hear on the internet I don't think it would be a struggle to walk it.
Fisherman's Bastion
Gellert Hill
For nightlife, your only option is one of the ruin bars. Basically they're all just very hip and indie bars with oddball décor and layouts, with cheap alcohol. We popped into one before dinner and since it was early it was quiet, but it gave us a chance to look around and it did look pretty cool.
There are many cruises along the Danube available, but it would be useful to perhaps book in advance (especially on weekends) as there are hundreds of bus tours who take up quite a lot of space! (Alternatively if you are there for a few days, perhaps go to the office the day before and buy your ticket for the next day). We took a night time cruise, and it was lovely to see the Parliament building and Castle Hill lit up, since we had already seen both during the day.
The currency there is the Hungarian Forint, and 300 forint is about €1. Prices are cheap - a 72 hour travel card is about €13.
We got the train in from Bratislava, but Ryanair fly there too. The train is cheap, so I would recommend a trip to a neighbouring country since you're in the 'hood (Slovakia or Austria are probably the closest).
Panorama
Parliament by night
Budapest and the Danube from Gellert Hill
Parliament
Shoes on the Promenade memorial
Instant - ruin bar
Sunday, 9 November 2014
#96 Vienna, Austria
Vienna is the capital city of Austria, a country most famous for 'The Sound of Music' and bearded woman/Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst.
The main sights are the three palaces - Schonbrunn, Belvedere and Hofburg. You can also see other impressive buildings including the Rathaus, St Stephens Cathedral and the Opera House. There are many impressive shopping streets, the most famous being Kärntner Straße (near the cathedral) and Mariahilfer Straße (near the Museums Quartier).
There is the Naschmarkt, an outdoor market where you can sample both local and international foods. There is a big zoo (where you can see Giant Pandas!) but prices are a little expensive so I gave it a miss. You can also get standing tickets for the Opera for under €10, but you have to queue early to be sure you get one. In terms of transport, I would recommend to get either the 24, 48 or 72 hour ticket (prices from around €7 to €17).
It uses the Euro which is convenient, but it is more expensive than nearby countries like Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia. It is centrally located and really easy to hop on a train and get a cheap ticket to many of its neighbouring countries, which is always a positive.
Ryanair don't fly to Vienna - but don't worry as they do fly to Bratislava in neighbouring Slovakia, which is only one hour away by train.
I wasn't a huge fan of Vienna. It was nice, it was pretty, it was clean, it was efficient, the weather was great - but for me something didn't click. Perhaps it was a little safe, nothing made me gasp in awe and wonder. It was nice but for me it just wasn't amazing.
Schonbrunn Gardens
Buildings at the Naschmarkt
Vienna Opera House
Kärntner Straße
Hofburg Palace
Vienna Rathaus
Prater Ferris Wheel
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