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50 charming things about backpacking Europe...
- If on a bus and
passing through a border, the patrolmen will take and check your passports -
ask them to stamp it for you! Be proud of your collection. :)
- Also, if you do not
receive your passport immediately after driving away from border patrol, no
need to freak out – the bus driver has them and will return them shortly. (Love
you Shona!)
- The bus from
Dubrovnik, Croatia to Kotor, Montenegro stops at Herceg Novi. Do not let this
run down station influence your perception of this beautiful country -
just get back on the bus and wait until you arrive in Kotor.
- Stay at the yellow
house to the right of the Old Town in Kotor, Montenegro. The owner is so kind
and accommodating -plus she has an adorable and playful dog.
- Eat the purple grapes
at said house. They are life changing.
- Hike up the mountain
to St. John’s Fortress in Kotor – make sure you go all the way to the top!
- Take a detour through
the ruins to the back side of the mountain to explore an old church and find a
surplus of mountain goats.
- The goats will follow
you around, but watch out for the one with the bell - we believe he is the
troublemaker of the group.
- Be wary of the ghost
gypsy girl in the old town of Kotor. She'll come out of nowhere and haunt you
with her big, sad eyes.
- Best travel food:
granola (in the green and white bag), biscuits, fruit, Kinder chocolate, mixed
nuts, more fruit, Milka bars, yogurt smoothies, and infinite amounts of water.
- Visit Budva at night
to party rather than the day. The energy of the city changes drastically.
- There is a restaurant
in the center of Budva old town fortress that sells the BEST juices and
smoothies. Buy the strawberry-banana-pineapple one.
- There is also an “Old
English Pub” in the old town of Budva located in a back alley that leads to the
sea. The beer is good, grapes hang overhead, and they have wireless if needed.
- Visit Sveti Stefan
which is an Island 6km from Budva, Montenegro. It has a great view of the
Adriatic coastline with pink sandy beaches. On my list for next time!
- Do not sleep at the
restaurant on the river outside of the old town of Mostar, Bosnia – the owner
does not prefer back-packers to camp out there overnight.
- Go running in the
afternoon/evening in Mostar, rather than the morning. Once you leave the old
town and city center the streets are quite barren around sunrise. The
only people out are a bit sketchy and will stare you down because
apparently it is not common to go running in Europe.
- Miran’s tour in Mostar
may or may not be a rip off, but you will learn and see a lot.
- However; on the tour
you will eat the most deliciously flaky and flavorful Burek – which alone is
worth the price of the tour.
- To their credit, Miran
and his friend are extremely knowledgeable of their country and honor
their culture and tradition with admirable pride.
- Drink the water from
the river at Blagaj; it is said to bring good fortune.
- The water at the
Vodopad Kravice waterfalls is freezing but climbing the falls and playing
underneath them makes you forget how cold you are.
- Then, spend the rest
of the day laying in the sun beside the waterfalls to warm you
up.
- Visit the Cave Bar
located right outside of the Old Town in Mostar. Find a little alcove and
snuggle up with a gemišt and hookah. Contrary to popular opinion, I still
think pineapple-mint is the best flavor.
- The train from Mostar
to Sarajevo is quick and fancy – with bar service and all!
- Stay awake to take in
the views of mountains and Bosnia's rugged terrain.
- It is easy to miss, or
even unknowingly walk over, but visit the bridge where Gavrilo Princip
assassinated Arch Duke Ferdinand and read the plaques on the surrounding
buildings.
- When back-packing,
bring only what you can carry. And that being said, only what you can carry and
not complain about.
- A travel pillow will
be the reason you will sleep on overnight trains/buses. Invest in one.
- While in Beograd,
Serbia visit Three Carrots Irish Pub. The bar tender is extremely nice and
pours strong.
- Also, if you are a
Pittsburgh Steelers fan, they hang the terrible towel there with pride!
- The Tuckwood Cineplex
in Belgrade is filled with life-size figurines of classic superheroes and old
school memorabilia. You will feel transported back in time to the 1950’s.
- Be hesitant of the
overnight train from Serbia to Budapest. It may be likely that a few soccer
teams will come aboard and enjoy joking with the travelers. Do not expect to
get any sleep.
- The bus and rail
system in Budapest will become your best friend. It is very easy to use
once you get the hang of it.
- Remember: Buda is
bumpy and Pest is flat. The two cities are divided by the river.
- Margit Island is
amazing; the Central Park of Budapest. It consists of gardens, fields,
fountains, a small zoo, and beer gardens.
- The fuzzy chickens at
the Margit Island zoo are the ugliest/fluffiest creatures you will ever see.
- Run the exterior of
Margit Island, totals to 6k and offers great views of Buda and Pest.
- Szimpla Kert is an
awesome bar. All of the furniture has been collected/found/donated over the
years. Extremely eclectic style with great Pálinka and Hookah. Don’t forget to
sign your name on the wall!
- Pálinka, a.k.a.
Hungary’s grappa, is strong but delicious. Try the fig and plum. I hear
raspberry is amazing and that is on my list to do for my next visit.
- If you didn’t figure
it out quick enough by just looking at it, Hungarian is the third hardest
language to learn. Thus, I am eternally thankful for my Hungarian tour guides.
- Szentendre is a quaint
little village that is about an hour outside of Budapest into the countryside.
It looks like a scene out of Beauty and the Beast. Wander the streets and enjoy
an authentic lángos.
- The Castle
district is quite impressive. Interestingly enough, the Parliament building
looks more like a castle than the actual Castle does.
- Go to the Castle
District as sunset and watch Budapest ‘turn-on’. All of the bridges, city
streets, and buildings will light up all at once – it’s absolutely magical.
- Visit the Central
Market Hall located by the Liberty Bridge for some food or souvenir shopping.
Three floors of beautifully arranged Hungarian delicacies can leave your
wandering for an hour or two.
- Nagyi
Palacsintazoja (Granny's Pancake Restaurant) located by Batthyány
Square has the most deliciously mouthwatering crepes; with a selection of sweet
and savory (including ham and cheese or Mexican!)
- If you need a shopping
fix, or a bit of normal comforts, visit the Mammut shopping center; it is
extremely large with a wide variety of stores, restaurants, and even an arcade.
- Visit the pub across
the street from the Central Market where the walls are covered with customer
memorabilia (business cards, love letters, signed currency notes, etc.) and
peanut shells cover the floor.
- If, as an American,
you need a dose of home culture, attend a local American Football game. It is a
small league but great way to spend an afternoon.
- Home to Home Hostel in
Budapest has a great location – close to the Astoria metro stop – and is very
quiet and charming. The owner is accommodating but a little persistent of the
noise level due to uptight neighbors.
- Ryan Air has extremely
cheap flights out of Budapest. I bought a ticket to Milan, Italy for $2. Yes,
that’s right. $2.
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