So, to set the theme, I'll add some maps to show where I am.
Eastern Europe
Slovakia and Romania
Ok, so I left the parseltongue lady (thanks for the better description, Andrew!) in Zakopane, and crossed the border into Slovakia. Glad I did, because we had had a bbq the night before, and the parseltongue was licking her lips constantly - I don't exaggerate - it was most offputting!
Anyway, decided spur of the moment to stop in Zdiar, and it was a great choice. Stayed at a hostel called Ginger Monkey (http://www.gingermonkey.eu/), and I immediately felt at home. This great Aussie bloke called Dan was working in reception, and we had a great time. I showed him how to blog - he's just getting started on gingergrasshopper.blogspot.com.
I went hiking up in the mountains, after Dan told me it was a great hike. He had pointed up to a snowbound pass and said, "yep, just walk up there, follow that ridge and down to the lake, and you'll get great views". Now, I'm not one for doubting people's advice, but it should have twigged that this would be some hike, when I couldn't see the pass for all the snow and clouds enshrouding it. Hey, but I'm up for a challenge. Hey, and if Dan had done it, there was no way I was turning back. Well, if you're reading this Dan, thanks for the advice, but you should have told me you did the hike in August, not May! :) Anyway, enough whinging. This is what I saw at the top - and no, that is not the yeti, it's me.
This is how deep the snow was.
Here's what the sign said at the top - "F@#$ing Cold!!!"
It was actually a beautiful view from the top (when the clouds cleared), so nothing lost, Dan!
Here's me eating icicles on the way down.
Anyway, I made it back around 7pm, after waiting for the bus for 1hr in wet shoes. Not surprisingly, snow gets in the top of your shoes when you're mid-thigh in it. But, no worries - off to the Goulash Man for a nice warming dinner. I ate at this place 3 times, 3.20 euro for a big bowl of goulash. It was little hole in the wall, which doubles as a small shop. There's 2 tvs, one in the shop, and one in the restaurant, on the same feed. Apparently someone turned on the tv in the restaurant one day, and there was porn on. He must get lonely in there. Goulash was good though!
It snowed overnight again, so Dan and I went tobogganing in these crazy jumpsuits. Notice who chose the pink one! That's the tobaggan in my hand. I think I'm pretty excited!!!
Then, I had to go, with a train to Budapest, and an overnighter to Timisoara. Got a bit of a rude awakening getting into Romania. I lost an hour of sleep, because of the time difference. When I asked the border guard the time, he said "4 oclock. This..." with a flourish "is Romania!" I think this had a lasting impression on my sleep deprived, addled mind - but I liked the drama. Had to change trains in this little town called Arad at 4.30am, and had 6min to transfer, but the train was late, so I had to wait another 3hrs for the next one. The waiting room smelt terrible, like stale beer, and I eventually knew why, looking around me. All the homeless people were sleeping in there, snoring. And when the guards came in, they checked tickets and kicked them all out - I would have thought they wouldn't have bothered with me, not looking very Romanian, but they did. I know I dress down, but to be mistaken for a bum... the shame!
But things would make sense, and 2 and 2 would make 4. And it happened today. Today, I walked out of a restaurant, and the man following me said "Uzbeki?" I laughed nervously, and said Australian, then went straight back to the hostel, and shaved. I need to clean up my appearance! I don't want to test fate and find out what Romanians think of Uzbekis! I've heard of what Russians think of them! Better to look like a harmless Japanese tourist!
Eastern Europe
Slovakia and Romania
Ok, so I left the parseltongue lady (thanks for the better description, Andrew!) in Zakopane, and crossed the border into Slovakia. Glad I did, because we had had a bbq the night before, and the parseltongue was licking her lips constantly - I don't exaggerate - it was most offputting!
Anyway, decided spur of the moment to stop in Zdiar, and it was a great choice. Stayed at a hostel called Ginger Monkey (http://www.gingermonkey.eu/), and I immediately felt at home. This great Aussie bloke called Dan was working in reception, and we had a great time. I showed him how to blog - he's just getting started on gingergrasshopper.blogspot.com.
I went hiking up in the mountains, after Dan told me it was a great hike. He had pointed up to a snowbound pass and said, "yep, just walk up there, follow that ridge and down to the lake, and you'll get great views". Now, I'm not one for doubting people's advice, but it should have twigged that this would be some hike, when I couldn't see the pass for all the snow and clouds enshrouding it. Hey, but I'm up for a challenge. Hey, and if Dan had done it, there was no way I was turning back. Well, if you're reading this Dan, thanks for the advice, but you should have told me you did the hike in August, not May! :) Anyway, enough whinging. This is what I saw at the top - and no, that is not the yeti, it's me.
This is how deep the snow was.
Here's what the sign said at the top - "F@#$ing Cold!!!"
It was actually a beautiful view from the top (when the clouds cleared), so nothing lost, Dan!
Here's me eating icicles on the way down.
Anyway, I made it back around 7pm, after waiting for the bus for 1hr in wet shoes. Not surprisingly, snow gets in the top of your shoes when you're mid-thigh in it. But, no worries - off to the Goulash Man for a nice warming dinner. I ate at this place 3 times, 3.20 euro for a big bowl of goulash. It was little hole in the wall, which doubles as a small shop. There's 2 tvs, one in the shop, and one in the restaurant, on the same feed. Apparently someone turned on the tv in the restaurant one day, and there was porn on. He must get lonely in there. Goulash was good though!
It snowed overnight again, so Dan and I went tobogganing in these crazy jumpsuits. Notice who chose the pink one! That's the tobaggan in my hand. I think I'm pretty excited!!!
Then, I had to go, with a train to Budapest, and an overnighter to Timisoara. Got a bit of a rude awakening getting into Romania. I lost an hour of sleep, because of the time difference. When I asked the border guard the time, he said "4 oclock. This..." with a flourish "is Romania!" I think this had a lasting impression on my sleep deprived, addled mind - but I liked the drama. Had to change trains in this little town called Arad at 4.30am, and had 6min to transfer, but the train was late, so I had to wait another 3hrs for the next one. The waiting room smelt terrible, like stale beer, and I eventually knew why, looking around me. All the homeless people were sleeping in there, snoring. And when the guards came in, they checked tickets and kicked them all out - I would have thought they wouldn't have bothered with me, not looking very Romanian, but they did. I know I dress down, but to be mistaken for a bum... the shame!
But things would make sense, and 2 and 2 would make 4. And it happened today. Today, I walked out of a restaurant, and the man following me said "Uzbeki?" I laughed nervously, and said Australian, then went straight back to the hostel, and shaved. I need to clean up my appearance! I don't want to test fate and find out what Romanians think of Uzbekis! I've heard of what Russians think of them! Better to look like a harmless Japanese tourist!
No comments:
Post a Comment