Hello all, we've made it to Bratislava ok, only a couple of hours of driving today. Although driving in a black car in this heat isn't the most brilliant of ideas, it must really hum by now.
Me and Gary spent last night in the hostel bar, once we realised the beer in there was 70p a pint - in the main square they were charging as much as 2.50 a pint! Attempted to use the table football table, but the electrics were beyond Sebok's capabilities to repair! So we got some matches from the bar and had a few games of heads up poker (of which I lost both ;-)
It's absolutely gorgeous here in Bratislava, sort of the same style as Prague, but a little more untouched and unspoilt. The hostel is the best one we've stayed in so far. Apart from the fact they originally thought they'd double booked us, and had a 'student houski' round the corner that they were going to put us in for a discount (student? I'm 26 goddamn it!). Anyways, they finally found us a room, which for the first time we are sharing with someone else. He's a cyclist who we reckon is Italian. But we haven't spoken to him yet. Because we're wimps. Oh, and I sat on my bed and it collapsed as well. That was quite embarrasing.
When we got here we went for a wander and had a 5-star meal at a restaurant in the main square of the old town, which was gorgeous. There was a church accross the road and mass was going on - the music coming out of it was wonderful! We also saw some t-shirts for sale in the square that said "Where the f*ck is Bratislava", which made us laugh! (It's here by the way) It was a gorgeous meal, but it's gone right through me, and the toilet paper over here is like a combination of corrugated cardboard and sand paper, which isn't really doing me any good. Hopefully it will have cleared up by the time we get to the festival tomorrow because there are just some things that you can't do in festival toilets ;-)
Anyways, gonna have a few drinkskis in the barski now! Speak soon.
Monday, 6 August 2007
Sunday, 5 August 2007
Oh my god I can't believe it I've never been this far away from home
Well I have actually.
Greetingsky from pragooey.Its nice I like it a lot although when we arrived everything around us seemed to go all grey and depressing i think it might be due to it being at 9 o'clock at night though.
After going through more countries in one day than i have ever been through in my whole life its probably an understatement to say i was slightly glad to arive in pragooey. sitting behind sebok in alittle ford fiesta for nearly 700 miles is a little uncomfortable but it was expected as i am the undesignated driver for the trip. I can't say that the service stations were very accomodating to us english pig dogs but suprisingly in germany they were very impressed at my German linguistics when paying for petrol and asking if i could use the couplon that i was given to pay for some ice lolies. I was my brothers hero for about 13 seconds ( I was soo proud).
After leavin that service station we went through germany past frankfurt and nurnberg and ended up in another service station about 100km from the czech border where we were greeted by a coach full of what seemed to be german tourists. 3 of which were suprisingly desperate for the toilet and as anthony and sebok went for a walk i was left eating a sandwich whilst these three fraulines squatted behind a bush barely 100metres away, something i will try and forget sooner rather than later ( just so you know these fraulines were easily in there mid 50's so you can see why i found it so humourous).
Tommorrow we have to czech out ( see what i did there) before 10 am or anthony loses his deposit . He has been whinging about it ever since we got here i think it works out at about 16 pence or something (Tart!).
Anyways goona love you and leave you for know hopefully i will post again tommorrow when we arrive in the holiday hotspot of bratislava.
Peace out homeys
Gary
Greetingsky from pragooey.Its nice I like it a lot although when we arrived everything around us seemed to go all grey and depressing i think it might be due to it being at 9 o'clock at night though.
After going through more countries in one day than i have ever been through in my whole life its probably an understatement to say i was slightly glad to arive in pragooey. sitting behind sebok in alittle ford fiesta for nearly 700 miles is a little uncomfortable but it was expected as i am the undesignated driver for the trip. I can't say that the service stations were very accomodating to us english pig dogs but suprisingly in germany they were very impressed at my German linguistics when paying for petrol and asking if i could use the couplon that i was given to pay for some ice lolies. I was my brothers hero for about 13 seconds ( I was soo proud).
After leavin that service station we went through germany past frankfurt and nurnberg and ended up in another service station about 100km from the czech border where we were greeted by a coach full of what seemed to be german tourists. 3 of which were suprisingly desperate for the toilet and as anthony and sebok went for a walk i was left eating a sandwich whilst these three fraulines squatted behind a bush barely 100metres away, something i will try and forget sooner rather than later ( just so you know these fraulines were easily in there mid 50's so you can see why i found it so humourous).
Tommorrow we have to czech out ( see what i did there) before 10 am or anthony loses his deposit . He has been whinging about it ever since we got here i think it works out at about 16 pence or something (Tart!).
Anyways goona love you and leave you for know hopefully i will post again tommorrow when we arrive in the holiday hotspot of bratislava.
Peace out homeys
Gary
Best Laid Plans....
Firstly, I must apologise for Chris' spelling of Czech. Which is poor to say the least.
It was quite strange in France. Normally, you just turn up, and people realise you are English idiots and talk to you in English. Not in France though, I had to dust off my French GCSE to order us beer and pizza all round. I even managed to get Gary one without mushrooms (sans Champignon!) which made me feel quite impressed with myself!
Driving on the wrong side of the road, whilst a scary thought, isn't that bad in reality (you get used to it quite quick - it helps being in your own car). However, navigating around a Czech city in the dark IS scary. I was navigating at that point and Sebok was driving, but it had gone dark and I could hardly read the map. Anyways, once we finally made it into the town cente (after a few wrong turns into some rather colourful areas!) we found out that the route Google Maps had sent us on was closed for roadworks and I had to divert us round the City. It doesn't help that they have buses and trams that are driving all over the roads trying to confuse you. And the roads are made of cobbles so you can't feel your spine. Sebok had a bit of an argument with a tram trying to overtake it, and lost miserably ;-) But finally, at about 10pm (after 13 hours of driving) we made it to the hostel, found a lovely little cocktail bar and had some drinkies and a good nights sleep!
We're 1,100 miles into the journey now, and we have today off to rest. Tomorrow we will be going to Bratislava in Slovakia, hopefully we will be able to post more then.
Cya
It was quite strange in France. Normally, you just turn up, and people realise you are English idiots and talk to you in English. Not in France though, I had to dust off my French GCSE to order us beer and pizza all round. I even managed to get Gary one without mushrooms (sans Champignon!) which made me feel quite impressed with myself!
Driving on the wrong side of the road, whilst a scary thought, isn't that bad in reality (you get used to it quite quick - it helps being in your own car). However, navigating around a Czech city in the dark IS scary. I was navigating at that point and Sebok was driving, but it had gone dark and I could hardly read the map. Anyways, once we finally made it into the town cente (after a few wrong turns into some rather colourful areas!) we found out that the route Google Maps had sent us on was closed for roadworks and I had to divert us round the City. It doesn't help that they have buses and trams that are driving all over the roads trying to confuse you. And the roads are made of cobbles so you can't feel your spine. Sebok had a bit of an argument with a tram trying to overtake it, and lost miserably ;-) But finally, at about 10pm (after 13 hours of driving) we made it to the hostel, found a lovely little cocktail bar and had some drinkies and a good nights sleep!
We're 1,100 miles into the journey now, and we have today off to rest. Tomorrow we will be going to Bratislava in Slovakia, hopefully we will be able to post more then.
Cya
Chzec us out
Hi blog fans!
After trying to update this last night and failing due to the impending drinking session, I've finaly managed to sit down and get something on "paper".
We're curently in the Chzec equivellant of the 'Ritz', and have just woke up. It's 2:30pm and we're about to go outside in the European sun for the first time.
Let me appologise for the state of this keyboard first - I keep missing keys, keys are in the wrong place and the keyboard needs GBH for it to respond to my keypresses.
A few things happened on the way here - the first thing I remember was an explosion on the opposite side of the M6... a lorry's tyre exploded and shook the car... dust everywhere. A few hours later we found ourselves in a 3 hours traffic jam on the M1 - I think it was closed off at J10 because some lorry's and cars had smashed in to each other. When we finaly got there it wasn't even anything exciting to look at. I've never seen a motorway closed before - so there's the first episode of 'sod's law' for our trip.
The next thing was the M25 - already notorious for its long queues of traffic, worsened by the fact there was another crash on it an hour or so before we arrived. The traffic stations were having a great time. After passing the dartford crossing, it got a lot easier and I drove at about 100mph in order to reach our destination on time.
The ferry was fairly cool - and a lot faster than I thought it would be... we were in Bologne-sur-mer (I'll let AK correct the spelling mistakes and place names afterwards - corrected AK) in no time. We found the hostel with relative ease, AK was driving at this point and was physicaly shaking by the time we'd found it. I don't think the piss taking and shouting that was going on in the car helped him at all :)
Not much to report in the hostel - we went out for a pizza, were treated like common muck by the French waitress and promptly went home and went to bed, after a few beers.
The following day was driving - lots of driving. Through France, Germany, Netherlands and the Chzec Republic. Today we shall feast like kings as we're just about to go out in the lovely Prague sun for som food and drinks :)
I shall let AK and Garry fill you i on the detail's I've missed.
After trying to update this last night and failing due to the impending drinking session, I've finaly managed to sit down and get something on "paper".
We're curently in the Chzec equivellant of the 'Ritz', and have just woke up. It's 2:30pm and we're about to go outside in the European sun for the first time.
Let me appologise for the state of this keyboard first - I keep missing keys, keys are in the wrong place and the keyboard needs GBH for it to respond to my keypresses.
A few things happened on the way here - the first thing I remember was an explosion on the opposite side of the M6... a lorry's tyre exploded and shook the car... dust everywhere. A few hours later we found ourselves in a 3 hours traffic jam on the M1 - I think it was closed off at J10 because some lorry's and cars had smashed in to each other. When we finaly got there it wasn't even anything exciting to look at. I've never seen a motorway closed before - so there's the first episode of 'sod's law' for our trip.
The next thing was the M25 - already notorious for its long queues of traffic, worsened by the fact there was another crash on it an hour or so before we arrived. The traffic stations were having a great time. After passing the dartford crossing, it got a lot easier and I drove at about 100mph in order to reach our destination on time.
The ferry was fairly cool - and a lot faster than I thought it would be... we were in Bologne-sur-mer (I'll let AK correct the spelling mistakes and place names afterwards - corrected AK) in no time. We found the hostel with relative ease, AK was driving at this point and was physicaly shaking by the time we'd found it. I don't think the piss taking and shouting that was going on in the car helped him at all :)
Not much to report in the hostel - we went out for a pizza, were treated like common muck by the French waitress and promptly went home and went to bed, after a few beers.
The following day was driving - lots of driving. Through France, Germany, Netherlands and the Chzec Republic. Today we shall feast like kings as we're just about to go out in the lovely Prague sun for som food and drinks :)
I shall let AK and Garry fill you i on the detail's I've missed.
Thursday, 2 August 2007
The day before tomorrow
I'm generally a very laid back guy - I don't stress unless there's a lot on my mind, but at the moment, I'm stressed.
I'm changing jobs - today is my final day at VoiteQ (where Anthony and I currently work). Up until yesterday I was worrying about my start date at the new place and my finances for the next few months... my new job is faffing about in sending my new contract out - then once I get that, I have to have a security check done before I can even commence employment (it's M.O.D work).
Yesterday I was told that it's unlikely that my start date will be the 22nd Aug, which is what the agency told me about a month ago (hence me handing my notice in). I'm away for three weeks, so even if I get my contract while I'm away, I can't get the security sorted out until I come back. Then I have to wait at LEAST a week for the security check.
So I'm stressed. 3 weeks without wages regardless (I've dealt with that), but potentially months afterwards too. Mortgage, loans and bills to pay and no money. Shit situation, and there's nothing I can do - I've been badgering the company for weeks to no avail. I had to hand my notice in at VoiteQ when I did, otherwise I would OWE them money for holidays taken.
Then there's my mortgage renewal that's just come up... so I can't take a payment holiday anyway. Gah.
Anyway - I've been pretty miserable for the last few weeks because of this, and seem to be taking it out on everyone at work. For that I appologise.
I'm going to try desperately to enjoy myself on the holiday and forget about all the troubles I'm having. I'm hoping that everything will be sorted out by the time I get back so I don't have to job hunt like mad to get another job.
On the road tomorrow - I'm hoping I come back with a bit of colour :)
I'm changing jobs - today is my final day at VoiteQ (where Anthony and I currently work). Up until yesterday I was worrying about my start date at the new place and my finances for the next few months... my new job is faffing about in sending my new contract out - then once I get that, I have to have a security check done before I can even commence employment (it's M.O.D work).
Yesterday I was told that it's unlikely that my start date will be the 22nd Aug, which is what the agency told me about a month ago (hence me handing my notice in). I'm away for three weeks, so even if I get my contract while I'm away, I can't get the security sorted out until I come back. Then I have to wait at LEAST a week for the security check.
So I'm stressed. 3 weeks without wages regardless (I've dealt with that), but potentially months afterwards too. Mortgage, loans and bills to pay and no money. Shit situation, and there's nothing I can do - I've been badgering the company for weeks to no avail. I had to hand my notice in at VoiteQ when I did, otherwise I would OWE them money for holidays taken.
Then there's my mortgage renewal that's just come up... so I can't take a payment holiday anyway. Gah.
Anyway - I've been pretty miserable for the last few weeks because of this, and seem to be taking it out on everyone at work. For that I appologise.
I'm going to try desperately to enjoy myself on the holiday and forget about all the troubles I'm having. I'm hoping that everything will be sorted out by the time I get back so I don't have to job hunt like mad to get another job.
On the road tomorrow - I'm hoping I come back with a bit of colour :)
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
Feeling it in my water now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my god it's nearly here. What was promised to be a trip of a life time by my big bro Anthony (can i just say even though I apparently his little brother I am taller and can I also say that it is physically impossible to be a boy racer in a 1 litre Vauxhall Corsa).
All the final preperations have been taking place me and my brother added a high cost upgrade kit which makes the car weigh much less and allows much more storage space in the back (we took some seats out). Twas good.
Don't really have much more to say on this matter I am too overcome with excitement, but I will say one thing and that is:
Rock on Tommy
Peace out homes
All the final preperations have been taking place me and my brother added a high cost upgrade kit which makes the car weigh much less and allows much more storage space in the back (we took some seats out). Twas good.
Don't really have much more to say on this matter I am too overcome with excitement, but I will say one thing and that is:
Rock on Tommy
Peace out homes
Thursday, 26 July 2007
T minus 8 days
Well, we're now at T-minus 8 days. Next Friday we will be on the road!
It has been a long and turbulent time getting to this point. Originally there were meant to be 4 of us, Me, Sebok, Bondy and Laura. But Laura and Bondy had to drop out (as mentioned previously). My little brother, Gary, stepped in to take a place, and we decided we would be ok with three people in the car - if not a little better because of the extra space!!
Sebok is now insured on the car, but Gary isn't, because my insurance company wouldn't insure him (he's a boy racer). So there will be two drivers. Also, my insurance company won't insure us to drive in Croatia, so when we travel from Budapest to Ljubjanja, we have to drive 'around' Croatia. Which should be interesting.
Anyways, the plan for the journey is follows:
Speak to you soon!
It has been a long and turbulent time getting to this point. Originally there were meant to be 4 of us, Me, Sebok, Bondy and Laura. But Laura and Bondy had to drop out (as mentioned previously). My little brother, Gary, stepped in to take a place, and we decided we would be ok with three people in the car - if not a little better because of the extra space!!
Sebok is now insured on the car, but Gary isn't, because my insurance company wouldn't insure him (he's a boy racer). So there will be two drivers. Also, my insurance company won't insure us to drive in Croatia, so when we travel from Budapest to Ljubjanja, we have to drive 'around' Croatia. Which should be interesting.
Anyways, the plan for the journey is follows:
- Fri 3rd Aug: Blackpool, Blighty - Boulogne-sur-mer, France
- Sat 4th Aug: Boulogne-sur-mer, France - Prague, Czech Republic
- Mon 6th Aug: Prague, Czech Republic - Bratislava, Slovakia
- Tue 7th Aug: Bratislava, Slovakia - Budapest - Hungary
- Tue 7th Aug - Wed 15th Aug: Sziget Festival!
- Wed 15th Aug: Budapest, Hungary - Balaton, Hungary
- Fri 17th Aug: Balaton, Hungary - Ljubjanja, Slovenia
- Sun 19th Aug: Ljubjanja, Slovenia - Innsbruck, Austria
- Mon 20th Aug: Innsbruck, Austria - Boulogne-sur-mer, France
- Tue 21th Aug: Boulogne-sur-mer, France - Blackpool, Blighty
Speak to you soon!
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