Interrail '17

A 23-day adventure by LauraHelene Read more

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Trip start
July 6, 2017
Interrail '17 LauraHelene
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Day 1
Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 6:32 AM
☀️ 12 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Denmark Copenhagen Airport 55.62779, 12.6525255°37’40” N 12°39’9” E
Readyyyy !
July 6, 2017 in Denmark ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
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Day 1
Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 11:00 PM
🌙 22 °C
Altitude: 556 m
Bulgaria Perlovska Reka 42.68711, 23.3191342°41’14” N 23°19’9” E
Arrival
July 6, 2017 in Bulgaria ⋅ 🌙 22 °C
I woke up from the soft bump when the air craft hit the ground, and outside the window different kinds of pink painted the sky behind the mountains surrounding Sofia.
Stefan met us at the airport and walked us to the hostel, and a bunch of hippies taught us the most impotant stuff for surviving the city: How to get breakfast and where the pub crawl would start. A late beer in the park and then an early sleep. Summer nights without a jacket, finding our way through a new city using a strange alphabet that promises you to get lost. We had definitely left Denmark!Read more
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Day 2
Friday, July 7, 2017
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 562 m
Bulgaria Perlovska Reka 42.69064, 23.3143842°41’26” N 23°18’52” E
City tour
July 7, 2017 in Bulgaria ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Acting all touristy we learned a lot about this city listening to the best guide ever! The most beautifull story was about how the government saved the life of every jew during World War II from keeping them busy working all the time. We met Stefan again for dinner, and at night we just catched the last band at the jazz festival. Park and beer and music and comfy temperatures after sunset. What more to wish for?Read more
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Day 3
Saturday, July 8, 2017 at 11:00 AM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 560 m
Bulgaria City Garden 42.69488, 23.3207342°41’42” N 23°19’15” E
The very last of Sofia part I
July 8, 2017 in Bulgaria ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
First of all: This is so what inspired Hergé! All the details in the Museum of Sofia History was taken directly from one particular Tintin movie. Or perhabs it was the other way around, same difference.
Second: Today we did the rest of this city including a non-touristy walk with Stefan as a guide, picnic in the park, jazz festival with the sunset and the moon rising in the background, dansing barefood in the grass, and ending up at an irish kareoke bar. Sofia really got it all covered! We even experienced a bit of rain.Read more
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Day 3
Saturday, July 8, 2017 at 3:00 PM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 559 m
Bulgaria Perlovska Reka 42.67914, 23.3168442°40’45” N 23°19’1” E
The very last of Sofia part II
July 8, 2017 in Bulgaria ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Just for more pictures of the day ;)
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Day 4
Sunday, July 9, 2017 at 10:33 PM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 2,174 m
Bulgaria Cherni Vrah 42.56165, 23.2694642°33’42” N 23°16’10” E
Cherni Vrah
July 9, 2017 in Bulgaria ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
The theme of this day is without any doubt sunburn! One worse than the other. But led by Stefan we hiked Bulgarias fourth highest mountain, climped the small piles of rocks on the way, and had a bulgarian lunch on the top. Back in Sofia we, by lucky chance, just made it for a free meal and a beer at the hostel. Our beautifull and painfull red skin have no chance competing with all that!Read more
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Day 5
Monday, July 10, 2017
⛅ 34 °C
Altitude: 101 m
Serbia Belgrade 44.80931, 20.4581644°48’34” N 20°27’29” E
The LONGEST train ride ever!
July 10, 2017 in Serbia ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C
If we only knew ... This morning seems so far away, and yet we "only" spend 12 hours in a train. But not just any 12 hours!
It started out pretty good, we figured out the tram system in Sofia and made it in time for train, which left the station 50 min late. Not a big deal according to this country. After an hour the train stopped and a police officer went through it and took our passports. Took them and was gone for an hour. For a while that was a bit too exciting. But we got them back, and this routine repeted after crossing the Serbian border a few minutes later. And those men really had all the time in the world. At this point we had been in the train for 3-4 hours, and it had been moving for 1.
And then it got hot. Melting hot. Cold water was definitely not a thing anymore, and half way there we ran out of that warm water, it had turned into. No air con, no info, turned out to be three hours late. FINALLY, 8 hours after our passport worries, we got out. Same temperature as inside but at least a brief breeze. Never did a cold soda taste that good!Read more
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Day 6
Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at 9:43 PM
🌙 24 °C
Altitude: 137 m
Serbia Radalj 44.4112, 19.1422244°24’40” N 19°8’32” E
Leaving Belgrade
July 11, 2017 in Serbia ⋅ 🌙 24 °C
The city of contrasts. Abandoned buildings and brand new ones side by side. The capitals main train station was a combi: quite impressive building, but looked abandoned on the inside. Trams that belong at a historical museum and cars I will never be able to afford. Dirty streets, horrible acustics, small round kiosks all over, and this alphabet I don't get. It all seemed like a completely different world than the one I know not that far from there. And the heat were killing us. So as fast as possible in a city lacking English skills we found our way out.
To the sound of Paradise (Coldplay) and the soft breezing of air condition we entered the bus. As we crossed the border to Bosnia Herzegovina the landscape changed, the sun set and the temperature fell. Again to the sound of Coldplay (Lost) from the radio. The perfect start of exploring a new country.Read more
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Day 7
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at 11:07 PM
🌙 20 °C
Altitude: 520 m
Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo Airport 43.82539, 18.338643°49’31” N 18°20’19” E
Experiencing the end of Yugoslavia
July 12, 2017 in Bosnia and Herzegovina ⋅ 🌙 20 °C
The Tunnel museum was quite an experience! Tram out of the city, a taxi even further away, and a lot of crazy scary history combined with the feeling of walking inside the tunnel leading to the Free Bosnian Territory duting the siege in the 90's. A dry and clean version of the tunnel though. I can't imagine what it must have been like during the siege with mud and rain and darkness and heavy bags walking back and forth.
Later at the hostel a guy from Belgium tipped us about the sunset, and through steep, narrow streets along grave yards and small houses we almost made it to the good view in time after a GREAT and well deserved dinner.Read more
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Day 8
Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 11:09 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 568 m
Bosnia and Herzegovina Hrid 43.85873, 18.4265943°51’31” N 18°25’36” E
Sarajevo by foot
July 13, 2017 in Bosnia and Herzegovina ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Beautifull stories about a community with mixed cultures and religions living not just side by side but as close friends. After the assasination of Franz Ferdinand different oppinions about the muderer got along. During WWII Muslims saved the lives of Jewes. After the siege in the 90's no hade between Bosnians and Serbs is to find. This city seems so peacefull. No wonder it is called the European Jerusalem.
At night the streets changes completely: people everywhere, the bars are full, and loud pop music is making the soundtrack. It is hard to find a place with a proper drink; it's beer and coffee one can get in this city.Read more
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Day 9
Friday, July 14, 2017
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 566 m
Bosnia and Herzegovina Hrid 43.86131, 18.4287243°51’41” N 18°25’43” E
Childhood War Museum
July 14, 2017 in Bosnia and Herzegovina ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Long and yet a great day covering the entire emotion scale. We started out at the childhood war museum reading about, well, childhood in Bosnia in the 90's. Beautifull and scary stories about making the way through life despite the war. The afternoon was all about Turkish coffee, relaxing in the park and finding our way to the train leaving this amazing city. We kinda wanted to stay one more day, but we ended up leaving anyway. Night in Mostar. Beautifull town with a great social hostel and dinner including a free rakija. Ended up as a fun evening! We even got to talk Danish a bit since the hostel was full of Danes.Read more
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Day 10
Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 9:00 PM
🌬 25 °C
Altitude: 76 m
Bosnia and Herzegovina Radobolja 43.34289, 17.8144343°20’34” N 17°48’52” E
Mostar
July 15, 2017 in Bosnia and Herzegovina ⋅ 🌬 25 °C
Crazy men jump 22 meters from an old bridge into the river for money. That's pretty much what happens here. We didn't go to the waterfalls because it's a tourist trap and super expensive. I would have wanted to see it though, and to swim in the lakes. But instead we got to spend some cozy time by the river and in the town. Marks from the war is a lot more visible here than in Sarajevo which makes it both scary and beautifull to walk the streets. At least those without all the souvenir shops.
Our last night in Bosnia Herzegovena was spend at a good restaurant right next to the river coloured by the sunset followed by a walk through a ghosty city to the sniper tower. Just as creapy as it sounds!Read more
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Day 12
Monday, July 17, 2017
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 510 m
Slovenia Podhom 46.3752, 14.0923146°22’31” N 14°5’32” E
Twenty four hour journy
July 17, 2017 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Changing the scenes! Bus across the EU border, beach and drinks in Split in Croatia, a cold night train through the country, beautifull sunrise on an early morning, more trains across another border and a local one to a station near Bled. And finally a short walk along the most beautifull street to the hostel near Triglov Nationalpark in Slovenia. All of a sudden we were in common land surrounded by tourists, known architecture, and higher expenses. But Slovenia is just as beutifull as one could have hoped for! The rest of this day was spend in Bled and sailing on the lake to visit the island in the middle.
We learned from the news that we just escaped a forrest fire near Split (and Mostar and Montenegro) on our way north that very same day.Read more
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Day 13
Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at 10:59 PM
🌙 18 °C
Altitude: 589 m
Slovenia Ukanc 46.28668, 13.8169246°17’12” N 13°49’1” E
Back to nature
July 18, 2017 in Slovenia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
This is the clear definition of idyllic! Turquoise-blue water, naged clifs touching the rivers, hardwood forrests, waterfalls, green tree-covered mountains in the horisont with naged peaks reaching the sky, tiny villages with Schwitz inspired houses and small churches, clear sky, constant sunshine, and, of cause, Lake Bled in the middle.
But yet again we didn't get to swim in a waterfall. We did, however, climb white rocks in a crystal clear turquoish and yellow river and watch the sunset change the colors of the mountains. Who needs waterfalls?Read more
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Day 14
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 293 m
Slovenia Prešeren monument 46.05124, 14.5059246°3’4” N 14°30’21” E
Ljubljana in the heat
July 19, 2017 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Ljubljanas streets are all empty on a hot day like this. But who's to blame? We also took our time in the shadows. In the evening the city seemed to wake up. To the sound of a Schwitz brassband on the corner of a beautifull bridge known as the Triple Bridge. And we finally found a margarita! (Next to a square with homemade rain (!)) The weird-looking cake-thing is a traditionally kind of dumbling which we had to try, and it was so delicious with cardamom filling and honny all over it! The Danish cinnamon roll is not competable.Read more
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Day 15
Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 7:45 PM
☁️ 24 °C
Altitude: 557 m
Slovenia Postojna Cave entrance 45.78305, 14.2038745°46’59” N 14°12’14” E
Postojna Jama
July 20, 2017 in Slovenia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
By a sudden impulsive idea we went towards the cave. After a bit of luck and running back and forth between hostels and lunch and laundry we made it for the train. The best arabic chicken wrap for lunch by the way! From a place called Abi Falafel. At the station we were saved from the heat by an automat with fresh orange juice. What a great concept! After some more luck everything worked out perfectly well and the caves were beautifull! Also a bit cold, though, but that finally justified us carrying all this clothes around Europe.Read more
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Day 15
Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 11:07 PM
🌙 25 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Italy Campo dei Frari 45.43775, 12.3275445°26’16” N 12°19’39” E
Getting lost in Venice
July 20, 2017 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 25 °C
Hostels were fully booked, so we had to leave Ljubljana. And where else to go than Venice? This is a labyrinth if gorgeous old buildings along narrow canals or cobblestone streets and stairways touching the water. A two minute walk and one is all lost. But that certainly is an experience! And the streets dosn't get any less beautifull when you have no idea what the next corner brings! Chances are that it's an old aesthetic bridge allowing you to cross the water just as a gondole passes by.
We finished the day with a great Italian dinner and a break on a warm quiet night at one of those stairways reaching the water.Read more
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Day 17
Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 10:21 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Italy Giardino Papadopoli 45.4386, 12.3204145°26’19” N 12°19’13” E
Finding our way through Venice
July 22, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Watch out for lost tourists walking while looking at a map and suddently out of no where stopping and making a turn. And make sure not to be one of those annoying tourists! I can proudly tell that we didn't get all lost today, and we did all the sights we had in mind. Including Tiramisu at a cafe and picnic in a park! (Yes, there is a park in Venice).
Furthermore this was without any doubt the beginning of my cultural education; starting with architechture from different influences and different eras. Who would guess I should be able to recognise a byzantic church?Read more
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Day 18
Sunday, July 23, 2017
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 178 m
Austria Universität Wien 48.2137, 16.3622648°12’49” N 16°21’44” E
Short break in Vienna
July 23, 2017 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Apparently cafes in Vienna dosen't open until 10 am. But we did manage to find a great and definitely needed breakfast after a cold night on the train. The rest of the day we saw different parts of Vienna in a gear that allowed numerous breaks. Feeling the relaxing atmosphere around Hundertwasser Haus, the impressive majestic touch around the Spanish Riding School and everything nearby, and a childish overwhelming enthusiasm when walking the corridors of the amazing university building.
At night we continued our recently initiated cultural education by going to an impressive classical concert. Forcing heavy rain and misleading maps on the way. And finally we had to try this Alperol mixed with white wine they drink all over this city. Fresh, mild, and a bit bitter but perfect in the heat.Read more
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Day 19
Monday, July 24, 2017 at 11:08 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 120 m
Hungary Malom 47.92639, 17.1106547°55’35” N 17°6’38” E
Last stage
July 24, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Wonder why anyone ever leave Vienna! This was just the break we needed from all the somehow distant culture, we met so far. Despite their traffic which I still don't completely understand. But Budapest is another must-see before we go home to reality, so off we went.
And the rain went with us. We were met by a wall of heat in a dark and yet beautifull city to the sound of thunder drowning the traffic noise. Unable to guess any words in this language we went shopping, and for the first time since we left Denmark we cooked our own dinner.Read more
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Day 20
Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at 9:23 PM
🌙 19 °C
Altitude: 112 m
Hungary Budapest VIII. kerület 47.48835, 19.062547°29’18” N 19°3’45” E
Budapest
July 25, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
If one survives the traffick and find a proper way through this language, Budapest is still a beautifull city! We can't find much history though, but Pest looks a bit like small London and Buda is where the hills and the old buildings are. A lot of churches are neo-gothic and thereby not as old as one might think. In fact this entire city is not that old, and the important part according to the free walking tour guide is where the good bars and baths are.
We went shopping, had some local food, and finnished the day by pub crawling the Ruin Bars with a bunch of Italian guys.Read more
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Day 21
Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 11:41 PM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 110 m
Hungary Budapest XIII. kerület 47.51867, 19.0821347°31’7” N 19°4’56” E
Széchenyi Bath
July 26, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
What to do on a windy day with impressive cloud formations covering the sky; setting the light of the city? No need to ask that question twice! After forcing ques for the ticket and poor changing facilities the largest Tyrkish Bath in Budapest is quite an experience. Outdoor pools along cafes and bars, indoor pools with different temperatures in beautifull old rooms with impressive roofs and colonnades; one more beautifull than the other. Almost felt like a museum. It was quite crowded though, and one definitely wish to wear slippers between the pools. Our searching for dinner was accompanied by silent rain and a beautifull sky. For our last night of the journy we had a great gullash and yet another version of Pina Colada. And finally we tried different gins which is not gonna happen again!
Perfect ending of a perfect summer holiday.Read more
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Day 22
Thursday, July 27, 2017
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 132 m
Hungary Keleti Railway Station 47.50016, 19.0842347°30’1” N 19°5’3” E
Last day
July 27, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Communism. That's the history we've been looking for. All the neo-ugly buildings exist for a reason. Although the revolution made a difference after Stalin died, and allthough the communist party gave up when Sovjet financed the Vietnam War in stead of Hungary, the hidden corruption is still going strong in this country. However, seen with the eyes of a turist all the details are still adorable! I would at any time recommend to stay for a lot more than three nights.Read more
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Day 23
Friday, July 28, 2017 at 8:47 AM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Germany Mönckebergstrasse 53.55154, 9.9975953°33’6” N 9°59’51” E
Going home
July 28, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Well, we did sleep a little after all, and one sure is allowed to be tired after 28 hours of changing train way too many places throughout Germany. No sleeping cabin, no available seats on the fast trains, and delays in DK. But I reached my own bed at last.
And I am so not ready for reality! Sparse living, regularly moving, continously discovering new cultures, meeting all kinds of people, and learning on the way. Who decided that you need just one place to call home, and to daily repeat the same routines while waiting for a proper time to ne back on the road?Read more
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Trip end
July 28, 2017