Europe 2010

We had 3 nights in Poland, staying in Krakow, just off the main square.
Our accommodation was lovely, rented a room with a little bathroom and the man who ran it was really nice too!
On our first day in Krakow we just wandered around, reserved our seats to the train to Berlin and explored the city, going around the big castle which is the main sight in Krakow.
We booked our tour to Auschwitz with the guy who rented us our room. We paid about 130 PLN each, which included our transport there and back and an english speaking guide. We got picked up at 9.30, it took about an hour to get to Auschwitz, where we were taken in and shown a short film about the holocaust. We were then given our headsets and taken in a group of about 10, with our english speaking guide around the concentraition camp. We were shown around the different blocks where the people were kept, and around certain exhibits, as Auschwitz itself is now a museum. It was really sad seeing the living conditions, and then being shown the areas outside where people were shot and tortured etc. We were shown some of the torture blocks in the basements, hard to believe what went on there. We saw the one remaining gas chamber, taken inside, then shown the ovens where the bodies were cremated.
After a few hours we were taken to the second concentration camp, Birkenau, which isnt a museum, but left completely as it once was. This was much more how we expected the concentration/extermination camps to look like, all electric fences, hundreds of wooden huts, and the railway line running straight down the middle. We had it explained to us what the different camps were used for etc, and then shown inside some of the huts, seeing the living conditions/washrooms etc. They were only small, once used as stables for horses, and yet the Nazis used them to house up to 800 people.
We saw the remainder of the gas chambers and then the monument at the end, in memory to all those that died here.
We took plenty of pics, almost felt disrespectful to take pictures really, but we took about a 100 to show u all.

Our remaining time in Krakow was lovely, the weather was great, pretty cold but clear blue skies and sunshine. We had some fab cheap meals and drinks! By the last night we had quite a lot of PLN left, so went on a mission to spend the remainder´- which resulted in us taking a half hour trip on a horse drawn carriage at night, around Krakow itself, and then going to a fancy restaurant for a posh dessert which cost us more than our dinner!
All in all, we loved Poland (krakow), second most favourite place we have visited yet, Venice being our fave.

We took an early train yesterday morning, and arrived in Berlin at about 5.30. Took us a while how to work out how to get to our hostel, but ended up getting there at about 6.45. We have one room and a shared bathroom and kitchen. It will do 4 us!
Went out last night for a meal and a few drinks, had a chinese which was really nice and pretty cheap 4 the euro. There arent many bars around where we are so it was pretty quiet, hoping to go more to the centre tonight.
Danielle had her first beer!

Woke up this morning, and Nath has a sore throat, and I have some sort of eye infection Makes a change 4 me walking around with no eye liner or mascara on!!
Just on our way to find a pharmacy to get something 4 my eye, then to work out how to get to Berlin Zoo.

Hope everythings good at home

Lots of Love

Danielle and Nathan xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Well we got the night train to Vienna, didnt pay for a couchette/ sleeping cart, decided to do the cheap option and just get a seat to save about 40 euro- journey was 11 hours through the night, starting at 9ish. (by the way we didnt go on a gondola as it was 80 euro and for the man to sing to u it was an extra 100 euro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Had a kebab in Venice then made our way to the train station, got on the train and our seats were in like a sleeping cart with six seats that also turned into 4 beds. It seemed like it was going to be just us 2, so we thought our luck was in and we were going to have a bed for the night! Anyway just as the train was about to leave this scottish couple about our age came into our cart, but they were really nice, and we got chatting, and thought it wasnt too bad after all as there were 4 beds and 4 of us! So we set up the beds ready for a nights sleep on the train, but then about 3 hours into the journey the train stopped at this weird little station and some people got on. We were hoping that nobody was going to come into our cart, but as bad luck has it, these 2 italians knocked on our door!
They then even wanted the window seats- which were theirs, but we were quite comfy where we were! So anyway for the remaining 9 hours the 6 of us squeezed onto these seats, trying to sleep, but with the fat italian man snoring the whole way- brilliant! It wasnt too bad though as the scottish couple were quite nice and we had a good laugh, just bloody knackered when we arrived in Vienna at 8.30 am!

At vienna station we were completely lost at where to go next, as we had our train to Bratislava just an hour later. Information werent very informative at all, and told us our train was leaving from a different station in Vienna and we had to catch a tram to it! They pointed us outside the station and to find a certain met stop just over the road. This turned out to be miles away, so ended up just getting at taxi to this other train station. At this point our train was leaving in 10mins, but we got there in time, and got on it without too much of a mad dash.

Arrived in Bratislava just over an hour later, made it to our hotel, which was very nice, but ended up just sleeping all afternoon as we were so tired! Bratislava seemed a bit of a dump anyway, and all the eastern european people seem quite scary.
We got showered and ready for a night out though, and headed out for some food and a few drinks. Everything was really cheap, which resulted in us both beening quite drunk- which then made us think that ordering snails for a starter was a good idea! They were not very nice and came in a really strong garlic butter, but we ate them anyway! Then my main course which was chicken in GARLIC BUTTER arrived, and the whole thing just reminded me of the snails and it all tasted disgusting!!

Mext morning we had the train to Bohumin in the Czech Rep, at 10.08, then the train from Bohumin to Katowice in Poland, then from Katowice to Krakow. Bohumin was the WEIRDEST station ever (so we thought), it was well scary and like the land of the dead people, seemed more like a mental assylum. But it turns out that Katowice St was even worse!! These eastern eurpeans look like theyre gonna kill you!
Katowice St was a joke, as we had to get the train to Krakow in like 20 mins after arriving, but there was no information about the train or which station to go to. We were really confused as nothing was in english, and these australlians, who were also hoping to get the Krakow train had no idea either. Anyway this polish girl helped us and told us to go to platform 3. The train was due at 17.15 but by 17.30 it still hadnt arrived, so we thought we had either missed it or it didnt exist.
Then some polish girl came on the tanoy and said something in Polish mentioning Krakow, and a fellow passenger translated it for us, and told us the train was arriving now but at Platform 1! So we all had to leg it to platform 1 and made that 1 just in time! Ugliest train ever.

Arrived here in Krakow at about 7pm, checked into our room, which again, is quite nice, then went out for some food. Pretty cheap here, they arent in the euro which is good. Its a really nice city, lots of castles and medieval history. Booked our Auchwitz tour for 2moro this morning, so we are going on that at half 9 in the morning, looking forward to it, should be interesting.
We've just been to the train st to reserve our seats on the train to Berlin on tuesday- leaves at 07.24 and arrives at 17.30- Long day! But we are both really enjoying the train journeys so we dont mind

Hope everyone is well at home, we're missing everyone but having a fab time! And Nathan wants to say Happy Birthday to his Dad- IOU 1 Present!
Love u all!!!!

Dani and Nath xxxxxx

PS: Grandad where is this bar where u have reserved us a drink?!
xxxxxxx

Well we left Nice yesterday morning- had to get taxi 2 train station as its so bloody far away, then had to get a train from Nice to Monte Carlo (Monaco), which we hopped on straight away, no waiting around, then when we arrived at Monte Carlo. Then, there were no information boards or anything about where to get our next train from, so we wandered around looking for an info desk to ask if there was a train leaving for Ventimiglia (which is the station bordering France and Italy). We finally got to the front of the queue where the lady told us at Platform A the train was leaving at 09.30 - by now the time was 09.27!! So we legged it down the escalator and just about managed to get on the train before it left!
We then had about half an hours journey to Venitimiglia, where we had a train to Milan booked for about an hours time. We arrived here in good time, only waiting about 15mins to board the train. We were placed in first class too which was a treat, lots of legroom etc! We were a bit worried at this point though, as our train to Milan was due to arrive at 14.55 and the train to Venice was leaving at 15.05- only 10 mins to get off the train, find the right platform etc and actually board the train itself. Anyway the train to Milan was stopping at stations for aaages, and we seriously thought there wasnt a chance of making the Venice Train.
The Train slowly made its way into Milan and stopped at 15.01.
We got off in a hurry and ran to the information board where it told us our Venice train was leaving just a couple of platforms away, so we legged it like mad men down the platform, our seats typically right at the back of the train. We jumped on just in time, after running with our heavy back packs on we were seriously out of breath and our legs were like jelly but anyway we made it waaaahhoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anywayyyyy got off the train in Venice at like half 5 last night for a 5min walk to the hostel. Nice suprice to find out we had a private bathroom and really nice view of San Geremia Square. Went out 4 a nice meal last night and a couple of drinks back in time for a good sleep.
Had to check out of hostel at like 10.30 this morning, left our bags here all day as they have luggage storage, and today we have been to San Marco Square, wandering the stalls and back streets and down the grand canal. Saw the Rialto Bridge, and stopped for some wine and a pizza!
Venice is gorg, by far the best city we have visited yet. Definitley want to come back, 1 day isnt long enough. Although our legs are killing! Weather is well hot by the way!

Got a night train at 21.05 tonight to Vienna, and hoping to then get a train to Bratislava tomorrow morning.

Sophie, got your bracelet, and I do miss you! Also missing the Hot Chick and Cool Dude!
And mum i was sunbathing in my knickers by the way!! Just not in the pics!

Love 2 everyone!

Dani and Nath xxxx

Hi guys!!

We are safely in nice, just heading out for our last night before we get the train 2morrow! its been really hot; it was 30 degrees today, we both got very unfortunate tan lines, and were on the beach with these tinyyy travel towels which probably looked very silly (we didnt have any swimwear so nathan has a t shirt tan and i have a vest tan and brown ankles from where my leggins were lol)
Nice looks like miami, its full of roller-bladers, joggers and people carrying dogs in various bags! mostly people have little yorkshire terriers like lucy- makes me miss her more! they have cute ribbons in their hair and owners seem to take them everywhere, even in bars at night!

We had a nice meal on our last night in paris, we took random guesses at what we were ordering as it was all in french and the waiter spoke little english- bloooody foreigners!!!! anyway we both ordered fish although we thought we were ordering steak, but it turned out to be 1 of the nicest meals ever!!

The train to nice was fine although we couldnt find our seats and had to leave the train 3 times to get on the right bit of the train, so we got on just in time.

We have an early train 2morow to Ventimiglia, then to Milan, and then only 10 mins to get on the train to venice! I dont think we will make it, but we will see- hopefully it will all be ok.

We have enjoyed France, loving croissants 4 breakie every morning, and the sea/beach is lovely here in nice, but looking forward to italy. The bottles of wine r fab- paying less than 2 euro a bottle- no wonder we are a bit pissed before we go out hehe! although everything else is bloody expensive!!
The hotel here is a bit shit, walls are very thin as u can here everything going on everywhere, and its TINYYYY, even I can touch both walls in the bathtoo, with ease so poor nath probably finds it worse!
Anyway hope the hostel in Venice is better!

Thanks 4 all the messages too, dont worry Rach im getting your posts, hope your not missing me at work too much and hope the party goes well on friday and give shirl a hug 4 me.

Love to u all

LOVE DANIELLE AND NATHAN !!!!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

We are currently writing from the weirdest "internet cafe" ever!!!!!!! the keyboard has all the letters in the wrong place and we are in some dingey back-room sitting on broken stools!! anyway!!!
Paris so far is lovely, despite the weather today which has been pretty miserable!
yesterday we visited notre dame, and took a journey right to the top of the eiffel tower (which was bloody freezing), we also walked for miles, strolling down the seine river. we also saw a really funny old man whizzing down the road on roller blades, in hot pants, which was really funny- the natives here are strange!)
we then made our way back to our hotel (which appears to be in the ghetto of paris) with a cheap bottle of wine and a take away pizza)
we then slept for 12 hours!!!! which shows how tired we were!

today we took a trip on the metro (which is a really good efficient transport system by the way) to gare du lyon, to reserve our seats on tomorrows train to nice. our train is at 9.42am and we should be arriving in nice for half 3ish. we are looking forward to sitting down for 5 and a half hours, as our legs are killing from all the walking! we should return really fit!

today we also visited the arc de triomph, and then went to the louvree museum, where we saw the mona lisa and loads of other paintings and monuments.
we are just heading back to our hotel now for a shower etc and to get ready, as we are going out for a meal and a few drinks later!

lots and lots of love

danielle & nathan xxxxxxxxxxxx