OzBus 14

The drive fore today isn’t far from the norm. Next stop for the tour is Erzincan and has a lot to live up to after the idyllic Goreme. As we head off into the country the sun is waving us goodbye. Soon we see the landscape that we’ve all been accustom to since entering Turkey. After a while we hit the rain and the bus starts to quieten down.

The town of Erzincan doesn’t scream tourism; quiet, grey and almost lifeless. The hotel doesn’t make much of an impact either, but the short stop means we don’t try too hard to adapt. After dumping our things, we head out to try and find somewhere to eat dinner. Many minutes touring around the city we stumble across a fast food restaurant (local of course). Another kebab on the cards as we analyse the surroundings. Coming to the conclusion that there isn’t much happening in the town and the lack of alcohol means we head back to the hotel for a chill out session.

When we get back, Lana has the idea of watching a movie together. After the movie we all call it a night and head to bed. The next town on our list is a border town – one we’ve renamed Doggybiscuit.

6am and there is a minibus outside the hotel ready to take us on our ballooning trip. We drive to the head office of the ballooning company and get registered. After a complimentary cup of tea, we drive to our launch site somewhere within a field out of the town. The balloons were already being filled with hot air, so we managed to get some photos of the whole process. Our pilot is called Sehran and he’s been flying for over 7 years. The views of Goreme are breathtaking and the one hour flight meant we managed to take a lot of pictures. Lots. We head back to the hostel after having some complimentary sparkling wine to have some breakfast and a little rest.

We decide to take scooters around the town in order to see some sites and maybe find some hidden treasures. Only a few of us wanted to take the risk, so the small group head over to the scooter hire place. Once there, the gentleman helping us hire the scooters informs us of his experience and that he recommends we (those who’ve never been on a scooter) should take the safe option and go with the ATV’s. After much deliberation we decide to go with the quads. Just so happens that they turn out to be more fun! Many pictures and tired limbs are the result of two hours of riding around the hilly landscape. Time, again, for a little rest and some lunch.

Dinner was organised the night before by our leader; B-B-Q with soup for starters and all for 10 TLR. Just so happens they have a decent pool table. Some beers, some bubbly and some pool. After we finish the others decide to call it a night, but I feel like having a few more drinks. I buy a bottle of vodka and let the rest head back to the hotel. After a wander around I try to find a good place to see the sunset. I missed it (somehow) so I head back to the hotel before we set off to our next destination.

7am is our set off time, stupid AM.  Ahead lies an 8 hour journey heading east into the heart of Turkey.  The drive is beautiful and scenic, however it takes a lot longer than the estimated time given in the ... [Continue reading this entry]

The last day in the capital is a late one seeing as the night before ended in the early hours of the morning.  The others head to the Grand Bazaar (Spice market) in search of some scarfs and head covers. ... [Continue reading this entry]

Task for the day: get Iranian visa.  This involves going to the embassy and waiting it out till we get all the paperwork sorted.  Lana is also in need of a visa, so we decide to meet up in the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Today will be a nine hour drive to Turkey.  Breakfast is painfully scarce and doesn't fill me with confidence, seeing as I would have to survive till we get to the border.  As we set off we are told that ... [Continue reading this entry]

The morning after the night before and the hotel greets the group with a cordoned off breakfast room. The breakfast isn't much to talk about, but the night before is, so we just have a good chat in our ... [Continue reading this entry]

Tiredness lingers as we head off in the morning.  War-torn Belgrade was overpowering with it's monuments, it's history and it's aftermath.  However, moving forward and delving deeper into the country you find that the rest of Serbia is an scenic, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Little sleep makes for a very quiet and tired bus.  At the border there is a short stop for passport checks and money exchange.  The scenery is flat and lifeless, with a mono-tonal brown wafting the surroundings.  A couple of ... [Continue reading this entry]

Our first priority of the day is shopping.  We head into town and straight to the local market, only to find that the market is closed on Sunday's.  We head along the river towards the Parliment building and find the ... [Continue reading this entry]

We manage to get a late start on day 7 as the journey isn't meant to be as long as previous travels (essential recovery time for me).  Budapest has a lot to compete with after such a great time in ... [Continue reading this entry]

A long day is in store, but I didn't know it would be longer than I had planned.  The girls and I start off in the morning with ice skating in the city centre for a couple of hours.  Lots ... [Continue reading this entry]

Yet another early start, but the prospect of two days in our next destination makes the journey more bearable.  6/7 hours drive and we arrive in Austria.  Vienna will be our home for the next two days and the hostel ... [Continue reading this entry]

Second day in Prague starts with an extra hour in bed than the normal 7am (made redundant due to the late night before).  The girls and I plan on going for a free walking tour while the guys plan for ... [Continue reading this entry]

8am and after a hefty breakfast of bread, ham and eggs we climb back on the bus and head to Prague - our first destination on the trip where we spend more than one night in.  Another 7 hour ride ... [Continue reading this entry]