Not that I ever need an excuse to go travelling but, as the school summer holidays are fast approaching, bringing with them a lack of work for me, a perfect opportunity to grab my backpack and explore a new destination has arisen. And that destination is.... Eastern Europe. Not an area that's usually high on many people's lists. It's not quite exotic enough for the gap year yet a bit off-the-beaten track for the average tourist. Despite having heard many good things about certain countries such as Bosnia and Montenegro, my masterplan for this trip arose when I realised how many links I have with the area through friends and family. I've always wanted to go and see where my Grandad grew up in Ukraine, after other family members have done previously, and I have good friends in London who've moved over from Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria. When a new friend from my yoga course opened an invitation for visits to Croatia where she is working for the summer my mind was made up! I've since also incorporated a 6th visit to the wonderful country of Switzerland to see another great friend on the way back home.
So in comparison to my last 2 trips there will be a wealth of familiar faces involved and only small amounts of time spent wandering alone. My main worry for this trip is the language barrier, with many countries using Cyrillic script that I cannot read let alone understand, and the sheer number of currencies I will go through - I'll be thankful for the Euro zone when I reach it!
My elaborate plan is as follows:
18th July - set off to Ukraine with my Dad (via Budapest airport)
19-20 July - see Kiev under the guidance of family friend Valya
21 July - arrive in Lviv to meet Oksana (my 2nd cousin) to go to Voroblachyn (my Grandad's village)
22 July - see Lviv before overnight bus to Krakow
23 July - sightseeing in Krakow before Dad flies home
24 July - Auschwitz
25 July - long bus journey to Bulgaria
26-31 July - stay with friend Gabi in Sofia and explore Bulgaria (Plovdiv, Veliko Tărnovo, Rila)
1-2 August - Belgrade (my friend Jelena's hometown who advised me not to go there but I will ignore her cynicism)
3 -8 August - Bosnia (Sarajevo to learn some history and Mostar for outdoor adventures)
9-12 August - Clelia is joining me to explore Montenegro from Kotor
13-14 August - travel together to Dubrovnik before her flight home
15-17 August - chilling in Split with Charlotte, my own personal holiday rep
18-20 August - make my way up the Croatian coast to Istria and then boat across to mooch around Venice before heading to my final stop
21-25 August - Switzerland (to see Clelia's hometown of Lausanne on Lake Geneva)
Now you know pretty much exactly where I will be, when and with whom there's no excuse for you not to jump on a Ryanair flight and come say hi!
So jealous
ReplyDelete