Today I restated this travel diary by jumping on a plane to Japan!
While the flight may have been delayed around the hours, due to an issue with engine one, I have arrived safe and well.
The food and entertainment on the flight were real highlights though, and our airbnb is David Bowie themed!!
Tomorrow, Disneyland xx
Today was my last day in Berlin, and the last day of my trip.
I really did nothing but appreciate how much this year has meant to me. The whole city is on maximum security lockdown, so there wasn't much else to do.
I am so thankful to have been able to spend the last year of my life the way I have. I have met some absolutely incredible people who have made the whole thing a million times more memorable, and I am so glad to have met every single one of them.
The one thing I have taken away, other than how incredible the world is, and how much we should appreciate this place, and the people in it, is my new motto.
Things going wrong makes for a better story.
As if the universe knew this was my motto, I barely made my flight home tonight. Turns out STA didn't actually change my booking, they just cancelled the old flight! Fortunately I made some frantic calls on a payphone and cried a lot, and the lovely people in the call centre, and the help desk at Tegal Airport in Berlin made sure I got home with just a few extra hours added to the flight.
Tomorrow, home xx
Today did not at all go as planned, and I could not be more thankful.
I had planned on going to some of the Christmas markets further from the hostel I am at, but sadly was stuck in bed all day with a migraine. The very market I had planned on spending the evening at was tragically marred by a terrorist attack - someone drove a truck into it and 9 people have died so far.
It is just so surreal. I have never been more pleased to be stuck in bed sick all day! My thoughts are really with everyone affected, and their families.
Tomorrow, actual home xx
Today I got to see a side of Berlin I didn't really understand last time I was here - it's alternative scene.
Other than the wall, I didn't realise how much this scene lived in Berlin, but I did a tour which showed some amazing street art, as well as some incredible communities that thrive in the port-divided Berlin city.
The YAAM (Young African American Market) had some amazing food and things for sale, right along the river, and there is an anarchist society living in a previously abandoned hospital complex right next to the dog park I had sat in when I was last in Berlin, that I didn't even notice!
There was one house built in "no mans land" between East and West Berlin, made of rubbish that is still standing and inhabited by its 90 year old owner!
I spent the night at the Christmas Markets. They really are the original and probably the best. They even had a Santa fly in on a suspended sleigh!
Tomorrow, exploring some different markets xx
Today was my last day in Prague, and I really have got a lot of love for this place.
I spent the morning wandering around the various Christmas markets, just looking at all of the different things on offer, including real blacksmiths making their wares in the centre of some of the stalls.
The day was cut very short by my bus though, the last of my trip, to Berlin. I am going to miss waiting for the green flixbuses to turn up! (I don't think I'll miss any of the other companies though!)
Tomorrow, seeing the alternative side of Berlin xx
Today I spent most of the day attempting to find Christmas gifts for people. I failed terribly. I am sorry to all of my family for the lack of presents!!
Despite the lack of success, I had a great day! Shopping here is amazing. The shopping centres are beautiful, the markets have some amazing things, and everything is fairly cheap!
I managed to catch an alright sunset over Charles Bridge, complete with hundreds of white swans, but the photos really didn't do it justice!
I spent the evening drinking fancy teas from an incredible underground bar in the city, Vzorkovna. Almost every building in the old town has a basement as the ground level has risen about 3-4 meters in the last millennium to help stop floods!
This place was really chill, with perches and bunks and swings made of skateboards, and a giant dog! The entrance was a broken door with caution tape, and you had to walk along an abandoned corridor to get there. Very secret, so shhh.
Tomorrow, Berlin again xx
Today was my first real day in Prague, and I totally understand the hype. It is probably one of the most beautiful European cities, and it was overcast today!
I may be biased, as a lot of the architecture is quite gothic, which I like. I spent most of the day on a walking tour of the city.
We saw most of the city centre, plus the Old Town, Jewish Quarter and the Castle Hill. My favourite was the slightly disappointing display from the Astrological Clock. Not only does it not tell the time to more than an hour, but the hourly display, which draws crowds of hundreds lasts for about 40 seconds. Classic.
The John Lennon wall was also really great. Even though The Beatles never performed at the site, for some reason, a wall from an old monastery has become a place for people to graffiti with their lyrics and ideals.
The views over the city at the end of the tour from the castle were incredible too. It didn't hurt that the guards up there were wearing hilarious hats.
I wandered around after dark again and got some great shots of one of the Christmas markets, and my favourite gothic church in the city.
Tomorrow, shopping xx
Today I ended up needing a sleep in after a few terrible roommates (all of whom were drunk, and sadly not travelling together, so all came in at different times... The worst was the guy who woke me up by sitting on my bed, causing me to scream, waking everyone else)
Instead, I caught an earlier bus to Prague, and found a computer to at least update some of the text from the days! I have been writing notes on my phone to transfer, just haven't had access to a computer, with mine broken, and some hostels charging for use.
The city is really nice though, and I think I will like it here. Going to try and get some presents for Christmas sorted here too, so if you have any ideas/requests (which I may ignore) let me know!
If you really want a quick update on some photos, check out my instagram which I have also struggled to keep updated here:
Tomorrow, exploring Prague xx
Today I got to explore Vienna, and I have to say, it lived up to expectations.
A lot of people told me that Vienna was boring, but I found it beautiful! A little on the expensive side for a lot of things, but beautiful.
I got to explore much of the centre on a walking tour in the morning, including the various places the royals live and are buried in pieces, as well as some of Mozart's haunts.
I spent the afternoon at the huge Christmas Market setup near the Rathaus, the town hall, and spent far longer than is probably appropriate watching kids skate. I don't have snow sports cover so didn't have a go myself, but as with skiing, it seems like the very young and very old are much better than everyone else.
Tomorrow, a little more of look around the city xx
Today I said goodbye to Budapest.
Even though I partied it up last night, I didn't waste today as much (surprising given the evening was calle "Jager-train") and had a last walk through Budapest before jumping on a train to Vienna.
Despite having spent what feels like a lifetime in Budapest, I still got lost getting to the bus station and almost missed by bus!
I didn't get to do much in Vienna as the sun sets so early, but it seems beautiful and I am keen to see some more of it!
Tomorrow, Vienna xx
