Ahh, Vienna. I arrived in Vienna in the afternoon. I had a couch surfer and I had worked out how to get there and nothing else. I had not looked up anything about the city, I had no idea what there was to see or do. I didn't even have a map. I made my way to my couch surfer's apartment. I soon learned that he lived in a fantastic location – walking distance to just about everywhere! The centre of town was only a 20 minute walk.
Anyway, I arrived and found my couch surfer was out, but he had other couch surfers staying with him and they let me in. They told me a bit about the situation – our couch surfing host had a beautiful large apartment, and since he worked a lot and had little time to socialise, he would just host countless couchsurfers each night to fill the place up. He would host up to 6 people every single night! All kinds of different, interesting people. I was surprised and impressed! The girls who were at the apartment pulled out a large map of the city and showed me where I was and where I should go. It was a Sunday, and apparently some museums offer free admission. One of the girls asked if I wanted to come with her, I gratefully accepted and put my things away and left. She showed me the way to get to the city, and told me a bit more about the place – things to try, places to visit. The museum was interesting, I enjoyed the paintings – they were so realistic and detailed.
Afterwards, she took me on a brief tour of the city centre, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and then went back home. When we got home, our host was back, so I was able to meet him. His name was Mikula. He was very interesting and friendly. He spent most of the time Skyping to his Spanish girlfriend, which we would endlessly tease him about. The girl I had spent the afternoon with was actually a French exchange student who had arrived in Vienna and was staying with our couchsurfer until she could move into her hall of residence. She was moving in the next day. I decided to give her a hand with all her things – she had a lot of suitcases!
The next morning we woke up early and strategised how to get all the suitcases across town to the hall of residence. The two of us struggled and battled with the 4 difficult suitcases all the way from the apartment, the 10 minute walk to the metro station, down the stairs to the metro (the lifts were out of order), onto the metro, and then off. Once safely out of the metro we worked out where we were and how to get to the building. It was another 10 minute walk. The suitcase wheels were not very good quality and they would buckle and twist as they bumped and juddered along the cobbles and curbstones. The poor suitcases were pretty beaten up by the time they reached their final destination. But, we had managed to successfully move everything to the hall of residence! She seemed happy with the apartment room, it looked great to me. I stayed with her for a little while just to have a look around and then I said goodbye and headed on my way. The hall of residence was located fairly close to one of the Palaces of Vienna. I made my way over there, strolling past little shopping strips along the way. The Palace was surrounded by a huge sprawling garden. I entered the gates and was swept up in the wonder of the place. Beautiful leafy trees lined wide pathways. There were many different parts to the garden, flower displays, grassy areas, fountains, fake Roman ruins, a bird sanctuary, a zoo, cafes, a labrynth and lots of shady benches to relax and spend some time.
After wandering the garden for a while, I made my way into the palace. It was enormous. I would have loved to do the tour of it, but it was very expensive so I sufficed with seeing the foyer and exterior. I went back to the road through the garden again. It was so wonderful. I then followed the river back into town, and stopped along the way at Cafe Sperl – a famous Viennese Kauffehaus dating back to the 1800's. Many well known people had frequented the cafe over the years, including Hitler himself when he was attempting to apply for art school in Vienna.
I had a hot chocolate and caught up on some travel planning. I love travel planning, however it is a real pain while you are actually travelling – I had to spend about 1 – 2 hours a day planning my next steps – my next city, next mode of transport, accommodation. Always pouring over calenders to see what would be the best use of my time. It was always exciting, but meant that it cut into the time I had in the place that I was currently visiting.
I finished booking a couple of flights and replied to some emails then headed back to the apartment. Three new couchsurfers arrived shortly after: a couple from Argentina, and an Israeli woman. We all got along really well and together with Mikula we went out to see the town. It was great to walk around at night – all the buildings were lit up and looked spectacular. We met up with another friend of the Argentinian couple and we headed to a kauffehaus for a late night drink and a chat. Mikula could not join us because he had a Skype date with his Spanish lady, so it was just the 5 of us. We had a great time just hanging out and telling stories over big mugs of hot chocolate.
The next day, Vered, the Israeli lady and I had made a plan to go to the Vienna opera. I had found out that you could buy standing room tickets with a great view of the stage for only 4 Euros. Now that was an opera in my budget! The only thing was that you had to go several hours early and queue up for the tickets. So, Vered and I dressed up for the opera and headed in to town to join the queue. We got there at 3.30pm. The ticket office opened at 6. There were lots of people in the line. We ended up having some great conversations with them which made the time go faster. They also gave us tips on how to get a good view of the stage. We bought our tickets and were ushered up to the standing room area. You went in and jostled to find a good position, then you would mark your spot with a scarf. Then you could leave the building until the performance started. Vered and I, and an American lady we made friends with in the line, headed out and quickly picked up a couple of things for dinner. In the spirit of the Opera they bought cheese, chocolate and champagne. In the spirit of my budget, I bought one large carrot.
The opera was La Traviata. It was performed in a very modern way with minimal sets and simple costumes. I was so disappointed. I wanted to see an opera with all the traditional glamour and opulence! The standing room area that we were in did have a great view of the stage, but it was very hot and rather uncomfortable, so at half time we decided that we had had the experience and were ready to leave. So we left and ended up sitting outside watching the ending of the opera on a large screen which they had set up outside as part of a special Vienna cultural festival.
The next morning the Argentinian couple, Vered, and I went and had a picnic in a local park. It was great. We brought all sorts of food – breads, fruits, yogurt and cereals. Later that morning Vered and I found out that the opera on that night was Carmen. We decided to give it another go. This time, we decided not to get standing room seats, we would just set up a nice spot outside and watch it on the big screen. We sat there and watched the first part. It was fabulous – full costumes and detailed sets just as I had dreamed of! At the end of the first act we had an idea. We stood up and rushed to the front doors of the opera. We watched for any people coming out and we asked them if they were leaving, and if they were, we asked if we could have their tickets. As luck would have it, two guys were leaving, so we got their tickets. They were standing room tickets, but we didn't mind – we had another idea. We found our way to the mezzanine floor and went around asking the people in the opera boxes if there were any free seats in their box. Unfortunately all the ones we asked were full. We found one that had some space, but it had a terrible view of the stage. So we went up to the standing room up in the gallery and managed to find some empty seats in the front row. We sat down and watched the end of the opera from there. It was great!
We were looking at each other in surprise and amusement over how we managed to talk our way into the opera. After the opera, we went back to the apartment and met another couchsurfer who had just arrived. All of us had a fun time hanging out, talking and laughing. It felt like a big couchsurfing family!
The next morning it was time for me to leave. It was almost a shame to be leaving! I really loved the people I had met in Vienna. I packed up my things and said a big goodbye to everyone. I found my way to the bus station (which was a rather difficult feat) and boarded my bus to Prague. The bus was very luxurious – each seat had a screen like on a plane and there was even a hostess who would hand out free snacks and drinks! As the city blurred away into fields and plains, I settled into my seat and watched a Jane Austen movie while sipping a hot chocolate.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
5 Things I Carry With Me At All Times
- A toothbrush and kiddie toothpaste. Why the kiddie
toothpaste? Because it is designed so that it is not harmful if
swallowed. So if you are stuck somewhere and have little or no water
and don't really have a place to spit out your toothpaste, you can
safely swallow it. Hey, its not glamourous but it sure comes in
handy!
- Raisins and Almonds. The perfect afternoon pick-me-up, the
perfect snack if you miss out on a meal. Raisins and almonds are
pretty much the overall perfect travel foods.
- A box full of bandaids and rolled up toilet paper. You never
know when you are going to need them!
- A scarf. So many uses, so many functions, so many
circumstances.
- A spoon, fork and knife. The amount of times I have needed to
use them! They are worth their weight in gold! You can't guess the
amount of times I have kicked myself for not having them on me –
well actually, only twice because I learned my lesson and now I
ALWAYS carry them with me!
The Manual on Traveling on a Ridiculously Tight Budget
I was thinking the other day that with all my crazy travel experiences, I am now qualified enough to write the manual of travelling cheaply! If anyone is interested in how I save money and still get to travel the world missing out on nothing, I am opening up all my secrets, rules that I follow, and tips! Here we go!
Preparation for a Trip
One big thing I have learned is that travel is not dependent on having a highly paid job. Travel is a choice. You can have a very low paying job and then build your lifestyle around saving for travel. I can attest to that! When I was working as an au pair in Switzerland for one month, I saved everything I earned and only spend $5 the entire month, and now I am living off this money while I travel! Granted, as an au pair, my food and board were already covered as part of my job so I didn't need to spend anything on that, but it's testament that no matter how much or little you make, travel is a choice you make. So instead of thinking about how much money you need for each travel day and then feeling overwhelmed at the thought of reaching such a sum, look at the amount you already have and then divide it by the amount of travel days, then you know what your budget is. The more money you can save, the higher your daily amount will be. But no matter what your daily amount is, there is still a possibility to travel on it.
Take Everything You Need
Take everything with you, so you do not need to buy things along the way. It makes your bag a little heavier but I always can rest easy knowing that I do not need to keep buying things, and when travelling in places where shops are far away or close really early at least I always have comfort knowing I have all I need.
Depend on The Lord
I don't mean to preach here on my blog, but the truth is, there is no way that I could travel on a budget without the guidance, protection and provision of the Lord. There were several times when I was a little concerned about how I would pay for everything, so I would just pray and cast all my fears upon the Lord, and He would always make a way for me. Either I would be miraculously given money, or I would find things on sale or at a cheaper price than expected, or someone would simply give me whatever I needed (without me even asking). I cannot travel without the Lord!!!!
Do Not Buy Things
Really! Do not buy things! Just buy food! I didn't even buy postcards on my trip, except for one or two which I bought when trying to use up the last remaining cents of one currency before leaving the country. I bought nothing. No souvenirs, not even a pencil. I only bought the absolute essentials - and even then I would prioritise and consider everything.
Walk
To save on public transport costs, you just need to walk. Everywhere. Anything in a 3 hour radius I would consider walk-able.
Eat Nutritiously
Preparation for a Trip
One big thing I have learned is that travel is not dependent on having a highly paid job. Travel is a choice. You can have a very low paying job and then build your lifestyle around saving for travel. I can attest to that! When I was working as an au pair in Switzerland for one month, I saved everything I earned and only spend $5 the entire month, and now I am living off this money while I travel! Granted, as an au pair, my food and board were already covered as part of my job so I didn't need to spend anything on that, but it's testament that no matter how much or little you make, travel is a choice you make. So instead of thinking about how much money you need for each travel day and then feeling overwhelmed at the thought of reaching such a sum, look at the amount you already have and then divide it by the amount of travel days, then you know what your budget is. The more money you can save, the higher your daily amount will be. But no matter what your daily amount is, there is still a possibility to travel on it.
Take Everything You Need
Take everything with you, so you do not need to buy things along the way. It makes your bag a little heavier but I always can rest easy knowing that I do not need to keep buying things, and when travelling in places where shops are far away or close really early at least I always have comfort knowing I have all I need.
Depend on The Lord
I don't mean to preach here on my blog, but the truth is, there is no way that I could travel on a budget without the guidance, protection and provision of the Lord. There were several times when I was a little concerned about how I would pay for everything, so I would just pray and cast all my fears upon the Lord, and He would always make a way for me. Either I would be miraculously given money, or I would find things on sale or at a cheaper price than expected, or someone would simply give me whatever I needed (without me even asking). I cannot travel without the Lord!!!!
Do Not Buy Things
Really! Do not buy things! Just buy food! I didn't even buy postcards on my trip, except for one or two which I bought when trying to use up the last remaining cents of one currency before leaving the country. I bought nothing. No souvenirs, not even a pencil. I only bought the absolute essentials - and even then I would prioritise and consider everything.
Walk
To save on public transport costs, you just need to walk. Everywhere. Anything in a 3 hour radius I would consider walk-able.
Eat Nutritiously
Candy, chocolate, cakes, pastries - they are all readily available and tend to be super cheap! Yes they can fit into my budget, but they provide no nourishment and nutrition for endurance! So I was very strict on what I would buy. If I was tempted to buy something unhealthy, I would really stand there in the supermarket and weigh up the cost. Not just the financial cost, but also the cost on my body. Then I would put it back on the shelf and instead go and buy an apple or something. My main travelling diet would consist of bread, fruit (mostly bananas, apples and nectarines), vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes), cheese, yoghurt, sliced ham and canned corn.... yes, I have to admit, I would eat some strange things, and canned corn would be my go-to fast food meal. I would sometimes just eat it straight from the can! Sometimes I would just buy a large carrot and have that for my dinner. Travelling makes strange things acceptable.
Couch Surf
I was able to couch surf for almost 90% of my trip. It meant that I only had to pay for accommodation for 1 week out of 2 months. But couchsurfing was so much more valuable to me than saved accommodation costs. Through couch surfing I stayed with locals in virtually every place that I went to, and it meant that in every place I had an immediate friend and expert to show me around, to hang out with, and to learn from. I met so many incredible people through couch surfing. I went to places that I would never have known about and experienced things that I never would have been able to experience if I were staying in a hostel.
Interact with People
If it wasn't for the kindness of strangers on my trip I would not have got very far at all. You have to be bold and outgoing and really make an effort to meet people and get to know them, which can be exhausting, but wow, the generosity that I experienced was incredible.People would buy me food, pay for my entrance into museums and shows, pay for my bus tickets, make me lunches and dinners, give me things. People would spend time with me, teach me things, tell me the history of things, and even share their personal stories with me. It was amazing. Very quickly you learn that locations and places are pretty much all the same, but it is the people who are important, unique and interesting.
Couch Surf
I was able to couch surf for almost 90% of my trip. It meant that I only had to pay for accommodation for 1 week out of 2 months. But couchsurfing was so much more valuable to me than saved accommodation costs. Through couch surfing I stayed with locals in virtually every place that I went to, and it meant that in every place I had an immediate friend and expert to show me around, to hang out with, and to learn from. I met so many incredible people through couch surfing. I went to places that I would never have known about and experienced things that I never would have been able to experience if I were staying in a hostel.
Interact with People
If it wasn't for the kindness of strangers on my trip I would not have got very far at all. You have to be bold and outgoing and really make an effort to meet people and get to know them, which can be exhausting, but wow, the generosity that I experienced was incredible.People would buy me food, pay for my entrance into museums and shows, pay for my bus tickets, make me lunches and dinners, give me things. People would spend time with me, teach me things, tell me the history of things, and even share their personal stories with me. It was amazing. Very quickly you learn that locations and places are pretty much all the same, but it is the people who are important, unique and interesting.
Travel Rants
After being on the road for a while, as much as I love travelling - and believe me, I do - there would be certain things that would partially irritate me, and so, in the name of good humour and the spirit of sharing, I thought I would write down my Travel Rants.
Travel Rant 1 - Item Availability
While travelling through each city/country, I would always shop at the local supermarket (someone on my budget is not able to eat out at a restaurant!). I would tend to get accustomed to the foods to expect at the supermarket and I developed my favourites. Unfortunately, I would then take for granted its availability and feel very deflated upon realising my new destination do not sell it! My favourites included Ovalmaltine Chocolate in Switzerland (probably just as well that I didn't find it elsewhere for my health's sake!); and my all-time go-to favourite yoghurt with muesli already mixed inside. I was able to find it in most places, but the places where I could not find it I was left with a big hole in my daily eating schedule! It was a full meal and soothing on the throat. I was thrilled when I was able to find it again in another country later on in my trip.
Travel Rant 2 - Harem Pants
Somewhere in the grey area between a skirt and pants exist these hideous things. At best it looks like a long skirt gone wrong, at worst they look like pyjama pants. They tend to be worn by the female version of the 'enlightened' Rastafarian influenced vagabond traveller, whose hair has not touched shampoo or a comb in a decade, and who is always covered in a light dusting of dirt and grime. You know the ones, they no longer feel the need to wear shoes. Harem pants are also popular with elderly Middle Eastern women.
Travel Rant 3 - Traveller Dialogue
"Hello, how are you? Where are you from?"
I was in Turkey and to be friendly (and sometimes in an effort to sell their goods) people were constantly, constantly asking me these questions. And it really irritated me because I knew that really they were not interested in what I was answering, they just wanted to practice their English or to try and befriend me in order to sell me goods. Sometimes I would feel charitable and I would answer, then they would answer "Ahh, New Zealand, that is so far. How is it there?" - to which I would quickly answer "It is good, you should go and see for yourself" and then walk off.
Sometimes I would just ignore these people, but I did not really want to be rude, and I realised it was some of my only chances to talk with locals, so sometimes to make it interesting for myself, I would just make up all sorts of different stories. I would give them a quizzical look and then respond in French and pretend I knew no English. Other times I would make up some country, talk Maori or do any number of things.
Travel Rant 4 - Local Markets
I absolutely love local markets. The produce is fresh, you get to mingle with the locals - it really is the best. But whenever you go there and they notice that you are foreign, they will hike the prices enormously. Or else they can only tell you the price in their language, so I have no idea of what it costs. At least at the supermarket the price is always fair, and you can see what you need to pay on the little screen at the cashier. I tried time and time again to shop in the market, but I grew annoyed at always ending up being overcharged, so in the end I would just visit the market but then go to the supermarket to buy my food.
Travel Rant 1 - Item Availability
While travelling through each city/country, I would always shop at the local supermarket (someone on my budget is not able to eat out at a restaurant!). I would tend to get accustomed to the foods to expect at the supermarket and I developed my favourites. Unfortunately, I would then take for granted its availability and feel very deflated upon realising my new destination do not sell it! My favourites included Ovalmaltine Chocolate in Switzerland (probably just as well that I didn't find it elsewhere for my health's sake!); and my all-time go-to favourite yoghurt with muesli already mixed inside. I was able to find it in most places, but the places where I could not find it I was left with a big hole in my daily eating schedule! It was a full meal and soothing on the throat. I was thrilled when I was able to find it again in another country later on in my trip.
Travel Rant 2 - Harem Pants
Somewhere in the grey area between a skirt and pants exist these hideous things. At best it looks like a long skirt gone wrong, at worst they look like pyjama pants. They tend to be worn by the female version of the 'enlightened' Rastafarian influenced vagabond traveller, whose hair has not touched shampoo or a comb in a decade, and who is always covered in a light dusting of dirt and grime. You know the ones, they no longer feel the need to wear shoes. Harem pants are also popular with elderly Middle Eastern women.
Travel Rant 3 - Traveller Dialogue
"Hello, how are you? Where are you from?"
I was in Turkey and to be friendly (and sometimes in an effort to sell their goods) people were constantly, constantly asking me these questions. And it really irritated me because I knew that really they were not interested in what I was answering, they just wanted to practice their English or to try and befriend me in order to sell me goods. Sometimes I would feel charitable and I would answer, then they would answer "Ahh, New Zealand, that is so far. How is it there?" - to which I would quickly answer "It is good, you should go and see for yourself" and then walk off.
Sometimes I would just ignore these people, but I did not really want to be rude, and I realised it was some of my only chances to talk with locals, so sometimes to make it interesting for myself, I would just make up all sorts of different stories. I would give them a quizzical look and then respond in French and pretend I knew no English. Other times I would make up some country, talk Maori or do any number of things.
Travel Rant 4 - Local Markets
I absolutely love local markets. The produce is fresh, you get to mingle with the locals - it really is the best. But whenever you go there and they notice that you are foreign, they will hike the prices enormously. Or else they can only tell you the price in their language, so I have no idea of what it costs. At least at the supermarket the price is always fair, and you can see what you need to pay on the little screen at the cashier. I tried time and time again to shop in the market, but I grew annoyed at always ending up being overcharged, so in the end I would just visit the market but then go to the supermarket to buy my food.
Eschenbach, Austria - the Austrian Countryside
The moment I landed in Vienna, I suddenly realized that I had not specifically decided on a place to meet my friend Manu, who had driven 1 1/2 hours just to pick me up. I grabbed my bag and walked into the arrival area of the airport. I couldn't see Manu anywhere, and I wondered if she was stuck in traffic or waiting for me somewhere else in the airport. A few minutes passed and then I spotted her coming towards me! What a great feeling to see her again. I met Manu while we were Au pairs in Seattle. She had suggested that I come to visit in her home town in Austria, and always being one to keep my word, I had arrived!
She drove us the 1 1/2 hours to get to her house and we had a well deserved catch up on all life's events! We pulled up to her house and I was feeling so tired from travelling. I walked into the door and I saw that she had made my bed and had a little welcoming present for me and had beautifully laid out a towel for me. I felt so welcomed that I was almost overcome with emotion! It was the best sight in the world when arriving at a new place. I slept so soundly.
The next morning over breakfast I caught up with Manu and her mother (who I had briefly met in Seattle), and her mother's friend. They live in a beautiful old farmhouse in the middle of the country. The house is interesting in design because from the roadside it is a large plain wall with a massive door. You open the door and there is a courtyard with four different conjoined buildings facing in. To the right was the main farmhouse where Manu's mother lived and where the kitchen and washing room etc was, but to the left of the courtyard Many had her own small house which had two rooms and a toilet, and across the courtyard was a stable and another house - a fully functional house where Manu's brother lived with his wife and three children. This type of building is very common in the Austrian farming communities, and I suppose it goes back to the time when farmhands would live in the complex with the farmer's family. Now, is a great way for these small towns to retain their young people, because they can have their own space living right beside their parents in their very own house.
Manu had arranged many things for us to do. We spent the morning walking around her town, even visiting a small, picturesque lake near her house. We walked home in time for a wonderful homemade meal that her mother had prepared. In Austria, traditionally lunch is the main meal of the day, so we had soup and then a main course of mashed potatoes, meatballs and salad (freshly picked from the garden!). It seemed like Manu's mother had been cooking all morning! (And she wouldn't even let me do the dishes!)
That afternoon we went to a nearby town and enjoyed ice cream in the sunshine. The town had a fountain designed by distinctive architect Hundertwasser, famous for his use of curvature and colour and who had also designed the public toilets in KawaKawa, New Zealand. We went on to a bear sanctuary that housed around 5 rescued bears that had been used and abused in Eastern Europe and Russia. The enclosures they had created for the bears were fantastic, and there were lots of hands on activities around the place for children to learn from.
After the bear sanctuary, Manu took me to the most interesting place. It was a small village which had been occupied by Hitler before WWII began. They used it as a military training site. They had basically kicked out all the villagers. The village was left empty for decades afterwards. We drove up as far as we could then continued on foot. The whole area seems off limits, and signs warn trespassers of legal prosecution – the signs specified that even the painting of pictures was prohibited. Unperturbed, we continued on. The village was now just a shell, just a few ruins of what once had been. We saw thick exterior walls which had been a school and other foundations. The only building that was standing was the church. It was eerie and completely empty inside. Not even a pew. To the back of the church was a graveyard. We walked around the graveyard and we walked around the church. Now, I am not one to feel scared, however, even I have to admit that there was something very strange about that place. It felt very very cold. It was a very peculiar feeling. However, that didn't stop us from trying to open the church doors to take a look inside. We found an opened door on the side and we stepped in. It was very still and quiet. A thick layer of white powdery dust coated the floor. There were a few debris around, a broken chair, an old broom – but apart from that it was completely empty. It felt very strange inside. I briefly walked around and then I was ready to leave. We quickly exited the door and made our way back to the car. We both looked at each other and described how we were feeling. We had both felt very cold and strange at that place. I don't know what the Nazis had done there, nor what the passage of time had stripped from that village, but I can tell you now I have never felt that way about a place before.
We drove away into a stunning sunset, feeling quite relieved to be leaving! We got home exhausted from a day of sightseeing and got into our pyjamas and watched movies all night.
The next morning, after a lovely breakfast of fresh fruits and breads, Manu took me to a cemetry of German soldiers from WWII. It was strange to be walking on the graves of Nazis. I couldn't help but think of all the inhuman things they inflicted on others, but at the same time I had mercy on them as well because they were victims too.
Manu then drove us to a large hill, which we climbed. It was an amazing view from the top, you could see for miles. We stopped there and had some soup for lunch. Manu took me to so many places. She drove for miles and miles! We visited all these interesting places – the largest egg house in the world, a motel made of beer barrels – all nestled in amongst a peaceful woodland scene. It was so lovely. We stopped by one more place – a beautiful lake, where we just lay on rocks and spoke of life and the future. Then we tore ourselves away and visited another city that afternoon and visited a castle and had a nice bakery treat, then a drink in an upmarket bar.
When we got home we decided to do another movie night – it was just what I felt like! We snuggled up in our beds with some chocolate and laughed and laughed. It was such a great chance to hang out and relax! I loved it.
The next day was time for me to go. I begrudgingly packed up all my things into my bag (Manu's mother had very kindly washed and folded all my laundry!) and said goodbye. Manu drove me all the way to Stockerau where I caught a train on to Vienna. I was so thrilled that I had gone and visited Manu, it was another experience of mindboggling generosity and also just plain fun!
She drove us the 1 1/2 hours to get to her house and we had a well deserved catch up on all life's events! We pulled up to her house and I was feeling so tired from travelling. I walked into the door and I saw that she had made my bed and had a little welcoming present for me and had beautifully laid out a towel for me. I felt so welcomed that I was almost overcome with emotion! It was the best sight in the world when arriving at a new place. I slept so soundly.
The next morning over breakfast I caught up with Manu and her mother (who I had briefly met in Seattle), and her mother's friend. They live in a beautiful old farmhouse in the middle of the country. The house is interesting in design because from the roadside it is a large plain wall with a massive door. You open the door and there is a courtyard with four different conjoined buildings facing in. To the right was the main farmhouse where Manu's mother lived and where the kitchen and washing room etc was, but to the left of the courtyard Many had her own small house which had two rooms and a toilet, and across the courtyard was a stable and another house - a fully functional house where Manu's brother lived with his wife and three children. This type of building is very common in the Austrian farming communities, and I suppose it goes back to the time when farmhands would live in the complex with the farmer's family. Now, is a great way for these small towns to retain their young people, because they can have their own space living right beside their parents in their very own house.
Manu had arranged many things for us to do. We spent the morning walking around her town, even visiting a small, picturesque lake near her house. We walked home in time for a wonderful homemade meal that her mother had prepared. In Austria, traditionally lunch is the main meal of the day, so we had soup and then a main course of mashed potatoes, meatballs and salad (freshly picked from the garden!). It seemed like Manu's mother had been cooking all morning! (And she wouldn't even let me do the dishes!)
That afternoon we went to a nearby town and enjoyed ice cream in the sunshine. The town had a fountain designed by distinctive architect Hundertwasser, famous for his use of curvature and colour and who had also designed the public toilets in KawaKawa, New Zealand. We went on to a bear sanctuary that housed around 5 rescued bears that had been used and abused in Eastern Europe and Russia. The enclosures they had created for the bears were fantastic, and there were lots of hands on activities around the place for children to learn from.
After the bear sanctuary, Manu took me to the most interesting place. It was a small village which had been occupied by Hitler before WWII began. They used it as a military training site. They had basically kicked out all the villagers. The village was left empty for decades afterwards. We drove up as far as we could then continued on foot. The whole area seems off limits, and signs warn trespassers of legal prosecution – the signs specified that even the painting of pictures was prohibited. Unperturbed, we continued on. The village was now just a shell, just a few ruins of what once had been. We saw thick exterior walls which had been a school and other foundations. The only building that was standing was the church. It was eerie and completely empty inside. Not even a pew. To the back of the church was a graveyard. We walked around the graveyard and we walked around the church. Now, I am not one to feel scared, however, even I have to admit that there was something very strange about that place. It felt very very cold. It was a very peculiar feeling. However, that didn't stop us from trying to open the church doors to take a look inside. We found an opened door on the side and we stepped in. It was very still and quiet. A thick layer of white powdery dust coated the floor. There were a few debris around, a broken chair, an old broom – but apart from that it was completely empty. It felt very strange inside. I briefly walked around and then I was ready to leave. We quickly exited the door and made our way back to the car. We both looked at each other and described how we were feeling. We had both felt very cold and strange at that place. I don't know what the Nazis had done there, nor what the passage of time had stripped from that village, but I can tell you now I have never felt that way about a place before.
We drove away into a stunning sunset, feeling quite relieved to be leaving! We got home exhausted from a day of sightseeing and got into our pyjamas and watched movies all night.
The next morning, after a lovely breakfast of fresh fruits and breads, Manu took me to a cemetry of German soldiers from WWII. It was strange to be walking on the graves of Nazis. I couldn't help but think of all the inhuman things they inflicted on others, but at the same time I had mercy on them as well because they were victims too.
Manu then drove us to a large hill, which we climbed. It was an amazing view from the top, you could see for miles. We stopped there and had some soup for lunch. Manu took me to so many places. She drove for miles and miles! We visited all these interesting places – the largest egg house in the world, a motel made of beer barrels – all nestled in amongst a peaceful woodland scene. It was so lovely. We stopped by one more place – a beautiful lake, where we just lay on rocks and spoke of life and the future. Then we tore ourselves away and visited another city that afternoon and visited a castle and had a nice bakery treat, then a drink in an upmarket bar.
When we got home we decided to do another movie night – it was just what I felt like! We snuggled up in our beds with some chocolate and laughed and laughed. It was such a great chance to hang out and relax! I loved it.
The next day was time for me to go. I begrudgingly packed up all my things into my bag (Manu's mother had very kindly washed and folded all my laundry!) and said goodbye. Manu drove me all the way to Stockerau where I caught a train on to Vienna. I was so thrilled that I had gone and visited Manu, it was another experience of mindboggling generosity and also just plain fun!
A Day in Brussels
I had arranged to spend a few hours in Brussels – it was the only chance I would get to visit Belgium and I wanted to make the most of it. I arrived from my flight from Madrid and immediately set off to the train station. I got a shock because everything was very expensive! In Spain the prices were much much lower and I had grown accustomed to them – I nearly cancelled my plans to visit the city when I found out the price of the train ticket! (It probably was a fair price, but for me it felt very expensive!). But, I had come all this way and this was my one chance, so I swallowed my stubborn pride and boarded the train.
I arrived downtown and I had no map and no idea where things were. I decided to just take a walk and see where I ended up. So I walked and discovered quaint little shops. I stopped into a couple of chocolate shops and scouted for free samples – they were delicious. I finally found myself in the main town square. I saw a tourist information centre, I went in and tried to acquire a map but you had to pay for it. After paying for my train ticket I was not about to shell out for a map just for a few hours. I walked out of the office, disgusted. Unsure of what to do just next, I took out my camera and took a few photos. Suddenly, right in front of me I noticed a group of people advertising free walking tours. I spoke to them and asked if I could join. We began the tour a few minutes later, with a group of 15 or 20 of us. It was just what I needed! An answered prayer! Our tour guide took us to all the important places and gave us a background on them all. It was also interesting talking to the other people on the tour – I ended up speaking to a retired teacher who also worked with special needs children. There was another New Zealander on the tour as well – it was strange to hear the accent!
We stopped at the famous Mannequin Pis – the statue of a small boy peeing. And boy, was it small! I always thought that it was much larger, but no, it is only small. They even employ someone to make little outfits for him and they dress him up for certain occasions and themes. He was naked when we visited though!
After a couple of hours we finished up and we were asked to give our tour guide a tip. I couldn't really afford much, but I was glad to tip him since the tour had really made my visit! I headed off and got some lunch before heading back to the airport. I bought a waffle from and had a banana with it! I even broke my own rules and bought a chocolate bar, just to say I had eaten Belgium chocolate in Belgium!
I got back to the airport and checked in for my next flight. While scanning my hand luggage they found my Swiss army knife (which Madrid airport had not picked up and I had forgotten was in my bag). They confiscated it off me. I was so devastated at losing my precious knife that I cried! I knew that I would not be going back to Switzerland to get another one, and I had already lost my first knife! It was a real shame. I cannot say that I had the best day ever in Brussels, but I did learn a lot and enjoyed myself.
I arrived downtown and I had no map and no idea where things were. I decided to just take a walk and see where I ended up. So I walked and discovered quaint little shops. I stopped into a couple of chocolate shops and scouted for free samples – they were delicious. I finally found myself in the main town square. I saw a tourist information centre, I went in and tried to acquire a map but you had to pay for it. After paying for my train ticket I was not about to shell out for a map just for a few hours. I walked out of the office, disgusted. Unsure of what to do just next, I took out my camera and took a few photos. Suddenly, right in front of me I noticed a group of people advertising free walking tours. I spoke to them and asked if I could join. We began the tour a few minutes later, with a group of 15 or 20 of us. It was just what I needed! An answered prayer! Our tour guide took us to all the important places and gave us a background on them all. It was also interesting talking to the other people on the tour – I ended up speaking to a retired teacher who also worked with special needs children. There was another New Zealander on the tour as well – it was strange to hear the accent!
We stopped at the famous Mannequin Pis – the statue of a small boy peeing. And boy, was it small! I always thought that it was much larger, but no, it is only small. They even employ someone to make little outfits for him and they dress him up for certain occasions and themes. He was naked when we visited though!
After a couple of hours we finished up and we were asked to give our tour guide a tip. I couldn't really afford much, but I was glad to tip him since the tour had really made my visit! I headed off and got some lunch before heading back to the airport. I bought a waffle from and had a banana with it! I even broke my own rules and bought a chocolate bar, just to say I had eaten Belgium chocolate in Belgium!
I got back to the airport and checked in for my next flight. While scanning my hand luggage they found my Swiss army knife (which Madrid airport had not picked up and I had forgotten was in my bag). They confiscated it off me. I was so devastated at losing my precious knife that I cried! I knew that I would not be going back to Switzerland to get another one, and I had already lost my first knife! It was a real shame. I cannot say that I had the best day ever in Brussels, but I did learn a lot and enjoyed myself.
Madrid, Spain
My story with Madrid began with the search for a couch surfer to stay with. I had sent out a tonne of requests but everyone was away on holiday! I quickly learned that most people do not choose to spend their holiday in Madrid! I was running out of time to find a couch, then I got a message from a lady saying that she could not host me because she was out of town, but her husband and children were still at home so I could stay with them. I was eternally grateful. She said that they would meet me at the bus station with a sign with my name on it. I was blown away.
However, when I was on the bus to Madrid, we ended up running quite late. When we finally arrived I was unsure if they would have stayed around or not – and without internet I had no way of contacting them to find out. So I prayed and then gathered my bags and walked into the arrival room at the bus station. I looked around for any signs with my name. None. But then, out of the blue a man and his grown up son approached me and asked if I was Gina! It was my couch surfers! I was delighted and so thankful. They immediately took my bags and walked me to the car. They drove me through the city and pointed out landmarks to me on the way back home.
We arrived at their apartment and they showed me my room. They were incredible hosts – right away they gave me the WiFi password, a towel to have a shower and gave me a nice cold drink. I had a shower and changed, and then I was able to properly meet the family. So there was the father, in his early 50s, and then the two sons – the eldest, Toni, was 28, the younger, Carlos, was 25. The boys took me to the local park and showed me around the neighbourhood. We stopped for tapas and a drink. The boys were really fascinating to talk to – they did a lot of volunteer work, were involved in improvisation theatre, played musical instruments, were well travelled, and had very interesting jobs.
Carlos said that he had the week off and would be able to show me around Madrid the next day. I was so glad! The next morning the boys and the father had arranged to have breakfast at a local cafe with their grandmother. They said that I was welcome to join them too, so we set off altogether the next morning. The grandmother was lovely – she spoke no English but we had a good time altogether anyway. I had a Spanish dish of hot chocolate and fried dough – you would dip the dough into the hot chocolate and then eat it. The dough was similar to churros – the Spanish donut, except it was slightly thicker and named porras. After breakfast I said goodbye to their grandmother and Carlos and I took the metro into town.
He showed me many different buildings and places of significance. He knew a lot of history of the place which was great. It was a very hot day so every now and then we would stop for a cold drink. We walked through a park and sat for a while on some grass under the shade of a bridge. He suggested some things for me to see the following day. He would not be able to show me around, but told me how to get there. Then we had a Madrid favourite for lunch – a deep fried calamari sandwich. It was actually pretty tasty! That evening we got back and Carlos wasn't feeling well (luckily it wasn't the calamari sandwich) so I spent the evening chatting and sharing music with Toni. When Carlos felt better the three of us spent the rest of the night watching hilarious YouTube videos until we were exhausted from laughing.
The next morning I set off on my own. I had mapped out an itinerary from the suggestions that Carlos and his dad had given me. I visited several different parks – they were very beautiful and lush. In one of the parks I decided to have a picnic (with some delicious nectarines!) then I took a 2 hour siesta under a lovely tree. It was bliss! Later that afternoon I visited art galleries and other places of interest. Then I stopped into a supermarket and bought up a few items to make a salad for the family for dinner. We had another enjoyable night. I spent some time talking with Carlos and his father. His father told me many different stories of his travels around Europe and India. It was amazing. Carlos played us some songs he had composed on the guitar and then we all watched the football. I was flying out early the next morning, and Carlos kindly offered to take me. So at 4 in the morning I got up and loaded my things into the car and Carlos dropped me at the airport. It was the beginning of my busy day – I had breakfast in Madrid, lunch in Brussels and dinner in Vienna!
However, when I was on the bus to Madrid, we ended up running quite late. When we finally arrived I was unsure if they would have stayed around or not – and without internet I had no way of contacting them to find out. So I prayed and then gathered my bags and walked into the arrival room at the bus station. I looked around for any signs with my name. None. But then, out of the blue a man and his grown up son approached me and asked if I was Gina! It was my couch surfers! I was delighted and so thankful. They immediately took my bags and walked me to the car. They drove me through the city and pointed out landmarks to me on the way back home.
We arrived at their apartment and they showed me my room. They were incredible hosts – right away they gave me the WiFi password, a towel to have a shower and gave me a nice cold drink. I had a shower and changed, and then I was able to properly meet the family. So there was the father, in his early 50s, and then the two sons – the eldest, Toni, was 28, the younger, Carlos, was 25. The boys took me to the local park and showed me around the neighbourhood. We stopped for tapas and a drink. The boys were really fascinating to talk to – they did a lot of volunteer work, were involved in improvisation theatre, played musical instruments, were well travelled, and had very interesting jobs.
Carlos said that he had the week off and would be able to show me around Madrid the next day. I was so glad! The next morning the boys and the father had arranged to have breakfast at a local cafe with their grandmother. They said that I was welcome to join them too, so we set off altogether the next morning. The grandmother was lovely – she spoke no English but we had a good time altogether anyway. I had a Spanish dish of hot chocolate and fried dough – you would dip the dough into the hot chocolate and then eat it. The dough was similar to churros – the Spanish donut, except it was slightly thicker and named porras. After breakfast I said goodbye to their grandmother and Carlos and I took the metro into town.
He showed me many different buildings and places of significance. He knew a lot of history of the place which was great. It was a very hot day so every now and then we would stop for a cold drink. We walked through a park and sat for a while on some grass under the shade of a bridge. He suggested some things for me to see the following day. He would not be able to show me around, but told me how to get there. Then we had a Madrid favourite for lunch – a deep fried calamari sandwich. It was actually pretty tasty! That evening we got back and Carlos wasn't feeling well (luckily it wasn't the calamari sandwich) so I spent the evening chatting and sharing music with Toni. When Carlos felt better the three of us spent the rest of the night watching hilarious YouTube videos until we were exhausted from laughing.
The next morning I set off on my own. I had mapped out an itinerary from the suggestions that Carlos and his dad had given me. I visited several different parks – they were very beautiful and lush. In one of the parks I decided to have a picnic (with some delicious nectarines!) then I took a 2 hour siesta under a lovely tree. It was bliss! Later that afternoon I visited art galleries and other places of interest. Then I stopped into a supermarket and bought up a few items to make a salad for the family for dinner. We had another enjoyable night. I spent some time talking with Carlos and his father. His father told me many different stories of his travels around Europe and India. It was amazing. Carlos played us some songs he had composed on the guitar and then we all watched the football. I was flying out early the next morning, and Carlos kindly offered to take me. So at 4 in the morning I got up and loaded my things into the car and Carlos dropped me at the airport. It was the beginning of my busy day – I had breakfast in Madrid, lunch in Brussels and dinner in Vienna!
I was sad to leave Spain. I had met such amazing people in Barcelona and Madrid. Very warm, hospitable and friendly. I loved the fruit and vegetables, the landscape and the lifestyle. I would love to come back to Spain, and to visit Portugal next time too.
Barcelona, Spain
And so there I was at 11pm sitting in a kebab house in Barcelona Spain, surrounded by a small crowd of people, eating durum rolls and watching soccer (Barcelona vs Malaga). And really, the amazement that I felt then pretty much sums up my entire time in Barcelona – it was like some incredible dream that I never woke up from!
I had a Spanish friend, Anna, who I met while I was an Au pair in Seattle, she brought my car off me when I left. She had said to me that if I was ever to visit Barcelona I could stay with her family. So I decided to take her up on her offer. However, at the time when I would be visiting, her parents were actually in Seattle visiting her! But she arranged instead for me to stay with her brother who also lives in Barcelona. He had recently visited Seattle, and although I had already left Seattle when he visited, he and Anna had gone travelling in my car, so there was a strange connection there!
I arrived in Barcelona just before 6am after taking the overnight bus from Marseille. Xavier was going to meet me at 8am. I killed some time sitting on a park bench then made my way to our meeting point. He was right on time and he told me that he had shown a few people around the city, and had developed a route for us to follow. I was taken aback and gladly followed!
The route he had developed led us all the way through the city, stopping by every single point of interest. We went to train stations, old bull fighting rings, and saw all the famous buildings that Gaudi designed. We saw the Sagrada Familia church – the most famous unfinished church in the world. We went down the shopping streets, to the parks, to the old city gates, to the olympic stadiums, to art galleries, down the funicular, up streets and into alleyways. We came across hidden squares where historical massacres had taken place. We walk, walk, walked all over that city! We stopped for pizza for lunch, and later for an Horchata drink – rice milk with vanilla and cinnamon.
Everything I had wanted to see in Barcelona I saw, in one day, on foot. It was incredible! In the evening I was exhausted. We met up with Xavier's girlfriend Sandra, and had a lovely meal of tapas sitting outside a small cafe. We then drove an hour out of the city to a town called El Vendrell, where Xavier and Anna's parents live.
Xavier and Sandra had to go to a family lunch there the next day, so we all stayed the night there to make it easier for them. By the time we arrived I was beyond exhaustion. I said thank you and goodnight to my wonderful hosts and went to bed. The next day, Xavier had a suggested itinerary all set out for me! He suggested that I visit the ancient Roman town of Tarragona – a city which had once been the largest Roman capital outside of Rome, which was nearby to El Vendrell. We looked up the train times and Xavier dropped me at the train station.
I arrived in Tarragona and made my way to the old city walls. There was a lot to visit. I bought a day pass that granted entry into all the historical places. I was able to visit so many things – an ampitheatre, a mini Colosseum, well preserved furnished mansions, the agora (marketplace), the circus maximus, and many other ruins. Besides all the history, the town was absolutely gorgeous. It was vibrant and colourful. A lively market sold fresh fruits and vegetables. I stocked up! Spain had the best fruit ever – especially nectarines – I could live happily forever simply eating their nectarines. I have never tasted anything sweeter or more juicy.
After my scrumptious healthy lunch, I was weary, hot and sweaty and desperate to go to the toilet. Finding no public toilet, I prayed for the Lord to help me! I walked up a little side street and noticed an art gallery. I figured they would have a toilet, but wondered if there would be an entrance fee. I went in and to my surprise there was no entrance fee. It was air conditioned and they even stowed my bag for free so I could walk around hands free. I found the toilet just in time, and then had a relaxing time strolling through each gallery room seeing the artwork. By the time I had got back to the street I was feeling refreshed and revived! Thank you Lord! Even in the little things He is great! I continued around the city until I had visited all the historic sites, then I made my way to the train station and headed back to El Vendrell. Xavier picked me up and we went back to his parent's house for a lovely dinner of melon and Spanish ham. Xavier and Sandra were incredible people and we all got along very well. Sandra didn't speak so much English, but we were able to communicate fine. She had adopted a young boy from Romania who was now 5 years old. It was really interesting to hear about the process she had gone through in order to formalise the adoption.
The next day we took a walk around El Vendrell. It is a cute and charming little town with a lovely church, cobbled streets and a real community vibe. We stopped at the local baker to get bread for our lunch. What a wonderful lifestyle! After a siesta we packed up all our stuff and drove to Xavier's apartment in Barcelona. On the way we detoured to the mountains of Montserrat.
Montserrat is a place of special significance to the Spanish people of Catalonia. It is a series of strange rock formations, they look like cucumbers! At the top of the mountain there is a monastery and a church. It is famous for the choirs of boys who are trained to sing in that angelic high pitch. We arrived in the early evening and luck would have it that the boys were going to start singing just then! It was really amazing. You walk into this huge, ornate church, decorated with gold and paintings and statues, and then suddenly the organ starts to play and the choir begins to sing and you are on top of a massive mountain covered in strange rocks in Spain. Wow, it was an incredible moment. We were then able to see up behind the alter where they keep a golden statue of the virgin of Catalonia, they believe that she looks after the region. The story goes that they found the image of this virgin in a small chapel further up the mountain around 1000AD and then later they brought it to the large church where it resides now.
After a lovely time looking around we headed to Xavier's apartment just out of Barcelona city. We walked down the road to his favourite local kebab restaurant and took seats in front of the television. And that is how I ended up eating durum rolls and watching the soccer. I left early the next morning, it was rainy and cold – the perfect time to leave!
I had a Spanish friend, Anna, who I met while I was an Au pair in Seattle, she brought my car off me when I left. She had said to me that if I was ever to visit Barcelona I could stay with her family. So I decided to take her up on her offer. However, at the time when I would be visiting, her parents were actually in Seattle visiting her! But she arranged instead for me to stay with her brother who also lives in Barcelona. He had recently visited Seattle, and although I had already left Seattle when he visited, he and Anna had gone travelling in my car, so there was a strange connection there!
I arrived in Barcelona just before 6am after taking the overnight bus from Marseille. Xavier was going to meet me at 8am. I killed some time sitting on a park bench then made my way to our meeting point. He was right on time and he told me that he had shown a few people around the city, and had developed a route for us to follow. I was taken aback and gladly followed!
The route he had developed led us all the way through the city, stopping by every single point of interest. We went to train stations, old bull fighting rings, and saw all the famous buildings that Gaudi designed. We saw the Sagrada Familia church – the most famous unfinished church in the world. We went down the shopping streets, to the parks, to the old city gates, to the olympic stadiums, to art galleries, down the funicular, up streets and into alleyways. We came across hidden squares where historical massacres had taken place. We walk, walk, walked all over that city! We stopped for pizza for lunch, and later for an Horchata drink – rice milk with vanilla and cinnamon.
Everything I had wanted to see in Barcelona I saw, in one day, on foot. It was incredible! In the evening I was exhausted. We met up with Xavier's girlfriend Sandra, and had a lovely meal of tapas sitting outside a small cafe. We then drove an hour out of the city to a town called El Vendrell, where Xavier and Anna's parents live.
Xavier and Sandra had to go to a family lunch there the next day, so we all stayed the night there to make it easier for them. By the time we arrived I was beyond exhaustion. I said thank you and goodnight to my wonderful hosts and went to bed. The next day, Xavier had a suggested itinerary all set out for me! He suggested that I visit the ancient Roman town of Tarragona – a city which had once been the largest Roman capital outside of Rome, which was nearby to El Vendrell. We looked up the train times and Xavier dropped me at the train station.
I arrived in Tarragona and made my way to the old city walls. There was a lot to visit. I bought a day pass that granted entry into all the historical places. I was able to visit so many things – an ampitheatre, a mini Colosseum, well preserved furnished mansions, the agora (marketplace), the circus maximus, and many other ruins. Besides all the history, the town was absolutely gorgeous. It was vibrant and colourful. A lively market sold fresh fruits and vegetables. I stocked up! Spain had the best fruit ever – especially nectarines – I could live happily forever simply eating their nectarines. I have never tasted anything sweeter or more juicy.
After my scrumptious healthy lunch, I was weary, hot and sweaty and desperate to go to the toilet. Finding no public toilet, I prayed for the Lord to help me! I walked up a little side street and noticed an art gallery. I figured they would have a toilet, but wondered if there would be an entrance fee. I went in and to my surprise there was no entrance fee. It was air conditioned and they even stowed my bag for free so I could walk around hands free. I found the toilet just in time, and then had a relaxing time strolling through each gallery room seeing the artwork. By the time I had got back to the street I was feeling refreshed and revived! Thank you Lord! Even in the little things He is great! I continued around the city until I had visited all the historic sites, then I made my way to the train station and headed back to El Vendrell. Xavier picked me up and we went back to his parent's house for a lovely dinner of melon and Spanish ham. Xavier and Sandra were incredible people and we all got along very well. Sandra didn't speak so much English, but we were able to communicate fine. She had adopted a young boy from Romania who was now 5 years old. It was really interesting to hear about the process she had gone through in order to formalise the adoption.
The next day we took a walk around El Vendrell. It is a cute and charming little town with a lovely church, cobbled streets and a real community vibe. We stopped at the local baker to get bread for our lunch. What a wonderful lifestyle! After a siesta we packed up all our stuff and drove to Xavier's apartment in Barcelona. On the way we detoured to the mountains of Montserrat.
Montserrat is a place of special significance to the Spanish people of Catalonia. It is a series of strange rock formations, they look like cucumbers! At the top of the mountain there is a monastery and a church. It is famous for the choirs of boys who are trained to sing in that angelic high pitch. We arrived in the early evening and luck would have it that the boys were going to start singing just then! It was really amazing. You walk into this huge, ornate church, decorated with gold and paintings and statues, and then suddenly the organ starts to play and the choir begins to sing and you are on top of a massive mountain covered in strange rocks in Spain. Wow, it was an incredible moment. We were then able to see up behind the alter where they keep a golden statue of the virgin of Catalonia, they believe that she looks after the region. The story goes that they found the image of this virgin in a small chapel further up the mountain around 1000AD and then later they brought it to the large church where it resides now.
After a lovely time looking around we headed to Xavier's apartment just out of Barcelona city. We walked down the road to his favourite local kebab restaurant and took seats in front of the television. And that is how I ended up eating durum rolls and watching the soccer. I left early the next morning, it was rainy and cold – the perfect time to leave!
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