Dove siamo ora?

We are currently in Genova in Italy. Arrived last night, checked into our beautiful B&B with rooftops views from the window and went out for a big plate of pasta. Mmm mmm mmmmm! We are having a great time here so far and I'll update with pictures and news soon i.e. when I can be bothered.

Until then, ciao ciao!

Bonjour, enchante, AU REVOIR

France, in the opinions of M and myself, was shit..to put it nicely. Everyone we met were complete oddballs, rude, unfriendly, unhygienic, sad, horrible, scummy people. We spent a total of 46 hours in France, living off baguettes and cigarettes. If we were to write a pros and cons list I can only think of one entry for the former: Bottle of house wine €9.

I decided that none of the three destinations we passed through were worthy of their own blog posts therefore I shall divulge all relevant details in subsections accordingly.

Cerbere

Cerbere is a small coastal town on the border with Spain. We rocked up at the station confronted with what seemed to be a ghost town. Nothing was open and after an abrupt conversation with some lady seated behind a glass window we knew we were in a very weird place. We walked into 'town' sat down to eat something, were told we couldn't have extra bread, were ripped off for tapas that had clearly come straight out of a jar and then realised that the lady at the train station wouldn't be the only hostile person we'd meet.

We proceeded to spend the next few hours picking at a stale baguette on a park bench starring at a tree, whilst homeless drunks starred at us and children ran around in the nude.

Getting on the train to Montpellier we were happy and excited, we really thought good things would be awaiting us....if only we knew.

Monderrier Montpellier

I feel that if there were to be an opening theme tune for this destination it would go something like this: DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNN AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHH AGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH DUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN. Then silence.

Montpellier, is apparently a nice place - away from the station. The station and the surrounding area however, is a cesspit full of unmentionable people, aggression, prostitution, drugs and most probably the HIV virus.

Arriving on an extremely busy Saturday night with no possible way out of there by train, we had no choice but to find a hotel for the night. The first hotel we found which was right opposite the station seemed like a sure choice until we found out it was almost €80 for the night, which for two backpackers on a serious budget was far too steep. So we decided to find somewhere else and were told that there were a lot of hotels in the area. We walked quickly through the streets lugging our backpacks, sweating like pigs and being harassed by almost everyone. Every single hotel we passed had signs in the windows or on the doors saying 'COMPLET'. We couldn't understand why or how this was possible and put it down to the fact it was a weekend. After a lengthy mission through back alleys and bustling roads we realised we were in a rough area and felt the most ridiculous sense of relief when we passed one shitty hotel which had a room available for a mere €35 for the night. An absolute steal we thought and even said to each other in the lift up to our floor. How naive we felt when we got out of the lift, only to hear the distressing sounds of whoring. We darted into our room which was comprised of a skanky bed and a bide. We didn't want to touch anything as it was quite clear where we were and what we were in! M and I made our way downstairs and bluntly said, we don't want to stay here please give us back our money. The man with no fingers left on his right hand and two chelsea smiles on his left cheek was not pleased, in fact - extremely angry. He barred us from the brothel I mean hotel, 'Next time you come back here, I will not give you a room!!! Do not thank me!! Just go. This is not normal behaviour!'. Clearly, this man was deluded. On the plus side we got our money back.

We quickly walked back to the first hotel, happily paid for the night and were on the first train out of there in the morning.

Saint Raphael

Saint Raphael is near Cannes, although not exactly what we expected. We realised it wasn't blessed with extreme beauty but rather extremely overpriced food and drinks, a string of tacky bars and restaurants and again, very odd (however not hostile) Frenchies.

We stayed at a small hotel for a reasonable price, made fun of Gordito (previously mentioned in MIA post) and decided to spend the two days we had booked doing absolutely nothing. We went to the beach, ate sandwiches, heckled people from our bedroom window and had early nights. Not much else is to be said about Saint Rapahel, or France for that matter as I believe the next sentence speaks for itself:

We left for Italy after having spent approximately 46 hours in France.

Girona – a beautiful plan B

Whilst in Barcelona we had decided on Marseille as our next stop, however by the time we actually left the hostel and made our way to B.Sants we were considering Montpellier and Nimes as well. Arriving at the station, drained and tired from San Juan, we soon discovered that due to striking going on in France (…!), there was no way we’d be able to cross the French border by train.

Initially this felt like a personal attack by France, sabotaging our plans and throwing us off our planned course. However, after some debate and a lot of uncertainty, we decided to travel to Girona, a small city (compared to Barcelona, however is actually the largest in north Catalonia) an hour between Barcelona and the French border.

We didn’t really know what to expect in Girona, but regardless, our expectations were not only met but exceeded.

Girona is a very beautiful city with a river running through it, separating the old town with the new. We arrived in the afternoon and had some well and truly needed down time before making the short walk into town for a romantic meal, where we discovered a plaza full of restaurants. Extremely happy to find that it was a lot cheaper than Barcelona (sangria in Barcelona €9, sangria in Girona €2), so it’s safe to say that we felt Girona was going to be good to us.

We spent the second day wondering around Girona discovering the old city. Beautiful! Imagine cobbled, narrow winding streets, old buildings built on hills, intimate side alley ways lined with small stores, a Cathedral, a Jewish quarter (El Call) and Arabic baths.

Girona at night was relaxed yet fun. We discovered there were a few clubs here and there although we didn’t go to any due to a (supposedly) early wakeup call the following day. The previous night we had spotted a cocktail bar on our walk home with deck chairs outside which looked busy, even on the night of San Juan, so seeing as it was now a normal Friday night we decided to check it out.

Outside we lounged in comfortable bed-like deck chairs and later we ventured inside. Weirdly decorated, the bar (Cocktails and…) seemed to have an almost burlesque feel to it. After we were befriended by a bar tender, we ended up enjoying a night of free drinks and amusing conversation with some of the locals. Both M and I put (her) Spanish and (my) Italian to good use, and mixed with some very dodgy English from the locals, we got by.

One amusing thing we realised is that most people thought we were ‘Eras-moos’ students. Clearly we were the only outsiders, which we thoroughly enjoyed!

If you ask M and I what we thought of Girona we’ll tell you one thing: GO!

MIA

M and I would like to apologise to all our fans for not being in touch/ updating the blog with all our news, gossip and photos.

We left Girona, stopped in Cerbere, got stuck in Montpellier and are now in Saint Raphael in the south of France, although due to leave in an hour for Genova, Italy (yay)!

We have had complete lack of internet due to eccentric fat man at l'hotel here (who we've come to know and not love as GORDITO). He is a very weird man with an evil laugh who does not understand ze engleeesh we spik and cannot provide us with the correct details to access ze internets.

Once in Genova I intend to devour a massive plate of pasta, possibly one or two loafs of ciabatta, at least a bottle of cheap wine and if I'm feeling adventurous a mountain sized scoop (or 4) of gelato. After this I'll find a cafe with free wifi, set up camp, drink espresso after espresso and fully update this blog.

So, once again, apologies from M and I, and we send out all our love to our fanbase i.e. our parents who are pretty much the only people checking this thing.

Oh and Abby, I will upload more photos of M, I have a rather beautiful picture of her getting stuck into a mammoth sandwich.

With love!

xxx

San Juan - Barcelona

So, San Juan is pretty much the biggest party of the year in Spain. The streets are filled with people, fireworks are set off, fire crackers are thrown and generally a fair amount of alcohol is consumed. We were in Barcelona for San Juan which was celebrated on the night of the 23rd, and during the day of the 24th.

The general idea is that the masses flock to the beach, set up camp, dance to a variety of music played out by dj's, party, socialise and have a good time.

M, Leah and I did just this, heading down to the beach by weaving through town, dodging children throwing fire crackers and following the crowds. Eventually we got to the beach which was covered with people, thousands in fact.

Not much else can be said about San Juan apart from, I hope I go again next year!

Barcelona in images

I didn't actually take that many photos in Barcelona and the only place I regret not taking any at all is when I was in the Gothic part of the city.

Here are a few snaps from the few days spent in Barcelona.

Hasta luego Valencia......Hola Barcelona!!

M and I left Valencia yesterday morning and although being very excited for the real journey to begin, I was also a bit sad seeing as I hate goodbye's...

Unfortunately we had to hang around at the station for a couple of hours to get on a reasonably slow train to Barcelona. The train journey was alright apart from the fact it broke down in the middle of nowhere and delayed us by an hour or so. However we passed the time by making fun of the man opposite us who spent his time going through pictures of himself on his camera, and looking pretty pleased with himself after zooming in on his southern regions.

Lugging our shit from Sants to Girona was homosexual but the hostel is perfect and we're in a great location. Easy to get into the city, to La Ramblas and Barri Gotic, easy metro links so getting to the beach is easy. The only let down was the view from the room. Excited I ran to the window shouting 'I wonder what the view's like!!', pulled open the curtains only to be confronted by a rather stunning brick wall.



Walking down to reception one of the hundred times to ask questions we saw a note in one of the other doors from a couple of Aussies who wanted people to join them and go out somewhere. Since we decided we should make serious effort to befriend fellow traveller's we went and took them up on the offer. With the navigation skills of NJ1 (the other is called NJ2, true story) we headed down to La Ramblas and subsequently were accosted (although harmless) by street sales men. Ended up consuming two of the largest glasses of sangria man could create which resulted in a pretty rough morning for M and myself.

The lovey Leah is in Barcelona! She is here for as long as we are so today we met up, hit the beach and relaxed. Beach is great here, not as pretty as Valencia (I know Raffe will be pleased to hear that) but still very nice. Met some Italian's who's friend had just opened a cafe, so as it was their opening they were inviting people to come and drink free coffee which was well and truly needed. Free coffee and free ice tea! Whoever said there's no such thing as a free lunch has clearly never bummed around in Barceloneta.

Tonight we are going to go to a place Leah spotted which offers ALL YOU CAN EAT TAPAS.....for €12. Hello weight gain!

More updates coming soon along with pictures when I can be bothered.

Next destination - Marseille Nimes Girona!!

Day 6 - Last day in VLC

Tomorrow M and I are leaving Valencia and heading to Barcelona. The train will take between 3 and 4 hours depending on which one we get on, so we plan to leave mid morning in order to get almost a full day in Barce.

Discovered yesterday reservations on Spanish trains with an interrail ticket is compulsory! A bit of a bitch as now we have to sort that out and pay €6.50 per seat...hassle!!!

So here is a brief recap (mainly for the interest of my dad who has complained about a lack of posts) of the last few days spent here in VLC.

Serious kudos to M for gutting the fish.

Best Meal Competition Results: Girls - 1, Raffaele - 0, Richard - not applicable

In the build up to San Juan, block parties around the city have been set up with live music. Any excuse to party! San Juan is the celebration of the longest day of the year which will be taking place mainly within Catalonia on the night of the 23rd. We joined one of the parties last night. Picture a chubby man singing, smoking and playing a guitar - that's what I call multi-tasking.

Forza Svizzera!

SPAIN 0 SWITZERLAND 1

Just a few photos from when we went to watch the match in support of Switzerland! A few people weren't pleased with how Raf chose to show his love for the Swiss...

Day 2 - Valencia

Yesterday we left London and flew to Valencia from Gatwick. We checked in pretty early allowing us plenty of time for last minute buys and a bottle of wine (maybe more) before boarding. However it became a bit mare-ish after that. Usual easyjet issues, queues, delays and irritating passengers.

Eventually we made it to Raf's place where we found dinner awaiting us (excellent!!) along with Richard, and a couple of mojito's later we called it a night.

The first few days here probably won't see many posts as this is more of a holiday for M and I before we move on to Barcelona and beyond.