I made it to Sofia! Well, almost, just a few more hours on this (at least) 9,5 hour train ride. Yeah, I think I’m cured of travelling by train for now, these take way too long.

I really have to take a good look of what I told you guys last, all these days and cities seem to blend together. But, I had left off with my awaiting adventures in Vienna! So here is what happened! I woke up on, Tuesday (?), at a reasonable time, since it was already getting super warm, and I had agreed with myself of going for breakfast somewhere nice. Juliana, who had lived here, had send me a list of nice things to see and do, and one of them was the park surrounding Schönbrunn, a big and pretty castle. Not really sure what they used it for, now or back then, but it was quite big. I walked through the park after some vegan shakshuka, where there were a lot of random old ruins and fountains. I continued my way to the city centre, and as I was sitting in the metro, orientating myself, I realised that Gustav Klimt was born and lived in Vienna, and some of his paintings are exhibited here! So after a quick reservation for a ticket, I switched my way of transport and got to the Belvedere castle to see those paintings in real life! I was not disappointed, even though it was busy, it was worth it! I send some pictures to Ko and dad, where dad made me aware of another Viennese artist with artwork in the city, Friedensreich Hundertwasser. His art not being paintings, but buildings, I was intrigued and walked to one of the most famous ones. Mind you, it was around 30 degrees, maybe even a bit more, so I took my time and got sweaty soon enough. But, I was really glad dad had told me about it, it looked so cool! The people who live here now are aloud to make their spaces even more crazier and decorative than it already is, so there were some wonderful combinations happening.

I followed up on my original route of seeing the big square of Stephanplatz, with its big cathedral and surrounding churches. Being warm, sweaty and thirsty, I quite quickly wanted to go back to the hostel, but I wandered around a little and found myself entering another church, St. Peterskirche, where a choir was having a public rehearsal. Of course, there was a little crowd, but there were not too many of us, and their voices sounded amazing in the churches acoustics. I made some videos, especially for my grandma, who sings in a church choir as well, so I had to send them to her, obviously! When I left the church, just around the corner was a whole police battalion surrounding a building, ready to arrest someone I presume. I didn’t stay to watch, even though a lot of people did.

Back at the hostel, I needed to, hopefully, finish another detour of this adventure. Before I left home, when I made my itinerary and booked all the hostels, I also made the trains mandatory seat reservations. For most of them, you can just show it either on your phone or a printed out version of the ticket. But for the train rides from Budapest to Bucharest, which was a night train, and the one I am on now, from Bucharest to Sofia, I needed the actual paper tickets. Not printed out versions, actual ones that they send to you by mail. As soon as I booked them, the estimated day of arrival, to mom’s house, was the day I would leave. I mean, perfect timing, no? So, with some help of wonderful Ko, he got them when they were delivered, and send them to the hostel in Vienna. Which brings us back to here. PostNL told me they were delivered at a pick up point, somewhere in Vienna, but kept me in the dark of exactly where. Thankfully the girl at the desk was really helpful, and with the note being delivered at a different door, I was able to retrieve my tickets! All good. But no, of course not, why would it all go so smoothly if you can go for the difficult route. I made a small mistake when booking them, and instead of filling in the right date for my train to Sofia, I put in the wrong one. Not the biggest deal, it was fixable, but only at the station in Bucharest.

But first, I was heading towards Budapest! About this train ride, I won’t complain at all, it was just a couple of hours, and instead of having a seat in second class, as usual, the coach my seat was is, was 1st class! So bigger seats, more legroom, for my enormous legs, so happy me. I arrived not too tired at the hostel, so I changed in some of my last clean clothes, because heat and sweat makes them go fast, and off I went. This city is again so gorgeous, it is not fair. I walked one of my self guided walking tours, the Pest side of the city, which took me to the Parlement building, and next to it the monument ‘the Shoes on the Danube Bank’, where they honour the Jewish victims who were massacred there during the Second World War. 32 degrees, and I sat there with goosebumps all over my body. You could feel the horrible things which happened here, sense it in a way. I continued my tour after a little while, and saw the outside of yet another church, but then came across the biggest synagogue of Europe. Once again intrigued, I bought a ticket to see the inside. Now, here is the thing. Ever since I have left Austria, all the countries that have followed have their own currency, so whenever I pay for something, I have no idea what the actual price in euros is. It’s fine, it is not expensive at all compared to back home, but for this one, I felt I payed a little too much. Still, it was interesting to experience, but I didn’t stay long. Getting tired from the heat, I got some dinner and got some sleep.

Next day, I had to check out already, but stored my luggage, for my train would leave around 19:00. So next logical thing to do, the Buda walking tour part! But with this heat, I underestimated it a little. The first part took me up the park on the hill. Good viewing point of the city, but I needed a shower afterwards. That didn’t happen of course, so on a bit slower pace I made my way towards the castle, and the churches and surrounding buildings. It was an early dinner today, because I needed to get to the station! I bought some snacks and breakfast for on the way, it was going to be a long ride. I like to arrive quite a bit early before the train leaves, like a proper Dutchie. But you know, it’s a station you don’t know, with a language you don’t speak, so better be early and wait than seeing your train leave before your eyes. This was a funny one guys. Nothing will ever beat the night train in Thailand from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, nothing will be worse than that 12/13 hour ride, but this one, I could only laugh. The seat I had reserved was also a bed, and it said my bed was the middle one. I was the first one to arrive in our cabin, where there were 4 visible beds, instead of expected 6. It meant that the middle ones would be folded out from the headrests, which in turn meant, not too much space for us to breath in. Luckily, my fellow cabin mates were lovely and kind people, a guy from Germany and two Romanian mom’s, their kids were sleeping in the cabin next to ours. The German guy and me claimed the topbeds, and I was actually surprised I managed to fall asleep after some time, but not before the passport controls on both side of the border. Finally, after almost a full hour of standing still and waiting, the train loudly and movingly continued its way to Bucharest. I arrived at the hostel around 13:00, so I desperately took that needed shower and went for a little walk, to have an early night in. Knocked out cold.

This is such a different vibe from the previous cities! I expected it to be different, but to be here showed it for real. Not completely true however, the city surprised me as well. The self guided tour app only had two walking tours, as to the at least 4 or 5 in other cities. One was with the bigger highlights, the other Old Town. Since I was staying in Old Town, I could easily combine the two. First, I walked to the gorgeous (not really) Palace of Parliament building, but one you have to have seen when you are here. I made it back to Old Town, to be said surprisingly beautiful and authentic buildings. I didn’t know they still had these kind of buildings, thinking it would be all like the near neighbourhoods, with the static and blunt buildings. I’ll do my homework better next time, promise.

Thinking, and feeling, like I needed some pampering before the work starts in Bulgaria, there was a big therme complex just outside of the city. How convenient! Taking the bus, I spend a few hours in the middle of half of the population of Bucharest, between screaming kids sliding down the waterslides and pools filled with people. But, I was there to read my book in the Himalayan salt walls library and relax with a facial and massage. Not a bad way of spending time.

And here we are, still not in Sofia though, but getting close! Instead of 18 hours on a night train, this one will be probably closer to 12 instead of the planned 9,5. We’ll see, the wind and the views make it bearable.

Next stories will be about old stuff, digging in the dirt and just have a good time with great people! Can’t wait!