Dracula!

So there is apparently a LOT of misinformation about Dracula.

A Dracula did exist. He was a great prince in what is now Romania during the 15th Century. He was eventually a feared and ruthless leader that powerfully defended his land against enemy forces.

One way that Dracula (meaning "son of the Dragon") would instill fear in enemy forces was by impailing caught enemy soldiers on arrows that would allow them to live a horrible and painful 48hours before death.

Later, an author called Bran wrote about a character called Dracula that sucked blood and was scary for other reasons.... This character and the real King have been confused which is good for tourism here but bad for misinformed history...

Just so you know...

Meanwhile, today, during a long and gorgeous trek around the countryside (past many horse drawn wagons) we visited the original Dracular's castle/residence. It was a decent 1480 step climb and perched to overlook stunning views of surrounding mountains and valleys.

So tired now because I have a cold and had a snorer in our dorm last night...

Sweet dreams.

k

Brasov

I am now in a gorgeous town called Brasov in Transylvania.

I have concluded that Romania is my favourite country (despite the fact I just discovered that a CD I got burnt with all my pictures on it is actually blank and my pics are therefore lost...).

Now I am about to party in Brasov with new friends.

You are welcome to join us!

Kristiana

Bucarest

This morning I woke up the most gorgeous Romanian mountainside!!!

It was spectacular!

Casper and I have decided to head back that way in a few days on our way back to the Ukraine... Right now though, we are in Bucarest. The buildings are older and the streets dirtier, the people seem friendlier (though the gypsies what to steal things from you a bit more) and it is a little cooler (Bucarest was HOT!).

I probably wont be updating this for a few days so do not feak out that Dracular has got me (even though we are heading that way...)! I will be more than likely okay, there are just issues finding internet access in Romania.

So goodbye for now my beautiful people!

Kristiana

What wonderful days!!

Great weather, great company, what more can I ask for...

The last few days I have visited a Palace that overlooked Budapest city shortly after exploring a church that was built sometime in the 15th Century, I have spent an entire day lounging and perving on beautiful international people at old-school Turkish bath, I have boggied with a crazy Hungarian woman at a medievil festival (before she ditched me for Casper despite the fact that everybody else at the festival could see that Casper was clearly gay...), I have got dressed up in a spandex, army-print, jumpsuit in a second-hand shop (and let us never mention that again), and tonight I cried to a brillient Hungarian movie being shown at an outdoor International Film Festival in between the Museum of Ethnography (which is architecturely brillient) and the Hungarian parliament house (which looks like an amazing castle). Best of all though, I made new and interesting friends.

I really do love Budapest and will definately be back one day!

Tomorrow, Casper and I are on a train to Bucarest in Romania... We are considering a day trip to Transylvania.... We'll see....

Sending you all some k-love!

raffie.

Budapest

Really people, Budapest is the best kept secret EVER!!

You should really think about coming and joining me in Budapest.
Now. It is such a beautiful city!!!

In fact, it is like all the beautiful and romantic parts of Rurope you have heard about minus the attitude and expense!!!

The people are dressed well, they actually smile and they are good looking. Oh! Oh! AND most people speak at least some English!

Seriously, I recommend Budapest to everyone!!

No wait, then there would be heaps of tourists and that'd be annoying, plus, that'd drive up prices...... Okay, don't come.....

Agh! Nah, sharing is great... COME'

Love you'''

kristiana

Emotional status check...

As many of you know, I have been quite sad and not myself the past few weeks. I have been missing everything familiar and been trying to work out how to get back to the States asap, despite the fact I have this amazing opportunity in the centre of Europe.

I feel a LOT better today.

I am now writing to you from Budapest in Hungary having left the Ukraine for a bit. I am happier today for several reasons, one being because, like a true girl, I could not fight back tears yesterday and once I let it all out, I felt a lot better....

This trip has been extremely difficult for me. I have met new people and been to new places, I have travelled alone, with strangers and with friends. I have been able to explore, get lost and get into trouble. But most of all, as hard as it has been at times, I have been able to get some real clarity.

As much as I adore all my family and friends in their respective parts of the world, I honestly hope and aim to be back in the States before the end of next year. I don't want to rush because I want to do the right thing by myself and my family, but I just felt so understood in the States and I really felt a 'home' there - something I can not remember ever feeling in any of the places I have lived or travelled. For me, 'home' has always been where I feel comfortable, with no real attachment other than an intense connection to the people there...

My attraction to the States does not mean that my family and friends in Australia or anywhere else are any less important but it does mean that I honestly feel a need to explore this desire to be in the States, work there, live there...

Thank you all for your understanding and thoughts. I really appreciate every smile, comment, email, telepathic hug and thought!

Sending you all a MASSIVE and AUSSIE 'raffie' hug from Hungary!!

kristiana
p.s. Budapest is BEAUTIFUL!

Blow Lviv!

Look, the last few days have been fun. The weather has been gorgeous, the people have been pleasantly rude, the sites have been lovely, the other hostel kids informative and friendly, and the food interesting. However, Casper and I have both been struggling without the people we love and have decided that we need more stimulation to distract us. Tomorrow we are heading to Hungry.

Yah.

Budapest is supposed to be fun!

We've decided we'll stay there for a few days, party, explore and then go down and across to Bucarest (Romania) before coming back to the Ukraine to get our flight out and into Holland....

Ha!

Would post pictures but I have realised that I left my camera charger in our hostel in Krakow and am therefore trying to preserve battery power...

Love everyone long time!

k

In Lviv

Hi all

Just letting you know that we have arrived safely in Lviv.

It is a surprisingly cold and rainy day here but it looks like a nice place. Hopefully the weather will clean up a bit soon and we can really get into the Ukrainian experience.

Not really any stories to share yet... just glad we were able to get onto our bus to get here.... nearly had drama there...

So tired now, must sleep.

Much love and write soon.

k

Random Krakow

On our first full day in Krakow, Casper and I bought ice-creams. Because I try to avoid dairy, I thought I was buying an ice-block but quickly realised that it was actually an ice-cream overed in chocolate. Boo. I gave it to Casper who ate the chocolate off of the outside and then tried to give the ice-cream back to me, I said I didn't want it and so a random Polish man (wearing no shirt) offered to take it off our hands, which he did and happily proceeded down the street eating our left over ice-cream...

Next day, after my audition for a Polish television show/film, a new friend stepped in dog poo with his socks just after some bark flew in his eye. Both were painful for me to watch though I couldn't help laughing a LOT at the obscurity.... Casper then stepped in the same poo bare-foot.... EWW!

Last night we went clubbing at a four story (8 different party room) club called Kitsch. There was definately something for everyone... It was really great to be out in Krakow (having a "Krak of a night" as the locals say) on a Friday because it seems that every other night (except Saturday), this place does not happen...

Ohh well, the total randomness of this blog really sums up my Polish experience. Just wanted to give you a taste of my weird and wonderful little world...

On to the Ukraine with an all night bus tonight.

Hopefully we won't get robbed.

raffie
p.s. to my new friends at Yo Mama's Hostel, thanks for the fun and we'll hopefully be meeting up again soon!!

Eyebrows, pigeons and mexican food

CASPER IS THE BOMB!!!

He is so funny and we are going to have SO MUCH FUN!
...once my eyebrow grows back....

Yah, umm... Casper came to me today with a little section of his eyebrow missing. It was so chav that it was adorable... We decided tonight that it would be cute for me to do the same thing... Yah, it's not... I look stupid...

Whatever, my mum says I'm cool!

Moving on, I just had mexican food for dinner in Poland. Ha!
It tasted more salady than beany but it was nice... they also served coldslaw and peanuts with it instead of nachos... random goodness.

In other random news, I don't think I have ever seen so many pigeons getting it on in my entire life in one space... If you want to see animal action, apparently the main square in Krakow is the place to be!

Gah, I hope my eyebrow grows back soon...

k

Krakow, Poland

After a pleasant train journey I am now in Mama's hostel in Krakow, Poland.

The weather is delicious! It is sun shiney but not too hot. The vibe is relaxed and the streets are really cute!

Casper will be leaving London shortly and meeting me here in a few hours...

I need to say a most massive thankyou to Bjorn for housing and taking care of me the last couple of weeks. I really appreciated it!

Big thanks to Franziska as well for fun times despite thesis worries!

Will keep yall updated!

k

The coolest thing EVER!!!

There is this massive sand covered deck and bar area that is perched in front of a large and intertwining jetty leading out to misty showers, the Spree (a local river) and a glass bottomed boat filled with water that is used as a pool!

Funky Europeans seemingly with no work place to be and lots of EuroChic glam (but outdoor festival attitude) line the bar, beach, deck areas, jetty and pool while chatting, drinking and listening to tribal infused electronica, as the warm (but not harsh) European sun caresses their evenly tanned, spot-free, intricately designed tattooed bodies and half-covered-by-giant-fashionable-sunglasses faces.

This place, Badeschiff, which transforms into a funky-ass nightclub by night is located just next to some really grassroot little bars and restaurants which sit on a nearby stream that connects to the river. These house bars play DJ mixed beats to assist alcoholic or caffeinated beverages past young EuroCool lips. The willow trees that arch over many of these social venues witness their night time evolution into uber trendy outdoor bars.

This particular bar I just mentioned is where we had a drink last night and watched some local personality be interviewed for some music documentary. We then walked past the former gas station (now a bar and nightclub because we are in Berlin!) and got caught in a summer storm on the way home.

It was fun until I had the crap scared out of me after yelling out to the rumbling, lightning flashed sky ‘Aloha’ followed by ‘Bring it on bitch!’ and a strike of lightning hit the building I was facing. Yah, that was scary… and fun.

Gigantic thank you to Grace for the phone call last night with updates on my American world and Team USA!!!

Huge thank you to my brother today for long, much anticipated and awesome catch up!!!

Big BOO to missing Charlie’s phone call today!!! I was in the shower, sorry, I hope you got my text!!!

Love each and every one of you and missing everyone big time!!

Raffie

Italians!

First of all the Italian team robs the Aussies of our next game and then they steal the Germans' smiles!!!

I am never eating pizza again in protest...

Agh, that's a lie... I have discovered the most delicious spinich pizza in the history of spinich pizzas here... and it comes frozen from the Lid'l local supermarket... I have been known to have it at all hours of the day... Hmmm... spinch pizza goodness...

Um... What was I saying?

Happy 4th of July my Americano's!!!!!

Happy drunkedness my Germanians!!!

Happy happy everyone else!!

(No, I am not high).

k

Right now.

The last few days has been quite turbulent but I feel like I have regained some balance...

Bjorn has really helped me the last few days sort out some stuff in my troubled head and he and I have resolved to do a 'just friends' thing. I think it is best for both of us.

In the meantime, I have been wondering about heading back to the States and getting married so I can stay, work and live there... Knowing me, we know that I am as serious as I am joking about this...

Other than the above, I have been out at random a fair bit lately, meeting interesting people, taking lots of photos of abstract street happenings and exploring old and abandoned buildings to watch the sun rise and search for a bit more adventure...

I am in a bit of an weird twilight zone just now, there is enough light to see but not enough clarity to be sure....

Loving life and sending each one of you claustraphobic hugs!

k

Clubbing in Berlin...

Clubbing in Berlin is totally AWESOME!!!

I wish I could share this with each and every one of you!!!

Everything is so casual with so much diversity of music!

Last night I was in some rooftop hangout dancing to electro-beats, funk, hip-hop and regae-punk before heading to a different bar playing 80's grunge and skate-pop...

Seriously, get youself to Berlin. I need party people to share this with!!!

k