AbsenceofTitle
Severe case of wanderlust.
Guten morgen from Munchen! Well so much has happened since my last post. The last three days in Bled have been absolutely phenomenal. As a single traveller I’ve realised one very important thing: Have an open mind, and good things will follow!
After many many hours in 33 C temperature sunbathing by Lesce Bled (I am now no longer tanned, more like the colour of hot chocolate), I went horseback riding through the Slovenian mountainside and it was gorgeous! We saw brown bears and they were terrifyingly large and could climb their cage faster than you’d think their size would allow. I did my first canter on a horse and I can fully understand why people love it! I’ve always wanted to learn riding but it was around the time Christopher Reeves was in his horrible accident so it was always a no from my parents. But now I’m so tempted to take it up! Later that night I met some Irish lads in the hostel and had an awesome time where they literally did not let me pay for anything, not even pizza! I don’t think I’ve ever encountered that kind of generosity from a group of guys before, ever!
The next morning I tried canyoning where we basically jump from rocks into the water, use the rocks as slides and abseil down canyons.. It was terrifying, especially the first jump coz you have to jump in the middle or you’ll go splat against the walls- but it was sooo fun! Yet another potentially dangerous activity I’m considering taking up (heh, sorry Ma!) Than I got driven to Vintgar Gorge, which is like wooden paths constructed on the sides of gorge, and it is just stunning. The water was in these beautiful shades of emerald, turqoise, blues and yellows. It was possibly the most idyllic place I have ever been. Bumped into a couple of English boys who were interrailing as well and who were great company.
Than came a few hours of so much tension and stress I broke down by the side of the bank. I had four euro, the nearest Visa bank was in town, I had been walking more than 400m in the intense heat with my suitcase, the stupid bank man wldn’t give me cash for my credit card without a pin which meant I had just walked all that way for nothing, stupid ATM wldnt accept Visa debit and the Msian HSBC person told me he could only send the credit card pin to my fkkking home address.. I was tired, frustrated, disappointed and reallyreally hungry that I just burst into tears. It was the first time since being told I’d have to travel alone that I actually let my emotions out. I had a really good cry, brushed off my tears and found myself a taxi into town to withdraw some money and get some food. That’s the thing. When you’re surrounded by other people, it’s so easy to depend on others if you feel down, or you’re broke, or you don’t know what to do next. But nobody was gonna help me so I had to just suck it up. This trip had taught me soso many things, I swear. More than anything is how to take care of myself.
When I had gotten money, I was waitung for a train to Villach where I met two Canadians who were working as English teachers in Doha. Got a train to Villach and encountered another few hours of terror where I thought I might have to sleep in the train station. Thankfully I cld get on the night train to Munchen without a reservation, where I met a German who lives in Dallas and had somemore good chat. He thought I was Austrian (???!!!)! Now I’m finally in Munchen, my last stop on this whirlwind journey, and I now look at groups travelling together and feel no envy. I’ve finally gotten the hang of this travelling alone business. I write in a diary and read while waiting, and it’s soo easy to make new friends. People take pity on a wee single female as well that I’ve been getting favours everywhere. My canyoning guide gave me the cd with photos in for free and charged the others 20 euros each! Taxi drivers give me discounts, and people are always curious if Im alone, and ask why i’m by myself. I asked a girl my age for a taxi number and she drove me all the way to the train station instead. I miss Slovenian hospitality, Germans are so efficient and cold! The receptionist at my hostel is the human equivalent of the North Pole! Soso different from the hostel owner in Bled that would drive us around and lend us bicycles for free.
I could write a huge essay on how much I love Slovenians. People leave their bikes and cars unlocked and if you left your phone in a restaurant, come back in an hour and it’d still be there or with the waitress. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming and always curious where you’re from and how your country is like. I would DEFINITELY go there again, and highly, highly recommend Bled as well!
I’m off.. Munchen should be interesting but I am really looking forward to going home as well! Byee x
