So far, so good.

Sofia is very warm and very nice.
We arrived about 8.30pm local time after an eventful flight that involved a strange panicing lady nearly getting arrested as we boarded, going around a big storm and someone a couple of rows in front having an epileptic fit. It was like my English A level exam all over again.

The sun was low as we flew over Sofia and we had a clear view of the tower blocks, parkland, the national stadium and the national palace of culture.

Only a small airport, so we were quickly through and in taxis on our way to our hotel. The ride through the city at dusk was nice, along a large road with parkland full of people, and lots of bright lights for bars and shops. Like Blackpool, but less shit.
The hotel is clean but small and basic.
We got ready quickly for a night out, only slowed down by my new pumps still being tied together. Since we had no scissors or knives, I asked the middle aged lady on reception if she had any scissors, making the scissors hand signal at the offending string. She took the pumps in hand and said "Ah! Espadrilski!" We think it means scissors or elasticated string, we're not sure.
The hotel isn't far from the centre, so we wandered down, eat in a nice resteraunt, had cocktails in an art museum bar, then tried to find a club.
All the bars we passed seemed empty, which was upsetting for a Saturday night. We'd gone in the rough direction a girl from Portsmouth and her mates had advised us. She looked like a fat Laura Marling.
We found a club called 'The Jim Beam Club', which charged a 2lev "entrance tax", but seemed dead. Untill we went downstairs!! It was swish, lots of people, semi-decent music, resonable drinks. The vodoo doll hanging in a nuce wearing a T-shiry with the German national flag made me happy to be English. I was wearing my Burnley shirt.

Got back to the hotel about 4am local time, still swealtering in 28C heat. Complimented the middle aged lady on her Jane MacDonald esque shiny top.

We're now off for Breakfast/Dinner and to have a look at the Orthadox Cathedral, the main Synagogue and the Banya Bashi Mosque and she which one has the best domes and the best beards.

Good times.

Back to the Balkans

Next week me and the chaps are going to Sofia, Athens and Thessaloniki on a bit of a tour. While Soifa, capital of Bulgaria, might sound dull and grey, do a Google image search, I think you'll be surprised. Do it now. Some great domes there, I'm sure you'll agree.
No Chirs Owen on this trip though I'm afraid. That means no vests, no confusion over how far we are from America or Burnley, no falling asleep on UNESCO World Heritage sites and no writing friends name's on skin in sun-block.
This will be the first time I've been to any part of the Balklans that was never part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. All three citites we once part of the Ottoman Empire.

I fly on Saturday, three nights in Sofia, three nights in Athens, two nights in Thessaloniki, then home. I'll try and keep up with this blog, but probably not if I'm busy or drunk or both.

I say Buda, you say...

PEST! We have arrived in Hungary! I'm currently sat outside a cafe on a tree lined avenue, surrounded by boroque architecture, watching trams tootle past having a sausage roll and tea. This really is a beautiful city.
The day started early yesterday, I was up at 6 a bit too excited for my own good. After breakfasting and watching a documentry about causes of the first world war, I made my way to Chris Owen's house. There was no answer at the door. Neil Yates turned up and explained Chris Owen was out buying travel insurance. The taxi soon turned up, as did everyone else, but still no Chris Owen. What a guy!!
On CO's arrival we were off to the airport.
Sat next to a couple who are also going Exit!
After checking into our hostel on an island in the middle of the Danube, we hit the town.
The view from the bridge that connects Buda to Pest and our island to both is stunning. I'll try and show some photos of it in tomorrows blog.
The bar was well good. It was in a courtyard surrounded by balconies, with steps leading off to differant rooms and bars. Me and CO sang Common People (see Neil Yate's holiday snaps) and tried it on with a few Magyr girls. They were having non of it, so we eventually called it a night and crossed the Danube to our beds. 8 of thm, all in one room. It smelled this morning. After we opened the doors onto the sun terrace facing the river the smell soon went. Going to have an ice cream now. Toodles.ope

The Blog Begins

On Monday 4 July, I fly to Budapest with some chums on a mini adventure into Central Europe and the Balkans. When my brother visited Portugal he created a blog to keep us all posted. He said it was cheaper than postcards and allowed him to post pictures of trains, bookshops and a football ground.

In a shameless example of plagiarism, I've decided to do the same. His travel blog was called 'Happy Shopper Hemingway', named after Ernest Hemingway. The only travel writer beginning with H who had traveled in the Balkans I could find was Sir Henry Holland, 1st Baronet FRS, DCL (27 October 1788 – 27 October 1873). 

This will be my first time on a plane since November 2010, when I went on a stag do with my mates to Tenerife, and that was the first time I'd been on a pane since I was 12. Last weekend I visited Scotland for the 1st time. It's safe to say I'm not very well travelled. 

 My travell companions will be Chris Owen (a man who often wears sunglasses over his normal glasses), Neil Yates (very well traveled), Adam Wale, David Anderson, Chris Haffner (of Haffner's Pies fame), Chris Grant and John Clark.
The reason for  the escapade isthe Exit Music Festival in the Petrovaradin Fortress, Novi Sad, Serbia. Old military architecture mixed with partying, why haven't I gone before?

I haven't got much to write about yet, as I haven't set off. It should be a good do, I'll try to keep this blog updated with any happenings without incriminating anyone.  You can keep fully updated by entering your email address in the box at the top.

If anyone has any ideas of what I should do in my time in Budapest, Novi Sad or at the Exit festival, email me on a.flanders.84@gmail.com.

I will be wearing my Burnley shirt as much as possible.