The Cambridge Weekender

A few weekends ago I had the pleasure of meeting up with some friends in the famous university town of Cambridge. Only an hour and a half by coach from London, it made for a nice little get away from the countries capital. 

Cambridge is really picturesque especially around the university colleges. There is lots of open space and pretty manicured gardens. It's full of history which makes for an interesting walk around town.

I didn't get to see everything but my highlight was definitely Kings College Chapel and it's surrounding grounds.

Oh, and I learnt all about punting (boat in shallow water pushed along by giant pole) which is something I'd never seen before. Next time i'll have to get involved. 

It's my last week in London before I head to Australia for some summer sun.

I'll try to post again before the new year.

B xxx

Kings College Chapel

Clare College, Cambridge

Clare College, Cambridge

Punting along River Cam

7 things that suck about backpacking

Travelling is amazing, it opens the mind and frees the soul. We all know that but there are downsides, particularly if you're backpacking. 

Like, you may think you'd like backpacking but, you could be wrong.

1. Looking like a hobo.

Fashionistas, you can cross backpacking off the list. There is no room in your bag to fabulous. Putting on clean underwear is a glamourous as it gets. No room for the beauty products you use usually in your bag. Hair care goes out the window. Blair and Serena would be disgusted.

2. The physical act of carrying a backpack on your back.

Didn't think about that one did you? Well yes, that big ass bag has to go on your back. You have to haul it on trains, buses, up and down hills. Betcha he didn't have that six pack when he started his holiday.

3. Being lost.

It's the true beauty of being in a foreign country. No one to help, no phone that works, no one that speaka's your language,  horrible things start running through your head: 'if I got stabbed right now, no one would know'. Okay, maybe that's just me being paranoid but seriously, getting lost is so annoying. 

4. Laundry Day.

image taken from http://www.elkiebrown.com

Your life starts to revolve around when you're next going to be able to do your laundry. Having such a small amount of stuff with you means you're on a very small rotation circle with outfits. You can feel it creeping up on you. You think about it everyday; laundry anxiety I call it. Eventually it becomes to much and you have to find a laundrette (or as the Germans would say 'wash salon'). 

5. Fast Food.

There is only so much take away one person can handle until they start craving a home cooked meal. Not something I was that fussed about before but experience has taught me it's crucial that the hostel you're staying at has a kitchen. Although, I do enjoy a cheeky cheeseburger almost every time I pass a McDonalds. 

6. WIFI.

I can sniff out free wifi a mile off. It's like a sixth sense. 

7. THE 'SHARED BATHROOM'.

There's that moment of relief when you've booked a hostel with a share bathroom and it's not filthy. YAYYY! Small victories people, although my flip flops stay firmly flapping on my feet as I try not to kill myself slipping around the shower in sandals. 

Round Up

I've been to Europe a few times but this was my first official 'eurotrip' sans parents, self funded.
I've learnt so much, not just about travelling but also about myself and my limits. I really enjoyed planning the whole trip and getting to experience it play out. I also know how to improve for next time. 

A lot of people choose to take eurotrips with tour groups like Contiki or Bus About. This is a great way to get a taste of a lot of places without having to worry about what time your train leaves or how to get to the airport. I think if it's your first time in Europe, it's definitely the way to go.

There is nothing more rewarding however than going on a self guided journey across the continent. Choose to stay longer if you love it or leave if it doesn't tickle your fancy. The freedom of travelling without the constraints of other people is a beautiful thing.

Here are some stats.

Duration of trip: 1 month

Countries visited: 7

Cities visited:  11

Most expensive beer: €10.95 in Paris, round the corner from the eiffel tower (DUH). 

Best place for a good time: They don't call it Amsterdamage for nothing.

Skateboarding: The skate scene is massive in The Netherlands, the indoor parks that we visited were packed. Germany also has a big scene that's a lil more laid back.

Most expensive city: Zurich, by a mile.

Cheapest: Germany overall was pretty cheap. 

Prettiest: Paris then Vienna but I'm biased, I want to be a Parisian. 

I pretty much looked exactly like this for a solid 4 weeks