KARNEVAL

Jana & I flew from Berlin to Bonn just in time for the start of Karneval - the annual week of festivities in Köln/Bonn to chase away Winter with bright costumes, German songs, happy spirits and a lot of Kölsch beer. Our costumes included princesses, peacocks, cats, Black Swan's and Little Red Riding Hood's, all with 10x more glitter than necessary.

After singing the same 10 songs for 5 days, I feel like I have prepared myself for studying in German. I also don't ever want to hear those songs again. Please.

Favourite Karneval drink: Klopfer. Little shots in different colours and flavours in tiny bottles.
1) Klopf two bottles together
2) Put the bottle cap on your nose
3) Shot

Viva Colonia!

MAUERPARK FLOHMARKT

Sunday afternoon spent at the Mauerpark Fleamarkets. Hundreds of stalls selling everything under the sun ~ art prints, maps, bikes, homemade honey, cutlery, and the berliner Jutebeutel (celeco bags). I bought one with zürück bleiben bitte printed across the from - words familiar to anyone who travels on the U-Bahn.

After browsing the stalls, we sat up on the hill listening to buskers and sipping on beer in the afternoon sun. I think I can definitely get used to this.

Tschüss

WOHNUNGSSUCHE

Bye-bye Budapest, hallo Berlin. After two weeks of traipsing around Europe, it was time to start organising Berlin.

First challenge: finding an apartment. Jana and I spent four days visiting apartments in a few of Berlin's districts. Some good, some average, some small, some expensive. A real mixed bag. Good news ~ we managed to find one that will be my home for the next 12 months, at least. As of next week, home is a shared apartment right off Bergmannstraße in Kreuzberg.
One very happy/excited Steph.

Second challenge: getting used to the U-Bahn. The map may seem confusing, but given half a day and the criss-crossing U- and S-Bahn's were a mystery no more. Pronouncing half the station names, on the other hand... Möckernbrücke, Schlesisches Tor and Gneisenaustraße, to name a few.

Wilkommen bei Deutschland!

BUDAPEST

The past week has been spent back at my hostel away from home - Carpe Noctem OG, in Budapest. I love this place more than I can describe, and I have been so happy to be back with my Carpe family. I've now visited in all 4 seasons, and each time the city has something different to offer. Highlight of my week would be the afternoon Jess & I spent in the 40ºC Szechenyi thermal baths - watching the steam wafting across and above the hot water's surface. Wow.

Otherwise, it has been a week full of: thermal baths, ruin bars, too many sculled drinks, strawpedos, glitter, leopard print tracksuits, breakfast beers, lunchtime wines, family dinners (100% detrimental to my arteries and general well-being), eating pancakes without hands (35 seconds), 2-for-1 Arriba margaritas and a general confusion of Hungarian currency.

No. of times bag lost: 2

No. of times bag found: 2 (phew)

No. of visits to McDonald's: lost count

~ You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave ~

MERCAT DE LA BOQUERIA

One of my favourite places we visited in Barcelona, right near where we stayed off La Rambla. A feast for both the eyes and stomach, these food markets are rich with colour - fruit & veg, lollies, chillies, herbs, spices and preserved fruit are everywhere you turn. After taste-testing Spanish sweets and cheeses, we sat and watched the hustle & bustle go by whilst enjoying fresh fruit salad and juices from the markets. 

Today marked the end of our stay in Barcelona - time to leave sunny Spain, but where to next? 

☀ ☀ ☀