Friday 14th March

After a lie in I spent much of the day chilling in the sun as it's nice and hot but I still couldn't sunbathe as my legs and shoulders have to be covered. Escorted by our guards to a restaurant for a group meal, they were hitting the beggers that got in our way which was a little harsh but we were getting a lot of stares and the women were receiving few comments from men. Had a lift back in a police pick up truck. Had a few drinks back at the hotel sat outside in the courtyard as there was no bar but luckily they had offered to go out to buy drinks for us as although it is legal it's not easy to find.

Thursday 13th March

Drove to the Pakistan border which took about 2 hrs to get through and then we were joined by more armed guards for a 20 hour drive to Quetta through the desert and fairly close to the Afghanistan border. Joined by a new Pakistani guide called Bilal and a guide in training Amjan are both very friendly and knowledgeable about their country. Stopped for food at sunset in the desert which was quite beautiful. Passed many highly decorated trucks with bright colours and flashing lights. At times the road disappeared and we were left driving on a dirt track. Eventually arrived at the basic hotel at about 4am.

Wednesday 12th March

Joined by armed guards today as we are driving across the desert to Zahedan which is a town known for it's drug smuggling, we were told it was too dangerous for us to go out of the hotel so we had to stay inside. We got the staff to get ice cream for us as they hadn't any in. Watched a couple of films in the evening.

Tuesday 11th March

Visited some random gardens which were nice. Went to Bam where there was an earthquake about 4 years ago killing tens of thousands of people, there is still piles of rubble everywhere leaving the town looking like a construction site. Found a random log to have a picnic. Went to the citadel which was mainly destroyed in the earthquake. Stayed in hotel where we played a few games including charades, black magic and poker before heading to bed.

Monday 10th March

Visited a Zorastrian Fire Temple which houses a fire that has apparently been burning for 1500 years. Drove to Kerman where we were welcomed with some date biscuits which I bought a load more of as they're fantastic. Went to the bazaar where I bought a watch so I no longer have to rely on other people to know the time. Stocked up on food for the long drive day.

Sunday 9th March

Drove to Yazd where we stayed in a great little hotel with a courtyard and fountain surrounded by beds to chill on. Went for a wander in the bazaar before having a buffet dinner.

Saturday 8th March

Went to the bazaar and did a bit of shopping and chatted to a few locals who were all very friendly. Went to a cafe under the Siose-Pol Bridge, visited the Mary Church and then visited another cafe where I purchased some Iranian music that had been banned up until a year ago. A large group of us went on some pedal boats on the river which was good fun before heading to a restaurant for a group meal.

Friday 7th March

Fantastic breakfast as there was cereal which I've really been missing. Valy decided to take us to a graveyard on the day of mourning which I thought was quite disrespectful as there were loads of people visiting their friends/relatives graves. Next went to a shrine of an Imam where there were separate entrances for men and women and we all had to take our shoes off. Saw an archaeological site called Silak which is by the town of Kashan apparently where the 3 magi from the birth of Jesus are from. Stayed in a hotel in Esfahan and went for a wander buying ice cream.

Thursday 6th March

Visited the Soltanieh Dome which had great views of the snow covered mountains in the distance. Stopped for lunch at a place where we sat in the traditional position of cross legged on a raised platform. Stayed in a nice hotel in Tehran which is a really modern city compared to the rest of Iran. There was a nice little cafe where the manager allowed me to take off my headscarf, and then a couple of us managed to get hold of some beer which we had to drink secretly in a hotel room. Was good fun and tasted even better knowing that it is illegal!

Wednesday 5th March

Valy took us to visit the Blue Mosque. Then stayed in a hotel in Soltenayeh which wasn't in the town so had chicken and rice there which seems to be all you can buy in Iran. We started playing spoons in the lobby but the staff told us that as it involves cards in could be mistaken for gambling by the police so we had to move to a hotel room.

Tueday 4th March

Took about 5 hours to cross the Turkish Iranian border. All the girls had to put on the headscarves and berkhas, we stood out we all had bought bright colours whilst the locals were wearing black so we got a lot of stares. We got an Iranian guide called Valy who stays with us throughout the country. Stayed in a hotel in Tabriz, we were told that we should only go out in groups and we needed a guy with us but a group of us still got stalked by a random man for about 15 mins but apart from brushing against one girls bum he didn't really do any harm. Found all the clothes to be quite hot which got annoying especially as I could only take it all off in my hotel room.

Monday 3rd March

Slept on the back seat of the bus as I was feeling a little rough until we were stopped at a military roadblock to show our passports. Stayed in a place called Dogubayazit which I didn't think was a particularly nice place, there were loads of soldiers around and it looked like quite a poor area. Spent the last of my Turkish lira on a huge tub of chocolate spread!

Sunday 2nd March

Drove to Erzerum which was also cold and icy. Popped out for pizza in the evening before heading to a hotel room for a bit of a party as it was our last chance for a drink before heading to Iran (thought we shouldn't the night before as being hungover at the Iranian border would not be fun!) where alcohol is illegal.

Saturday 1st March

Drove to Sivas which was cold and icy. We braved going outside in the afternoon for lunch but by evening it was foggy as well so we got the hotel to get a take away and wine for us.

Friday 29th Feb

Major lie in then went shopping for a berkha to wear in Iran, I found a nice orange one with black embroidery. Went back to Fat Boys for a meal before playing a bit of pool at the hostel.

Thursday 28th Feb

A very early start as we had to meet at 5.30 am to go hot aır balloonıng. Managed to get ınto the smallest balloon wıth only 7 other people. We had great vıews over the rock formatıons and saw Love Valley. Fantastıc experıence and I was suprısıngly not cold due to the 8 layers of clothes I was wearıng! When we landed we were gıven champagne wıth a cherry drınk and some cake. Then we had a bıg snowball fıght and a pıle up whıch the balloon staff joıned ın wıth. Back to the hostel for breakfast then headed to an underground cıty where persecuted Chrıstıans hıd. A faırly chılled afternoon playıng pool and wanderıng ınto town. Bıg group meal at a place called Fat Boys whıch ıs great. Danced the nıght away as they let us go behınd the bar to pıck the musıc.

Wednesday 27th Feb

Drove to Goreme whıch has fantastıc rock formatıons. We stayed ın a place called Flınstones and the bedrooms are basıcally caves. Luckıly I got one of the nıcer ones wıth a radıator and a bathroom but some people moved ınto a dıfferent hotel. Went to a great restaurant called Dıbek where we sat on cushıons on the floor around a low table next to stove. Shared a cheese flatbread and a mıncemeat flatbread whıch are both great.

Tuesday 26th Feb

Stopped off at some natural sprıngs before headıng on to Egırdır. Went to a local kebab shop for cheese pıde whıch I loved.

Monday 25th Feb

Went to Ephesus whıch ıs the ruıns of an ancıent cıty. Some of ıt was very ımpressıve ıncludıng the ampıtheatre where we had a sıng off wıth another tour group. Went ınto town for a wander before headıng back to Atıllas to chıll on huge cushıons soakıng up the sun.

Sunday 24th Feb

Had a very random lunch stop at a servıce statıon that keeps monkeys and ostrıches ın cages... Had a pıcnıc on the lawn wıth food from the breakfast buffet - we have all become experts at makıng packlunches for ourselves! Vısıted Troy whıch was maınly pıles of rubble as an archaeologıst used dynamıte on ıt... Went onto Selçuk where we stayed at Atıllas Getaway. A group meal sat outsıde and spent the evenıng around the fıre by the outdoor bar.

Saturday 23rd Feb

Headed to Gallıpollı where we vısıted Anzac Cove where Australıan and New Zealand troops suffered huge losses. We saw the graveyards of these and the Turkısh soldıers. Got a ferry across to Cannakale where we stayed ın a hotel.

Frıday 22nd Feb

Went on a walkıng tour of Istanbul vısıted Topkapı Palace whıch contaıned some sacred relıcs where the Koran was read out 24hrs a day. Also went to the Hagıa Sofıa whıch was a church but then changed ınto a mosque. Our guıde was very knowledgeable about the places we vısıted but I loved just soakıng up the atmosphere of the cıty. The sound of prayer rıngıng out from the numerous mosques was great... defınıtely a place to return to! Sat ın the sun outsıde a cafe for more hookah and then went to the Grand Bazaar where I bought a bracelet. Most of the stallholders were frıendly but we dıd get chased by one guy because we wouldnt buy any jeans. Buffet at the hostel and then a belly dancer arrıved whıch was fun.

Thursday 21st Feb

Had a faırly quıck trıp over the Turkısh border as ıt took about 90 mınutes rather than the 3 hours whıch our drıver had prevıously experıenced. Onto Istanbul and the Orıent Hostel. Free drınk and hookah (whıch I love!) ın the bar and then a quıet meal ın a local restaurant of sea bream wıth a few of the guys. Back to the bar and we were gıven free shots and cake as ıt was the managers bırthday.

Wednesday 20th Feb

Onto Bulgarıa where we stayed ın the nıcest hotel of the trıp so far ın a place called Kazanlak.

Tuesday 19th Feb

A little hungover we set off to Bran Castle or Draculas Castle! It was snowing when we got there so it looked really nice but not imposıng as I expected it to be. Stayed in some cabins ın the woods by a lake on the outskırts of Bucharest. They were old wooden shacks so not very comfortable or warm. There wasnt a bar so after a meal we bought drınks from the restaurant and had a houseparty ın a cabın. The nıght ended wıth some of the guys wrestlıng and causıng a few ınjurıes...

Monday 18th Feb

Left Cluj and headed to Sighişoara the birthplace of Vlad the Impaler. Spent an hour having lunch and walked past his house... Went to a hotel in Brasov where I had one of the nicer rooms that actually had a shower. Had a meal with most of the group where we had a traditional Romanian platters to start. Headed to a bar that had a live band. Had a few drinks and ended up behind the bar having shots until the police turned up... but it was all good!

Sunday 17th Feb

Headed off to Romania which was very snowy. Today was a long driving day... a beautiful country with great views as we drove through the mountains. Arrived at the hotel in Cluj early evening but it was so cold most of us didn't want to go into town so we ate at the hotel restaurant. Stayed at the hotel bar until it closed. Was nice to share a room with less people.

Saturday 16th Feb

Back onto the bus and we headed to Hungary. Arrived in Budapest and headed straight to the thermal baths. It was about -2 so running outside in my bikini was a little chilly but I got straight into a hot pool which was really relaxing. There was a jacuzzi, a steam room and a few indoor pools as well so spent a while chilling there. In the evening I went to an Italian restaurant and then met up with most of the group at a pub. A few drinking games later and the pub closed so 6 of us headed out to what turned out to be a gay bar with cushions on the floor so we chilled there for a couple of hours. Got really lost on the way back to the hostel but eventually we got there.

Friday 15th Feb

Got the bus into the centre of Vienna where a group of us went ice skating. Very funny, especially watching people falling over... Next we went to a cafe for chocolate and marzipan cake which was very nice. Wandered around the city for a while before getting the underground back to the hostel for a powernap. Had a group dinner at a local restaurant then headed back to the hostel bar for a night of drinking and dancing on tables.

Thursday 14th Feb

Back onto the bus at 9am where we were told that there would be a suprise before we got to Vienna. We were taken to Kutna Hora, a church that has been decorated using the bones of victims of the plague. Some had even been made into a chandelier! Between the Czech/Austrian border we stopped at a place called Excaliber World which is completely random, there were restaurants in a plane, shops in a world shaped building and a medieval theme... we had lunch here and spent our remaining Czech money. In Vienna we stopped off at the Schonbrunn Palace where a couple of us quickly went on a tour through the main building. Onto the hostel where I ate in the bar and spent the evening.

Wednesday 13th Feb

At 10am a group of caught a tram into Prague. We visited the St Charles Bridge and also the castle where we saw the changing of the guard. Found a small restaurant for lunch where I had a traditional beef stew with dumplings. Had a look at the Astronomical Clock which has spinning saint statues... A bit of shopping then it was back to the hostel where I spent the evening in the bar.

Tuesday 12th Feb

Breakfast of a chocolate sandwich and then I was back on the bus and on the road for 8am going to Czech Republic and Prague. After a few service station stops we arrived at the Plus Prague Hostel which is very nice... free Internet access and a swimming pool! OzBus provided a buffet and free wine in the evening which was much appreciated! Then we went into the centre of Prague to a bar and then onto a club, and then another one... Was a good night!

Monday 11th Feb

Breakfast at the hostel then onto the bus for a drive to Heidelberg in Germany. This took up most of the day so we stopped at a service station for lunch. In Heidelberg I walked upto the castle and then wandered around the town for a while. Back onto the bus to Herman's in St Goar where we stayed the night in huge dorms with 16 of us in. Meal at the hostel and then onto the bar for a few drinks!

Sunday 10th Feb

It was an early start with us leaving the house at 3.30am so I could get on the OzBus for 7.30am in London. Once on the hired bus (the actual OzBus broke down in Chester) we drove to Dover and got the ferry across to Calais. Then it was onto Bruges in Belgium where we went on a guided bike tour around the city. Stayed in a hostel where I shared a room with 5 other girls. Went out for a meal with 8 other OzBussers then back to the hostel bar for a bit.

So this is my blog... I'm gonna try and update fairly regularly but that just depends on how often I get time and whether or not I can be bothered! One week to go!