The trip of our lifetime

After a long absence we are finally back! (some condo buying, reno’ing, decorating, got in the way). We last blogged about life in Reykjavik. Only a certain part of our visit was in Reykjavik the rest of the time we spent on the road exploring the island. We realized that the more we explored, the more we wanted to explore, hence our strong desire to return and do a proper road trip. Many of Iceland’s treasures are located all over the island. Some of them can be somewhat elusive to find, making find them almost like a treasure hunt, and who doesn’t love hunting for treasure! If you answered no, you can stop reading now ;).

On our first day on the road we went looking for the big sites. Our first stop was Pingvellir National Park. It’s a beautiful place! When we set out the weather was not exactly cooperative. We were driving in small roads in white out conditions. The weather forecast called for “heavy ass winds propelling hard ass rain”. As we walked along the path to the information center at the top of the hill we stopped (briefly) along the way and witnessed the beautiful river valley where Iceland’s oldest church resides. This is where Iceland’s, and the world’s, democracy was first formed back in 930 AD. As we took in the sights we tried to take pictures. The rain ruined any chance of that happening! Not to mention that the park sensed our want to photograph it, so it sent extra hard winds at us. At this point we decided to make a run for it. We got to the car just in time to realize that both our jackets were soaked through and through. Anna’s is still drying in our closet as we speak. I think it will be dry in time for the next Olympics.

Did this ruin our exploratory spirit? Hell yeah!! We went back and hit the mall after that. As the wind grabbed the store door nearly ripping it off its hinges the man working there looked at us and said, “Welcome to Iceland”.

Next day we hit up a popular route called the Golden Circle. We meant to hit it up the day before, but the weather totally beat us down. This may have worked to our advantage as our new travelling companion was ready to travel with us. Introducing The Master of foreign accents himself, Baron Matthias Von Lundheardt Von Lichtenstein….! A worldly man of many titles. From our pictures you can see that we found some breathtaking views and had to photograph them. Mattie (as we in the royal congregation are allowed to call him) helped us up the ante significantly with our jump shots! We saw mountains & valleys, met some short and hairy Icelandic horses that tried to eat my sweater, and even explored Geyser Park, where a few active geysers are active. Some bigger than others. All the geysers are named and the main Geyser is called “Strukkor”. Every couple of minutes this one would give us a real show! We got it on video. Like in New Zealand, where there’s sulfur and volcanic activity, there’s the natural smell of mother earth cutting some serious cheese. No different here.

Next stop was the Gulfoss Falls. It translates to “Golden Falls”. These falls were breathtaking! In winter they wind through ice ever so gracefully making for such a beautiful shot. Can’t see it like this when the snow’s gone.

After the falls we went hunting for craters in search for aliens. We didn’t find the aliens, but we did find a huge crater called Kerið.

Disclaimer: On the hunt for this crater we almost died a horrible cold death! Not to be dramatic or anything. Our handy-dandy GPS took us off the beaten path and our tiny Yaris. This was a gravel path covered in fresh snow, with huge drops on either side of the path. As we were driving …the darkness was approaching, there was no human in site for miles, and what cell phone signal? Our car decided to skid off the path and gave us all a “tiny” panic attack. Not to worry tho, Anna and Matty mustered the strength of 10 men and got us out! Practically lifted the car out of the snow!

Anyway.. the crater, right that’s what we were talking about…

Kerið is a 3000 year old volcanic crater that is approximately 55 m (180 ft) deep, 170 m (560 ft) wide, and 270 m (890 ft) across. All this means it’s freaking huge! Easily a good size apartment building can fit in there and then some. All the rocks around it are bright red, not black like the rest of the island. If ever in Iceland make sure to go see it, and feel free to climb down to the bottom…if you dare!

We spent a full day venturing out along the South Coast. Along here is where we found some of the numerous waterfalls we’ve been reading about ever since we arrived. Getting there was a treacherous journey in and of itself. We had to weather sleet, snow, and blizzard conditions as we headed over the mountain pass driving in white out conditions. As we descended down the other side the weather rewarded us with blue skies and fields of gold and black stone. The journey over the mountains took about an hour or two. So to be clear, it was in those 2 hours we experienced the equivalent of 4 completely different weather systems! You know the saying in Calgary, “Don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes”, well Iceland beats that by a mile! We Calgarians are wusses compare to what Iceland has in store.

Our first stop was the waterfall called Seljalandsfoss. This is a very high waterfall with a path that runs up and behind it. Arriving there is very dramatic as you see the long cliff extending on either side of the falls with birds flying around. As you get closer, you get wet, and very wet. Taking pictures wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worth it! Once we got behind the waterfall and up on the other side of the path half way up the cliff the views were quite nice.

Once we took it all in and froze through the bone in cold cliff water, we warmed up in the car and drove on. The next waterfall was 90 minutes away and it awaited us! It’s called Skogafoss. This one was equally inspiring as the last one. In arriving you walk across a threshold of black sand that looks as if it’s crushed from coal and silica. In the distance the waterfall roar with the sun beaming down creating a bold rainbow. It was quite picturesque. These falls were easily 50 meters high.

After enjoying the beautiful waterfalls our next stop was the ocean. The place is called Dyrholaey. It’s where the black sand beaches meet the ocean waves. Huge black cliffs shoot up from the edge of the beach easily 50-75 meters high. The crazy part is that the rocks look almost alien in nature. They look like tall rectangular cubic formations like they came out of a mould for the first 15 metres or so. We couldn’t make it to the other side of the road for this one, as the ocean just washed away the road. But that didn’t stop us from getting in some of our jumping shots.

After beholding the black sand we headed to Vik. A small town of about 600 people on the coast. A nice little café called Halldorskafi served some great sandwiches. Just so you know, they cost the same here as they did in Reykjavik, but they were so tasty! Best lamb sandwich I’ve had in a long time. Finally got my share of Icelandic lamb! Victory is mine!!

Today was much shorter in drive time. We drove along the southern peninsula just south of Reykjavik. Our first stop was the Viking museum in Reykjaenesbaer. The building looks like a 5 story high glass cube in the middle of a Viking playground when approaching. In the glass section is the Viking Explorer ship. This ship was built authentically with old world methods to sale along Erik The Red’s route to Scotland, Greenland, Netherlands, Scandinavia, Northern Europe, Newfoundland, Labrador (called Vineland) and back. They did this in 2000 and now the same ship is here. The rest of the museum is dedicated to the Vikings history replete with artifacts, historic documents and models showing their lives back in the day as well as how Christianity influenced their culture. There’s also a whole section on Norse mythology. Here’s the website to learn more:

http://www.vikingaheimar.is/en/

We later went exploring and looking for the tectonic plates where the Europe and North American plates meet. We went to Europe and back in a matter of seconds! That’s what the brochure said and I’m not going to argue. There was a disclaimer we read claiming that the area could erupt in a torrent of fire and brimstone at any given moment without notice. Once you get past that little detail, you’re well on your way to enjoying the great rift!

Summary

All in all here’s our list of accomplishments on this trip:

·         We drove 1162 km’s over 6 days
·         Almost killed our rental car twice, once with Matty’s help and once on our own off roading the harsh landscape looking for outlooks over the ocean. Thankfully the rental company hasn’t read this J
·         We ate all kinds of Icelandic foods and drank Icelandic beer
·         3 waterfalls and 4 black sandy beaches with crashing waves
·         Enjoyed the ever so famous Blue Lagoon Hot Springs, with clay masks all over our faces
·         Partied like true Icelandars with jackets in tow
·         Wore all kinds of Icelandic sweaters, hats, and gloves.

Overall, Iceland is one of the most unique countries we’ve been to. The people are very warm, and resistant to cold, and the food and sights were out of this world! We are definitely planning on going back and doing a full on road trip around the whole perimeter. Who wants to come? Until next time vertu sæll!

Hello Hello! It's been so long!

We waited a good time, before we ventured off to another place and of course we picked something extraordinary, ICELAND!

When we told everyone we were going to Iceland we didn’t get the same responses we would have gotten from going to Europe or the Caribbean. This time we got a lot of raised eyebrows with the question “Why Iceland?” to which we responded “why not?” Why not experience the unfamiliar? Why not go to efforts to grow beyond our comfort zone and see something spectacular and unconventional at the same time? Why not check off one of Anna’s bucket list items? Canadians generally favour vacationing anywhere that is warmer than Canada, which is most of the world honestly. To choose somewhere that is perceived to be colder is an anomaly (i.e. WHAAAAAATTT??????).

Reykjavik is the most northern capital city in all the world. The total population for all of Iceland is 360,000 people, 2/3 of whom reside in Reykjavik. The language spoken here is Icelandic and their currency is called the Icelandic Krona. The conversion ratio is 100:1 for Krona vs. US/CDN approximately, or as one of the locals told me, “its shit”.

We noticed right away the winds were very cold and the landscape was stark and very rocky. We didn’t see a single tree anywhere, or even grass, just snow (as it had recently snowed), rock, and the occasional magic troll. It really felt like we were driving in a black white painting of an alien planet. It was a very surreal feeling. This feeling was heightened by the fact all the terrain wasn’t just rocky, but inky black. Imagine pouring black ink over all the rocks, or have a troll do it for you. The black rock appears in stark contrast to the steamy, cyan blue waters of the Blue Lagoon (Bla Lonid in Icelandic. $10 says you’ll likely say it wrong, but you’re welcome to try).

The Blue Lagoon continues to exude that otherworldly vibe as you get closer. This is a geothermal spa located in a lava field about 45 minutes outside of Reykjavik. The water here is always 37-39 degrees Celsius and is fed from the nearby geothermal power plant. It is said to help treat diseases such as psoriasis and others. We went in the evening near dusk. The water was very warm. The weather was very cold (rain, & sleet). It was a perfect time to experience it. The steam coming from the light blue water created quite a dramatic scene against the black rocks of the surrounding area. It’s a large enough pool. They had buckets of silica mud mask for us to try on. I have to say, we felt baby smooth afterwards. Of course, the locals didn’t seem affected by the cold, but the tourists were running and huddled up anytime they were out of the water. It is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland and well worth the visit.

Reykjavik

Welcome to Reykjavik, the cityscape is filled with colourful homes all built with Scandinavian design principles. Our small apartment (imagine Ikea “Haute Couture”) was downtown on trendy Lagavugar Street. This is a beautiful city. It’s right on the water with a long boardwalk which stretches towards the docks right to the Harpa Concert Hall, where we can see misty, snow covered mountains just across the water. The houses and buildings here are all covered in brightly coloured metal siding. Most of the businesses here were actually old family homes converted into shops, bars, cafes, etc. Many cafes here double as barber shops, happening bars at night time, or in the case of the Laundromat Café, a Laundromat, and nursery/daycare for kids.

The boardwalk leads to the Harpa Concert Hall. This building is an astonishing feat of architecture! It won 2013 EU architectural prize. It’s a cube shaped glass building built with hex shaped blocks of glass on all sides that looks like one corner is falling into the water at all times. It kind of looks like it was built by arctic Ice Bees. The inside is very modern, high, and beautiful. Being in this place feels like you’re standing about 20 years in the future. Would love to see a concert there one day.

There’s lots to see in Reykjavik. One of the great attractions is the Hallgrímskirkja Church. This church is the tallest building in town and offers some impressive views from all sides. It’s open to everyone and only $7 to go up the clock tower to see the views of town. From there you can see the Harpa concert hall and docks, the mountains, the cityscape, and out into the country side. It’s a relatively new church with more modern architecture on the outside, but it’s well worth the trip. After you should make your way to old city hall to the large ponds where the ducks are waiting. They are waiting in supremely large numbers with their friends, the geese and swans. There are literally hundreds of them there, and the best part is they love tourists! So get your cameras out and grab some dry bread, because you won’t want a chance to commune with these fun creatures. We had a good time taking their pictures and watching them, as well as seeing some very large snow men (or asexual beings, your choice). These snow people were actually around 8’ tall and just build by the local kids for fun. Naturally, we had to get our picture and “talk” with them.

When you get hungry you have a lot of nice places to eat, and Icelandic food is very good. They pride themselves on their lamb and seafood. They also have a drink called the “Swiss Mocha” which is hot chocolate and espresso mixed. Just drink it and never look back! Those of us who had it are still suffering withdrawals! There are a number of dining options if you don’t want just Icelandic food. All the cafes serve exceptional food as well as the restaurants. The only chain restaurants here are Subway, Dominos, and KFC. The rest are all local owned shops. Since Iceland is far from, well, almost everything, most food has to be imported. As a result, you will not find a meal anywhere for less than $20/person. If you’re lucky you could do it for $15, but you’ll be eating a lot of fries and burgers. Dining out in a nicer place will run you even more. Alcohol is another beast altogether. Beer is no less than $9 each. At first we thought that was just the big city tourism district pricing, until we drove around to the small towns. The prices really don’t change at all no matter where you are. Now, if you’re feeling adventurous, the local steakhouses, and there are a good number, also offer more locally sourced meats as well. What I mean is they serve such meats as horse, minke whale, and puffin. These are local dishes, so if you’re feeling very animal righteous, you may want to pass on those politely as this is part of their heritage and something they feel strongly about.

The water system here is a little different from other countries. Icelandic volcanoes are still very much active. You remember what happened in 2010? The geothermal heating is all throughout the country, so water here is heated naturally, albeit with a sulphuric smell. On one hand it feels like a nice spa every time you have a hot shower with soft, smooth skin as a reward. On the other it smells like someone has been cutting the cheese repeatedly when you do. A fair trade off? I’ll leave that to you.

The night scene here is pretty happening. During the week it’s pretty quiet as most people have to work, but when the weekend is here, lookout! Bars only stop serving alcohol at 3am, but remain open until 5amish. We went out on the Friday before we left and left the club around 4 am and the party was still going very strong! We hit up 3 places to get a good sampling of the scene. Our first stop was Koffin café. It was a small English style pub. Just below street level and very relaxed with couches. We all had a pint, relaxed, and moved on. Next was Dhillon. Loved this place! It’s a rock bar & scotch bar. On the main floor they play classic rock and heavy metal from the 70’s until now. Upstairs they have live music of local bands playing what sounds like 70’s Pink Floyd and riff based heavy metal. These bands were awesome! And the crowd was packed in. Given most clubs and cafes are old homes we were literally rocking the house! After rocking it hard, we decided to go in search for some dancing. We ended up at a little dance club called “Dolly”. They had a pair of female dj’s dressed like they came from the 1920’s and seemed to be dancing along having a great time. The one thing we noticed here is that everyone was dancing in their parkas, talk about the culture shock. Also all the Icelandic men dressed incredibly stylish, while all the ladies looked hobo chic with about 5 layers on at a time.

That’s our first impression and summary of arriving in Iceland and Reykjavik. As you know, we rented a car, and boy did we put it to good use! We were there for a week and put on 1162kms on the odometer. We’ll share where we went on our upcoming blog of the countryside and natural beauty we saw. See you soon!

PS. Spotted! We spotted someone jogging in shorts and a hoody. Did I mention that it was -4 degrees Celsius outside? Did I also mention this person was jogging along the boardwalk by the water? Did I mention this body of water is actually the Arctic Ocean? This is an indicator of the heartiness of the Icelandic people. We Canadians think we can adapt to cold? Ha! We’re practically a tropical tribe by comparison.

Ali & Anna

All pictures (c) Anna :)

In the last 8 months we have lived a life that we never thought we would, here are some facts.

To travel around the world it took us 20 plane rides (16 hours being the longest ride and 45 minutes being the shortest ride), 7 ferry/boat rides, 7 overnight/day trains, 4 long haul busses, 2 car rentals, and 2 campervans, (sorry EMU didn't mean to kill you).

We visited 4 continents, 11 countries, and 34+ cities and slept on 48 different beds.

We had one big suitcase, small carry on, day pack and a purse for two people for 8 months.

I think it's safe to say, we adapted quickly and without hesitation.

How do you write the end to a journey that you can't summarize or explain. The only thing that lingers are the memories engrained forever.

I began thinking of a trip similar to this a while back, when I was broke and google by my side. It was only supposed to be a volunteer trip in Asia and by myself. Then I dreamt bigger and bigger and said why not? You live once? I have been saving for 5 years it was time for us to spend some money and run away from the stressful life.

That early morning on January 1st, 2013 our great friends Jason and Ashley drove us to the airport. All we had was a one way ticket to Melbourne and a hotel for 6 nights. With faint lines on what countries we wanted to visit. The rest came along on a day by day, week by week and even sometimes a month by month.

This trip changed us, in ways we weren't expecting. Our eyes opened to things we didn't know. It's impossible to say what was the favourite place, or the favourite part. The shitty days were just as important as the amazing ones. But if I were to choose a few places that I would come back to for sure it would be:

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Rothenberg, Germany
Prague, Czech
Singapore, Singapore
Great Ocean Road, Australia.

I could go on forever writing on this experience, but I want to keep it short and sweet, besides Ali already explained some great things.

I don't have any regrets about any places we went to. I miss it everyday and euphoria has not come off just yet, and I am hoping it will never come off. This trip gave me a travel bug the size of Russia, making me hungry for more. So stay tuned as this blog will be updated as another trip of our lifetime begins. But do give us some time, as the money needs to be replenished first.

Thank you all for reading, we enjoyed seeing our page views get higher and higher.

Anna <3

PS. Couldn't end this one without pictures!

Here is my selection of one favourite picture from every single country we visited (idea suggested by my travelling friend Elise).

12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Australia - January 2013
It was a windy day, and about 1000 people, but that couldn't take away the beauty of this place.

Matamata, Hobbiton, New Zealand - January 2013
It was a super warm and sunny day, we were with a group of 20 and our guide was absolutely hilarious.

Monkey Forest, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia - February 2013
It was a steamy hot day, we were surrounded by 100s of monkeys who terrified me.

Orchid Garden in the Botanical Gardens, Singapore, Singapore - February 2013
It was so hot my camera kept pausing from overheating, the mutant orchids were breathtaking.

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - March 2013
It was a hot summer day, where the heat off the metal towers were felt, this tower made you feel tiny.

Elephant Sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand - May 2013
This explains the moment when an elephant gets so happy and excited to have a bath, we bathed a few ourselves.

Café in Rothernburg o.d.t, Germany - June 2013
An awful freezing wet day but the beautiful little café was enough to get us excited.

Gothic Church, Vienna, Austria - June 2013
The way the sun streamed through the stained glass made me speechless.

Astronomy Clock, Prague, Czech - June 2013
The most unique clock I had ever seen. The detail in that is incredible.

Castle Region, Budapest, Hungary - June 2013
The horse and rider as one.

Cherhoness, Sevastopol, Ukraine - July 2013
The ruins that made me feel uber young, with the cold black sea.

All pictures were taken by me! (C) Anna B!! Don't steal, or I will use my genius skills to find you :)

Trying to summarize a trip like this is a daunting task. There were so many memories
that I can recall and so many more that I need to review all the blogs just to trigger. This
was by far the most amazing experience of my life and it wouldn't have even happened
if it wasn't for Anna, so a big shout goes out to her for that. The challenges of our trip
are recalled just as fondly to me as the joys if it. The intense heat of Malaysia and
Singapore; the overnight trains in Thailand; the crash in Wellington that claimed the life
of "Nathan The Emu" and the resulting events that it triggered. Almost every expectation
we had about the places we were visiting were completely dashed, and this isn't said
lightly as we did a lot of research before hand on each country. One question I get
asked a lot is this, "what was your favorite place you visited?". As you can imagine, this
is not a simple question to answer. There were so many wonderful moments that I can't
think of one place that really grabbed me more than the others. I can say my experience
in Ukraine was quite singular in that I was welcomed with open arms to the Anna's
clan and all the kindness and food that came with it had a huge impact on me. Since
each place and experience that went with it was unique it’s tough for me to pick one
over the other.

What I will offer is a list of the 10 that stand out for me in no particular
order.

Thailand
Singapore
Rothenburg OBT
Vienna
Prague
Bali
Great Ocean Road
Hobbiton
Kuala Lumpur
Melbourne

I’d go back to any of these places in a heartbeat! The one thing I can tell you is that
in all of the places we went we experienced many different religions from western
christianity to eastern buddhism to islam. All the places in the world are changing and
developing. The impact on me was astounding to see that my outdated perceptions
were completely wrong. It was a good thing to know that even though many places have
their old traditions, they are also embracing the new world as best they can. They all
love really good action movies and going out with friends and family and great food!
Standards of living were definitely not all equal, which made me very thankful I come
from Canada and quickly became very sympathetic to those who fight very hard to
come to Canada, United States, or any country that has a higher standard of living or
a middle class. Despite adversity in all these places we found the people were always
strong in spirit and happy for what they do have. No matter how little they had they were
always generous with food and accommodations.

Best country to drive in was definitely Germany. They have the best road system I
have ever seen. No traffic hangups. Lights for everyone from cyclists to pedestrians,
and great drivers who NEVER clog the left lane! The most beautiful and challenging
was New Zealand. Australia has the Great Ocean Road, but New Zealand was pretty
everywhere. So many sheep, undulating hills, valleys, rivers, and mountains. It's really
breathtaking to see. New Zealand also has the worst drivers of all the countries we
drove in. Sorry guys. Insurance isn't compulsory and the age of full licensing is very low.
Best country of nature exploration is Australia. It has the most unique ecosystem in the
world, and so many beautiful places to explore. We find ourselves constantly stopping
at the side of the road to explore trails, observe animals, and just enjoy the natural
beauty of it all.

Best country for sitting on a patio and having a coffee would be Vienna, with Germany
as a close second. Cafes are always full of people and the streets are always lively and
fun to observe. Germany was similar, but Vienna had a certain liveliness to it that was
hard to match. The sheer amount of places to see, festivals to experience, and cultural
activities happening at any given time are mind boggling. It makes Toronto look like the
North Pole in the middle of summer! We found some of the best parts of Vienna were
free to explore and enjoy. The only downside against it was that it was one of the most
expensive places to have a coffee as well.

Best place to eat besides with Anna's family on Datcha is Chiang Mai, Thailand. Why?
It's cheap and the curries are amazing! I couldn't get enough of them. So many varieties
and all of them taste incredible. We were rarely disappointed. Now this doesn't apply in
Bangkok or the islands. Chiang Mai spoiled us considerably. Behind Thailand, I'd say
Germany. Such high quality food and not nearly as expensive as you might expect. If
you hit up a grocery store you'll save a tonne while enjoying some great food.

Best place to appreciate modern architecture was Singapore. Europe has a lot of old
architecture, which is absolutely beautiful, but Singapore is the most forward looking
place of all we've been. Modern, unique, and very ambitious in all respects. Everything
from the Marina Bay Sands hotel to the airport to the alien trees are all statements of
innovation and creativity. Easy to get lost in it all. The city is special in that it offers so
much both during the day and in the evenings. The architecture takes on a whole other
life when the sun goes down as well.

Friendliest people: This one is very difficult. It is a tie between New Zealand and Bali.
The people of Bali are very spiritual and open. They always greet you with a smile and
are have overcome great adversity without affecting their beliefs and way of life. It is not
uncommon to end up in someone's dining room for dinner. New Zealanders were also
exceedingly friendly. There were times we needed help and they bent over backwards
to help us, many times at great expense to themselves. They really go out of their way
to be friendly. They're proud and outgoing, but not arrogant.

I can say we definitely learned a lot from our travels. Having seen all the countries we
have truly impacted how we see the world today. There is much beauty in the world and
diversity that you can't imagine until you see it for yourself. We're very lucky we live in a
time and in a country where we have access to travel and accommodations around the
world for relatively little money. In the past only the wealthy travelled, but today almost
anyone can, and should. Let yourself get lost in it and you'll see, like we did, that the
world and people in it are not nearly as different as you think. In fact, those differences
are fading with each passing day. One thing I've learned, is that I have a lot to learn.

Thank you all for following our blogs over the past year. I hope this isn't the last trip of
our lifetime that we take.

Stay tuned for Anna's last words
Ali

PS. Enjoy ...FOOD!

Sevastopol, who goes to Sevastopol for a beach vacation? Is what everyone in Dnepropetrovsk asked us when we were boarding the night train. We really didn't have an answer to that question, only that we heard somewhere, somehow this was the place to be. Sevastopol is a beautiful city which is only 230 years old, surrounded by the beautiful black sea and monuments to remember the dark side of the wars.

Sadly Ali wasn't with us to enjoy the last world adventure. His world tour ended on July 9th, and he will be writing his insights in the next post.

Sevastopol was all about enjoying life the Ukrainian way. Some sort of alcohol from the morning until the next morning when it was time to sleep, followed by borsht for breakfast and sheesha for dinner. Of course this wasn't done in the same place all the time, we explored Sevastopol the proper way, saw everything (so we thought) we could see.

Chersonessos, the beautiful ruins that are only 2,500 years old, with amazing history and continuous archaeology explorations.
35 Seacost Battery, which explained what happened in the war, while we stood almost in tears looking up all the names and the only pictures they have restored of the fallen. Which was an amazing tour and surprising completely free of charge.
Balaklava Bay, a hidden little bay but with a secret underground tunnel-plant for submarines repair. Which is an awful tour and you should never ever go unless something changes in the next 20 years.
Cape Fiolent, one of the most beautiful, hard to get places in the Crimea. Takes 800 steps to walk down to the beautiful beach, where the only way out is a ship to the Balaklava (see above) or up those 800 (which feels like 1500) steps.
And various, various beaches the curved our craving for a cold beer, and a good game of cards.

On our last day, we met some people who were also tourist who asked us where we had been, and what we had seen. We felt proud to answer the questions as we felt like seasoned locals of Sevastopol, it could of been the false confidence of the downtown Sevastopol apartment and the great energy of our friend Igor. Only to be squashed down and pushed off our pedestal by the tourists saying, "Really, that's all you have seen?". On that sad note we learned, we only saw about 10% of Sevastopol. But now at least we knew the real answer to the question, "What is there really to do in Sevastopol"? The true answer is a mild laughter followed by "are you kidding me?".

The last night in Sevastopol crept so fast it seemed only I was feeling the walls closing in. This meant that was my last night on my world tour, the next couple nights would be in a train to Kiev and a flight to Toronto. This meant, I was going back to homeland, English speaking civilization, with responsibilities and stress. It has been almost three weeks since I landed in Toronto, where I am taking a breather before going back to Calgary to face reality. Can't wait to see what our minds comes up with for our last 2 blog posts on this incredible journey. Stay tuned for the finale.

Anna

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