Jo Herrings Adventures

I pulled into Budva and got horriby lost finding my accommodation. But like all things on this trip it meant I met some lovely people – this time Dutch former Croatians – who taking pity on me in my ‘state’ helped me finthe hostel. Having missed my noghts accommodation the night before due the bad information  Nicholas the host had me sleep in his digs. A tiny room at the top of the stairs – one would usually use as a broom cupbard. Can you imagine being in a full resort town on the Mediternaian and having a room to yourself for €12! I couldn’t be more thrilled. Embrace the Harry Potter within I ventured into the old town of Budva to see what all  the fuss is about. It really is a pretty little spot I ventured into the Citadel and saw some of the restored rooms of the City councillors of days gone by. The view over the bay was just stunning – and made me appreciate the room even more. Thousands upon thousands of bodies littered the beach taking in every ray possible. I have ...

sometimes along your travels you get waylaid, other times you get bad luck and then there is the bad advice. In Lake Ohrid I had the later. I wanted to set of for Montenegro to ensure I had three days there before heading through to Belgrade. Being told the bus leaves on even days on the morning of the 13th meant I would stay til the night of the 14th...thats 2 extra days already at a picturesque spot. Not ideal but it could be worse. Then at 22.30 on the 14th I walk the 3 km to the bus station to discover in August the buses leave Ohrid on Odd days afterall. Back I trapsed to the hostel for another night accommodation and a plan to go to Tirana, Albania. I knew the staff at the Hostel Albania were excellent with information and I wanted to keep moving. By the time I made it to Tirana at 4pm (buses take +2 hours more than they say on the can here) I missed any option to move on. So I purchased a direct bus to Budva (you can take 3 different buses and walk across the border but that...

I had taken the advice from Tom and Vicky's adventures back in 2009 to make it to Lake Ohrid (said ock-rid) on the border or Macedonia and Albania. With the temperature in Tirana dragging me down I took the 4pm with my mate Hanna to the Macedonian side of the lake. The noticeable change was the prices and the tourists...hundreds of them. Albania on the other hand  just does not have anything but locals - save a few lost souls. But the tourists were primarily local as the summer holidays are in full swing for those in the Balkan states this month. We arrived shortly before 10pm to Sunny Lake Hostel in the old city. Here I was made welcome by a familiar face from Budapest and a merry band of solo travellers drifting in for a late night feast of the local Aubergine, Red Pepper and Chilli dip  called Ajvar (said Ivar) with hunks of bread. It was instantly a place I felt at home. Chatter reverted to relaxation and how long could each of us drag this lake time out for. Dahi wins...

I tried to catch the ferry from Ancona on the central East coast of Italy but I had arrived a day early so headed south to Bari where I was sure more frequent services were available. Making 9.5 hour train journey I arrived in Bari tired and without a map or any information. Like any good backpacker I headed straight to a 5 star hotel for directions and advice. Here the receptionist told me I could catch the 11pm ferry no problems. With advice from my favourite Italian Federica of how unsafe Bari is I made a mission for the ferry pronto. I took a perch up on the top deck in the heat of the night and wrapped myself up in all my warm clothes...making it all worth while bringing them with me! I arrived in Durres, Albania around 9am. I was coxed into a cab for €5 to get me to the bus station.  It was my first lesson in F.Off. Especially after I discovered the bus stop was less than 200m away....reminded me of Paul and his Rickshaw driver in Delhi. But I managed to wriggle out of i...

Charlotte's birthday day was something else. I have been to day long parties before but waking to a hot Tuscan sun and heading out for a 20km cycle tour around the Medieval town of San Gimignana was something else. We took the winding back roads up to the township and took in a food break before heading down to continue the ride With 2km down hill many of the crew let rip and Mali came a cropper. Brave soldier, she she sat quietly and kept apologising as we chatted and Rodders and I did a crash investigation whilst the other cycled back up the same 2km hill and back to the cars. (I was relieved for the rest with my dicky heart on the verge of a spaz) Magnum PI and Madonna - Getting the party started We headed back to the Villa in the Tuscan hills after the cycle and after a quick dip I went in and baked a chocolate cake (with no raising agent it transpired despite buying levitating flour. My Italian obviously needs work!). As the cake cooked the chef Mike and Charlotte ...

It’s the story movies are made of a year travelling the world with a one week holiday in a Tuscan villa with old friends. I arrived in Bologna in the northern Tuscan city at 5.30am. Finding the heat of the day starting to swelter from the early hours I made for the central Piazza Miaggore to crew at lunch time. On my way I took the side streets to see the markets opening for the day and locals looking bemused at the travel weary backpacker. Once in the Piazza Miaggore I took refuge on the steps of the San Petronio Basilica  to watch the crew of workers erecting the temporary city cinema. When I woke from my slumber in the heat around 9am they had completed their task and I was off for a morning refreshment. Police and the Army had been keeping an eye on me over the morning as local drunks came for a chat and people started to rouse for their Saturday routine. Whilst I waited I watched the AB’s take on South Africa and win the first of the Tri Nations challenge convincingly – loo...

Arriving in Vienna hadn't started well. The door to the train wouldn't open. Finding another open door, I was left with a mother and 1 year old with a Trunkie, no husband, 4 year old, luggage or money. Turns out the family were Hungarian-Australian and on their way to the airport Oz bound so doing my good travellers deed for the day packed Mum, son and Trunkie off to the airport in a shuttle. I really hope they all made it home together. I found my way to the hostel and then given the bright sunshine took to the streets having missed the opportunity to take photos of every other city in sun so far! I made my way to the central Basilica and then wandered the streets finding a Schnitzel house filled to the rafters, a ornate clock, music singing through the streets, pianos being practised on and some of the most beautiful shoes I have ever seen (fit only for Elton John let it be said!). The film festival on that evening started at 9pm and with a rain shower about to hit I opted f...