University of Hertfordshire welcomes you.

It's been a week since I last did a blog update and I feel like I have neglected my baby.

This last week has been a whirlwind of meeting new people, learning how a real uni actually socialises and settling in to my new home for the next 4 and a bit months.

 I was super blessed to find and awesome group of friends from all around the world. However the close group that quickly formed is made up of one American and four Aussies. I'm, sure this will change but at the moment it is fabulous having people I can talk to, without needing to completely focus upon each individual syllable. Just saying.

 However slightly ashamedly I've have been out every single night, partying it up, like I'm a first year. but it has been marvelous. The one nightclub at uni is bigger and better than all the one's in my home town (Bunbury). Dead set, it also has much, much, much cheaper drinks.

It has been an absolute blast unpacking and setting up my room, not living out of a suitcase. Each day thinking I can sleep in, I don't have anything to see today, I can simply chill, was a TV show and veg out.

It has been a pleasure  to cook actual meals, and stop spending so much money each day.

I also thought is was a valid point that I really should mention. I'm out at the shops and I'm torn between whether i should purchase some chicken, 2 for 7 pounds. I was almost not to going to get some, but was like I really do need to eat meat. However, when I went to the alcohol section, I'm like okay 10 pounds, 3 4xpacks of Smirnoff, bargain.  Warped priorities much?

Had to have a quiet laugh to myself.

Ciao Bella, bro my name is Jayllee... TIA

Phew, what a whirlwind of a week, hundreds of kilometers covered, over 20 UNESCO world heritage sites visited, amazing new friends, funny stories, a new tan, and fun times!

Ill begin with Florence. It was astronomically amazing, the historic buildings,the DOME, the statues, monuments, bridges, sites, weather, all ten out of ten. Many people have meet have not really liked Florence, I can see why, it is quite small, but small is refreshing. It is not overwhelming, seeing all the sites is actually achievable! I'm not a huge fan of the Italian culture, but their buildings and environment I absolutely adore. It is with out a doubt one the top five most beautiful countries I have every had the pleasure to visit.

 Florence, saw a an elderly fellow attempt to pickpocket me. Idiot. What girl carries anything in her pockets these days, it is all in the handbags mate, did he not see the size of my handbag! I'm also quite certain the tongue thrashing I gave him we he groped my short pockets motivated him to quickly disappear from my sight. This occurred on one of the oldest bridges in the world, also one of the only bridges in the world to still have functioning shops on. I am of course talking about the Ponte Vecchio bridge.I  made the killer trek up a hill, which really should be classified as a small mountain but the view was worth every tortuous step!

A day trip to Pisa was called for, it was quite easy to catch the train from the main station in Florence to Pisa, on and hour train ride. Pisa was surprisingly small, it is basically a university town. The Leaning tower of Pisa, not Pizza, was great. The white stone used and the incredible tilt was a site to behold, however what was even greater was the amount of tourists there posing with the typical pushing the tower picture. My gosh. I couldn't bring myself to do it, it also did not help that I was taking the picture myself. So a selfie whilst attempting to get the correct angle was not going to be an easy task. However I only recommend a half day trip, because to be honest that's about the only thing there. After catching the train back, I chilled in the air con at the hostel

Sunday morning had me catching a train to Roma, or Rome. My first impressions of this historic city and its 3 million population was not complementary. The people were aggressive, rude and pushy, not my kindred spirits. A lady on the short bus trip from the train station to the hostel had her laptop and purse stolen from her backpack. Welcome to Italy peeps.

 I checked in no problemo, had a lovely couple of girls in my bungalow, ended up hitting the hostels pub with them, and making a tonne of new friends! Travelers are always such a friendly bunch, always a good thing when you are traveling by yourself.

Monday morning up bright and early to begin my Italian adventure, with Busabout the Italian Tour Itinerary was super busy, but amazing. However one down point I feel that people should be aware of would be the multiple extra costs. I easily spent around 50 euro a day, far more than I had expected.

I don't want to drag on about what we did, but Ill mention a few of the highlights. I would definitely recommend anyone traveling to Italy.

• Pompeii – destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD
• Local boat trip to visit the glamorous Capri and chair lifts!
• The infamous Blue Grotto Cave this was surreal!
• Swim in the Mediterranean Sea on the Amalfi  coast line!
• Drive the Amalfi Coast road, one of the best scenic views in Europe 

Now to some observations...

• It is normal for men of all ages, shapes, and sizes to wear speedos, the same goes for women in bikinis. 
• If you are not tanned, you will soon be. 
• Buses will always win on one way streets. 
• Italians loved their pirate watch towers. 
• Italians can wear the most inappropriate clothing to go hiking in. 
• There is no such thing a traffic rules, however over here,  it is polite to toot your horn, as you are signifying- to other drivers wear you are and what you are doing. 

I have explored Rome, what a historic city. However this is also the place in all my travels that I have seen the most obscene amounts of tourists. Honest to goodness I have never seen lines for attractions as long as these, almost a k long. Ridiculous. I found that very off putting, so I did not go into any of the historic buildings, because lets face it i am so not patient enough to wait that long.

I have to pack up my stuff today, getting ready to fly back to London on Saturday. I cannot wait to have my own bedroom, to stop living out of a suit case!

Vienna or Vien? Who cares it's in Europe!

Austria, I adore already. It is quite beautiful. The ladies in my dorm are fab, There are 6 women. Two are a lovely old ladies from the States, who I've helped out a bit! Lovely old birds. The girl I'm bunking above wait for it, is one of the girls that I did the Edinburgh Tattoo tour with in Scotland 3 weeks ago. Small world eh? One of the others is some random Chick, who Ive seen her entire body. Every time she's in our room she stripes, rig this moment she just walked out of the bathroom, stark naked, whilst Christie ( girl Crome Edinburgh) and I were catching up. She then proceeded to get dressed, in saying dressed I mean she put on knickers and bra, with a wrap skirt. No top. Who does that? Weirdo, the other girl left this morning.

So I don't know that much about Austria, but I'm learning fast. The metro is really efficient and good to use to get around. I visited Schonbrunn Palace. What a breath taking palace, but I preferred the grounds. I utilized the three mazes in the grounds, kept myself entertained, I love mazes, so simple, yet so fun!

Had late breaks, early lunch in the other small castle! The ventured out to the shopping district! Karlsplatz :) Saw some more castles and cathedrals, I think I'm about at my limit for appreciating historic churches. It's the the whole ABC - Another bloody cathedral or castle depending. But in saying that I am super excited about flying to Florence tomorrow!!

Back from the brink! Prague!

I'm not exactly 100% on where I should start this update from, but lets be logical, I'll start from where I left off. Coincidently I'm sitting on another bus, this time on my way to Vienna, or Vien as Europeans like call it.

Arriving in Prague, we drove through what I like to call the 'Ghetto' area, the stay away from, forbidden area;graffiti everywhere, derelict buildings, smashed glass, drunks, bums etc. Just as the PA voice over the bus informs us we were almost there, the bus came to a halt. I thought what the heck have I got myself into? I'm a gonna, dead meat were getting let out in the slums? But false alarm, we weren't being abandoned, it was just a red traffic light. Ten minutes later we arrived at the main train station, another 10 minutes later I was down €28, a 1.5km away from where I arrived, and supposedly right near my hostel. Let me explain, I would probably I agree I deserved to get ripped off, my logic went like this. I was tired, hungry, and in the "I can't be bothered dragging my suitcase" mood, therefore the cost of laziness is €28. However I proceeded to get a little lost wandering the alleys, until I gave up and went into a Pizzeria to ask for directions.

It went like this

"Ahh, excuse me, do you know where the Madhouse Hostel is?"
"The Madhouse," then she gives me good five second stare, "It's next door".
"Thanks", smiling at my idiocy I duck my head and run outside. Oppsie daisy

However the day was looking up from there! The hostel was amazing! Not very big, the guys were awesome, so welcoming and friendly. They took us out that night which was amazing. So I've got to be honest,no point not being now. I'm pretty certain that over my entire in Prague I had around 6 hours sleep, ill sum it up with percentages. I was drunk 30% of the time, hungover 60% and dead to the world for 10%. But it was AMAZING, the Aussie chicks, kiwi, English and American fellas was sweethearts. We had an absolute blast! The drinks were so cheap, it was pointless to refuse.

( Ella-American, Flick- Melbourne, me! And bother I've just forgotten her name! )

But I was up and ready to go by 9.30 the next morning,I wandered streets, took in the sites, and this is hat I observed.

• The retail workers are not pleasant, they don't smile, or help at least every single shop I've been into. The change room ladies should be sacked, these ladies do not talk or put the clothes on the rack, you have to do it all the time they're glaring at you when talking in another language to a person on the person. 10 points for customer service dickhead.
• Food is cold i.e. quiches, I haven't seen any sausage rolls or pies since London
• Hand towels are crappy blue green recycled that just tear when you wipe your hands.
• The bouncers use violence on girls.
• The train system is very efficient.
• Try not to get lost, Prague has not embraced the whole tourist era yet, there is very few sign posts with any other language other than there own.
• If you are catching a bus, make sure you know where the international bus station is, because nobody else does, and it's a cow to find!
• Don't go to the zoo.
• 
  
• 

So I guess it sounds as if I really didn't like it, but I think I'd simplify itand say perhaps I'm not a fan of the Czech culture, but the people at the hostel and the good times we had made up for it!

Things I should have known about Germany.

Now that i have finally got some time up my sleeve, I thought it was about time I gave you guys something more than just a simple list of my daily activities. Here's what I think anyone visiting the South of Germany should be aware of.

Firstly they drive on the wrong side of the road, after two weeks of being here I still continue to go to the wrong side of the car. It's the small things like this, that remind you you're not at home anymore.

Secondly pertaining to the vehicle side of things. Germans are speed demons, the word slow is not in their vocabulary, if you're going anywhere, you are going there fast.they shave these highways or Autobahns, as they're called where there is no speed limit. With three lanes the right being slowest, middle lane average and the left lane dedicated to those with the penitence for driving150km plus! They were great, everyone knew where they should be, the only downside was the areas with speed restrictions because of road works. I swear there are construction works EVERYWHERE! Almost every castle or historic sites i have been to has been plagued by restoration works or new additions! Good for the building, not good for my photos!

Thirdly, I've been chatting to Steffen about speeding fines, demerit points etc. Here it is a different system, instead of counting down like we do in Oz, they count up to 16 or 18 (can't be too precise!), it is very difficult to get them. For going 15km over they get a €40 fine and no points. Crazy different!

Next up I think people should be aware that unless they are renting a car, with a tour, or staying with an amazing family, it is very difficult to get around in Southern Germany, that s if you venture outside of Munich. The layout of the German countryside and their villages have not changed since the Stone age. Literally the houses are still the same shape and colour, there are local butchers, paddocks. It is so the most traditional landscape i have experienced. Such a wonderful surprise, driving between the valleys and Forrest and appears out a a cottage or two, followed by a castle. Absolutely magical. There is no urban sprawl or never ending housing developments, there is farm lands, field, paddocks, green grass, mountains, and valleys.

I was lucky enough in the always couple of days to attend another Oktoberfest festival, this was great fun, going a on scary rides. I'm usually good with rides, heights are fine, it's just the whole upside down then back to front, sin me around that I have an issue with. That ride was not to pleasant.

The weather has turned pretty sour so it's. Good time or be sitting on a bus heading to Prague right at this moment.

The Keltz family that I stayed with we're absolutely woeful. they chauffeured me around fed me with traditional Bavarian food, attempted to teach meEnglish, played monopoly with me even though they hated the game, took me back to the Nike shop the next day because Eli wanted to purchase some more goodies, drive me three hours to the alps to check out the castle. I could not have been blessed with a kinder family to stay with, I can't wait to head back for the Christmas markets in December!

Yesterday Mel and I went for a cruise along the Danube river, ending up at a Monastery. The monastery has a brewery as most do in Germany, much to my surprise. It was also the world winner of the best beer for the last three years running. After tasting it, I can't say I'd give it my tick of approval!

So this morning went smoothly, apart from a few unnerving moments.

Up at 5.30, because lets face it who doesn't love early mornings! Not. But after a tea and toast, I wasready to face the cold German morning. Melanie being the darling that she is had me seated on the train, all set to go did she leave me, thinking nothing could go wrong, she'd done her part, got me to the train station, on the train.

To bad once she left, I had a scary smirking fella opposite from me. As I sat their, in the disabled seat space, so my humongous suitcase took up minimal space did a clearly important message come across the PA. After a relatively long message, half of the people seating in my carriage got up and left. WHAT ON EARTH DID THE PA SAY?

I got that horrible feeling, you know the one where your stomach drops, and your imagination begins to run rife.

"You're on the wrong train"
"The trains going to some new destination"
"The train is not stopping at the station you need"
"The trains been delayed, someone jumped in front of it"

For all I knew anyone of those things may have been announced. Oh gosh, my mental reaction "Jayllee pray hard, if you end up somewhere wrong, get a cab. Shut up and stay where you are".

Half listening to my sub consciousness I asked the scary fella, "Is this train still going to Munich central HBF?"
"No English,"
Try again.
"Munich central HBF?"
"Yes".
THANK GOD.

But right this second I'm not far from Prague, and so I'm impressed. We have driven past at least a dozen solar panel farms- is that what they're called? Environmentally friendly Czechs!

One small note as well for Germany is heavily into solar panels. It's not surprising to see barns, and whole villages at that with solar panels covering the entire village.