In 1986 Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Site exploded in the worst nuclear disaster in mankind's history. Today, we went there on a tour. It was an early start, making our way via the metro to the rather austere hotel that was the meeting point for the tour. There were maybe 25 of us split into 2 minibus loads with 2 seperate guides. Most of the men on the tour seemed to either be American, German or had very fancy facial hair (most likely both). It ...

The hostel was an absolute furnace last night. Sleep wasn't assisted by the bright exit light above the door. Nevertheless, we were up and out by 9, navigating the slippery icey pathways of Western Kyiv. It turned into a bit of an adventure even finding the nearest metro station. We took a couple detours, along railway tracks and through abandoned industrial estates, as well as a breakfast stop. Had a Ukrainian breakfast of Symrda (or similar) - a set of weird d...

It was an early start today walking through Amersham in the pitch black, pitch black myself and getting this Chiltern Line train into town. A couple coffees later and by Liverpool Street I was in that lucid state of being very tired and very awake simultaneously thanks a second coffee... Rob arrived just in time to get the train bound for Stansted. Had a decent catch-up laugh etc and it seemed like we were in Stansted in seconds. Stansted was ultra-smooth, no dr...

I had a vague plan to go to the Black Sea town of Vize today, about 3 hours out of Istanbul which would have meant a v early start. However, somebody decided to play the guitar until midnight and there´s some hipster muezzins nearby who kept me awake until 1 which meant getting up at 7 or so wasn't happening. I decided to wander back to the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofya I saw on Thursday, but this time enjoy them in the bright blue sunshine of this crisp winter's d...

Last night was a bit of a mare. I was very worn out and couldn't be asked to go on a search for a cheap local restaurant so I settled for one of the touristy ones in the Kumkapi Square just outside my hostel. I got ripped off. 10pounds for some meh calamare and yoghurt on bread. Ridiculous. Not having much luck with food here in Turkey to be honest, all a bit overpriced or a bit meh. It took an absolute age to finally get to sleep because of people coming in a...