So, while I was in Minsk for a full week, I ended up really poorly so there isnt much to blog about really!

On Sunday I had a wander around but it was too cold to stay out too long. Its not a very pretty city as in it doesnt have an old town or nice archetecture but it does have a certain charm about it. It is so different to what I have been used to though, hardly anyone speaks english, even in bars and restaurants (or at least, they dont want to speak it!!) so it is really hard to communicate and people are a lot more abrupt to what I am used to. There are no smiles in the street, just frowns! The whole city seems to have a black cloud over it, no one seems to have fun! I suppose it being minus 14 and thick snow doesnt help!

Monday seems to be the day of rest here and everything, including a lot of shops and bars, were closed so I just want to a place called island of tears, a small island in the middle of the river (which was frozen over and people were actually walking on it!) with a war memorial on it.

That night I had some food and drinks in the bar I had been to on Saturday night, I was still struggling with ear ache and it was really warm in the bar. I suddenly felt really hot and dizzy so went to go to the loo....the next minute I came round and I was on the floor surrounded by people and being given smelling salts! I had fainted, It was so scary! A lovely lady and one of the waiters spoke in english to me and asked if I was ok and could stand up, I didnt want to stand up but the flooring was heated and it was making me worse so they helped me outside into the cold and it brought me round a bit. They gave me a glass of water and I felt a bit better, I was so embarassed though! I quickly paid my bill and left and slowly walked back to the hostel, feeling really dizzy all the way. I must have hit my head when I fell as later that night it was hurting and I had a big egg on the back of my head. I woke up in the night and was so sick, and that was how I spent the rest of my time in Minsk basically! Throwing up, laying down, going really dizzy, and repeat. It was horrendous, I have never felt so ill and isolated. The hostel staff were nice but not very helpful and basically said the chemist and doctor wouldnt speak english so I would have to go to the hospital if I wanted to be seen by an english speaking dr. I couldnt face that so just tried to sip water and sleep when I could. I seriously considered flying home at one point as I was so ill! An Australian guy gave me some ginger (that for some reason he had been carrying around in his bag?!) so I kept having that in boiled water and it seemed to ease the sickness a bit.

I finally managed to eat a banana and a yoghurt on the Thursday and felt a little better. I then left for Poland on Saturday morning so that was my trip to Minsk - mainly spent in the bathroom or in bed!

Still not sure what caused it all, maybe the ear infection or just a bug I am not sure, the dizziness lasted for ages though, in fact I still get it now every now and then.