So where was I.....oh yeah Prague, you must excuse the content/manner of this blog it's hot I'm hungover and I need a thermal bath..I'm now in Budapest, Hungary an awesome city (we must do a weekend jaunt here) We left Prague on actually not sure what day I've only been gone a week and I've lost complete sense of time and currency having used so much already. I'm on country number 7 now I think! and can't quite believe how many kilometres we've driven in such a short space of time. We're basically transitting through Europe (2/3 days in each country) and once we reach Turkey next week we'll have longer in each country (3/4 weeks) as it's been a bit of a mad dash thus far. I'm now starting to visit new countries now which is always a treat.

On route to the Austrain border after leaving Prague we stopped off at the Church of Bones in Kutna Hora (no it means nowt to me either but my Mum "Hi Mum" is mapping my journey!) anyway I remember seeing it on Ewan McGregor's Long Way Round show and thought ooh spooky you'll see what I mean when you see the photos...

So a brisk drive through the next border to Austria and no hiccups encountered phew, (after the saga leaving Prague!). First stop was Vienna a lovely campsite on the edge of the city. Forgot to take snaps sorry. We pitched up then stumbled upon a shop on site that sold red wine.... (Harry the hernia was fine Nicole!)

Next morning early start, a new friend (Will) and I decided to venture to Salzburg and jump ship as it were leaving the truck folk to pound the streets of Vienna. We chose well. We caught a 3 hr luxurious train up into the hills relaxing in our own cabin en route. First stop the fortress on the hill (best views) we were not disappointed. Soft and pathetic but I had Sigur Ros on my archos and when I saw the snow tipped peaks it brought a tear to my eye. I'm extremely homesick don't ask why but I am and it may not go for a while but as I looked out onto the alps I thought this is what it's all for all those hours in the dpr store (overtime at work in a small cupboard for hours sorting out lost and found property!) were worth it. The photos don't do it justice but trust me we both got goosebumps.

That was Salzburg really a walk through the squares then a 3 hr train ride back, not having taken enough snaps at this point we thought what the hell and stayed on the train into central Vienna awesome city, great little Berlin style bars again afraid my photos don't do it justice but I'm trying! We missed the last bus back to the campsite so forked out for a taxi with that and the train we blew our weekly budget but I'm not doing this trip again!! Camping has been cool I can now pitch my tent in about 3 minutes but although the days are hot the nights are cold and I have longed for my bed and duck down duvet on more than one occasion! Thankfully I met an Aussie couple at the campsite the day we arrived naturally I got chatting to them and it paid off, on our final night in Vienna they had free beds in their dorm room so me and a friend Sarah (from New Zealand) snuck in without our group knowing and I slept like a baby, I crept out the next morning only to bump into Kirsty our tour leader typical...She just smirked!

I'm nearly done if you're bored. Next stop Hungary country number 7 already. Europe is warming up infact we arrived in Budapest yesterday and it was just short of 30 degrees. The Merrells are out Nicole! We're staying at a Glastonbury style campsite very cool (pics to come next time) and nearly all 32 of us met the locals last night infact we edged them out of the bar so we could all make fools of ourselves....not me though. I do have one story but that's for certain eyes and ears only!!

Tonight it's Budapest central Saturday night and we have the first birthday in the group so should be entertaining after our quiet drink last night... I'm sure this will all calm down (when we get to Iran) but at the mo I think people are just using the drink as an excuse for ice breaking! I miss you guys so much and to be honest I haven't been up to my usual "Raquel drinking stylie antics" yet I hope they will come because as awesome as this 'one hell of a road trip" is there is room for me to enjoy it more. I know it's only been a week but the prospect of many many more scares me slightly!

Enough now I need some evening sun and a shower before Budapest stocks up on it's red wine supplies for me...

As always keep the e-mails and texts coming they help so much. We're off to Romania tomorrow and Dracula's castle followed by Bulgaria then Turkey. I may not log on again until Istanbul next week...(Mum my itinerary is on one of the photos for the second week I took a snap of the poster Kirsty put on the truck door)

I'm taking my camera out tonight so next time I'll introduce you to my new truck friends as I appreciate my photos ain't that entertaining yet buildings buildings buildings!! ...thankfully they're all cool (truck folk that is!)

Hope you're all good, miss you all.

Raquel xxx

Highlight thus far..The mountains, Salzburg.