Photo of the Week – London Architecture

5 Things You Should Know About Scotland (Before You Come!)

5 things you should know about Scotland before you visit our shores are:

• Never call a kilt a skirt in Scotland
• Never refer to Scotland as England
• Unpredictable weather – rain, snow, sunshine, and wind all in one days is normal
• We like to drink a lot of alcahol. We did invent whisky afterall…
• We officially have the worst national diet in Europe… but it does taste gooooood!

Watch the video above for more info and to have a laugh at me on my 1st real video blog!

What Do You Think Of Scottish Independence As A Visitor To Scotland?

Right now in my home country of Scotland there is debate over whether our country should become independent from the United Kingdom. As someone who has spent the majority of the last year in other countries, and who is most likely going to be based outside of Scotland in the near future, I’m not sure I have as much right to talk about this issue as someone who lives in Scotland 24/7. Still, I am Scottish, I pay my taxes, and I represent Scotland everywhere I go. So I’d like to raise the issue here and ask you, a past or potential visitor to Scotland… What do you think of Scotland? Would you be more inclined to visit Scotland if it became independent, or do you really care?

The reason I ask is that Scotland becoming independent could have some advantages and disadvantages for visitors coming to the country. For instance, the Scottish government has made indications that they would adopt the Euro instead of the British Pound should independence become a reality. Would this make things easier for you as a visitor? I suppose if you are going to a lot of countries who already use the Euro then this would make things a lot simpler, although you’d still have to exchange them for pounds should you be planning on visiting England too…

From a Scottish travellers point of view I think there could be both positives and negatives. On one hand, having a British Embassy or Consulate in just about every country I could possibly travel to is a big plus of being a British Citizen. I know this only too well after the problems I had with having my passport stolen in Amsterdam in 2010. Being British certainly has it’s benefits. With Scotland having a minuscule population in comparison to the rest of the British population combined, would we be able to generate enough funds, or have a large enough population to really merit such an extensive help & support network around the world?

Then there is also the issue of identity. I very much feel Scottish. When people ask me where I’m from as I travel I say Scotland. It’s only if people don’t know where Scotland is that I say Britain. Most Scottish people I know are the same. Which brings me onto my next issue…

When I first started travelling back in 2006 I was surprised by the amount of people I met who had never heard of Scotland. This was particularly so outside of Western Europe. I couldn’t understand it at first. I guess you assume you know where most countries in the world are, most people will know yours, but of course it doesn’t work like that. Then I realised Scotland is a small country. We have a population of around 5 million. When you compare that to around 50 million people living in England, we are tiny! This makes me worry slightly. Without the United Kingdom, would be really command any weight anywhere? Would we be presented with the opportunities we have as being part of the UK. I’m not saying we wouldn’t, I’m simply asking the question.

Another worry I have is that there are some people in Scotland, and particularly members of the Scottish National Party, who for the record I think have done a very good in job in Scotland so far, but are so consumed with taking power they haven’t actually thought about what they are going to do if Scotland was to go independent! I remember listening to Nicola Sturgeon, the 2nd in command of the SNP, answering questions on what she would do with the banks (owned partially by UK tax payers), the military, and other basic questions that would need to be answered. She couldn’t give a direct answer to any. It was like they were just thinking of the benefits without really thinking of the consequences or potential problems that could come about should the plan actually go ahead. It was almost like she didn’t really believe it herself that Scotland would become independent if I was being completely honest in my perceptions.

For local Scottish people there is a genuine argument for Scottish independence. We have oil, the ability to produce a lot renewable energy, a huge amount of tourism for a country so small, and we have major exports of things like Whisky to emerging markets such as China. I am by no means a unionist, but I’m also not a nationalist either. Like a lot of Scottish people, I kind of don’t know if I see the point in going independent? Do we really have such a bad deal already? We are no longer running about in our kilts fighting the English. Isn’t it time to move on?

What do you think? Whether you are Scottish or not, maybe you have an opinion? I know some Canadians reading this may do with the debate going on right now in Quebec? What do you think?

How to avoid pick pockets in Barcelona

I love Barcelona. Let’s make that clear. It is one of my favourite cities in the world! The reality however is that it has a reputation for pick pocketing that is sadly true. I would never let something like this stop you from visiting a place, and for what it’s worth I never had anything stolen on any of my visits to the city. However, unlike some of my hostel buddies who did get pick pocketed in Barcelona, I was always very careful to follow certain steps that I feel helped me to prevent getting robbed.

Please note: Nothing is full-proof. You could follow these steps and still find that you get pick pocked. These people are professionals at what they do. They pick pocket for a living. It’s not nice, but it’s a fact of life. I do honestly believe however, following these steps will limit your chances of it happening to you.

Leave everything important in your accommodation

First things first, if you don’t want something to be pick pocketed from you, leave it at your accommodation while you go out. Of course, some things you will need on you at all times, like your purse/wallet, and your room key, but everything else pretty much can be left locked away in your locker or safety deposit box wherever you are staying. If you need to bring ID out with you, bring a drivers license or student card.

The key things to never take out with you unless absolutely necessary are your passport, travel documents (especially one’s which can’t just be reprinted like a EuRail pass or non e-ticket), and at least one bank or credit card for emergencies. I usually just take one bank card out with me, plus a small amount of cash, and my room key. Everything else stays in my hostel locker.

It’s quite simple but what you don’t take out with you, can’t be pick pocketed from you.

Back up everything!

Again, a preventative measure, but make sure you have electronic copies of everything! Scan a copy of your passport, and save it to your email, or computer. Make sure you have hard and soft copies of all your travel insurance documents, as well as any travel documents like e-tickets. This way if your most important items get stolen, you will always have a back-up so you’re not completely stuck.

Use inside zip pockets

Never use an outside pocket in Barcelona. This is the one full-proof way to have something stolen. You won’t even know it’s gone until later because these people know how to pick stuff out of your pockets without you even noticing. If you use a pocket always use an inside one, and try to make it a zip one too.

Have a bag strap that crosses over your body

A lot of people have their bags snatched in Barcelona. If you have a strap for your handbag that goes across your body this makes it almost impossible for someone to just come up and snatch it, as it can’t just slide off your body.

As a general rule, for a day to day bag in Barcelona I try not to use a backpack style bag. The reason for this is that with it on your back, you wouldn’t be able to see someone opening a pocket, and you wouldn’t feel it either. You could wear the bag on your front, but it makes you stand out if you do that rather than just an ordinary hand bag or satchel.

Be aware of pick pocket “hot spots”

In Barcelona the main pick pocket “hot spots” are train stations, bus stations, the metro, la ramblas, and pretty much any tourist site you come across. The further out the city centre you get the less prevalent.

You can’t always be 100% on alert when you’re in the city, but being so in the hot spots is possible, and if you are aware in these areas, there is much less chance of you getting caught out.

Never leave your bags unattended

This may sound like common sense, but I’m not talking about just leaving your bags lying around. I also mean when leaving your bags at your feet for instance. You always need to have your bags in a place where you can feel and see them! I personally just leave me bags strapped around me, even when I’m sitting down at a restaurant. I’ve heard of so many people having their purse stolen from a bag they left lying at their feet.

Stay vigilant – eyeball people if you have to!

I was borderline paranoid when I first went to Barcelona. I’d heard so much about pick-pocketing, and having had my handbag stolen in Amsterdam last year I was a bit over cautious wanting to make sure I didn’t re-live the experience.

In a way though, having had something stolen in the past, I feel the extra vigilance helped a lot. I was always very aware while in the city of anyone looking at me. If I saw a guy staring at me, I’d eyeball him right back. I did get some funny looks from people who were probably just innocently staring in my direction, but I am sure there were at least 2 separate guys who were staring at my bag that I put off because I made it known that I had seen them by simple staring them straight in the eye.

This may sound silly to some people, but I sort of think – why would someone rob someone who has clearly saw them and can give a description to the police, when they can rob some other tourist who is walking around completely unaware. Also, if you see them your more likely to put up a fight, and although I’m by no means an intimidating figure to anyone, I’m sure they’d rather just steal from someone who has no idea, and therefore won’t be any fuss.

Don’t carry more than 20 Euros cash (use your bank card to pay for things)

If you get a good currency card that doesn’t charge fees then there is no reason to be carrying or withdrawing large amounts of cash in Barcelona. Pretty much everywhere in the city accepts payment by card, or has a cash machine nearby, so why carry cash that can’t be replaced, when you can just carry a card that can be blocked as soon as it’s stolen? Also, if you’re seen flashing cash about it just makes you stand out to potential pick pocketers. A lot of people who steal things in life are opportunistic thieves. If you have lots of cash floating about, you could be giving someone ammunition that didn’t previously notice you.

Don’t wear expensive jewellery

Don’t wear jewellery in Barcelona. It can be easily snatched.

Know what to do if your stuff does get stolen

Look up where your embassy or consulate is in Barcelona before you go. If you’re unlucky you may find that your country doesn’t have one in the city, and that it’s located in Madrid, however there are many embassies and consulates in Barcelona as it is a main hub in Europe so chances are you will have one there. If something like your passport gets stolen, this is your first port of call after getting a police report. If it’s early enough in the day you could have your emergency passport ordered same day as your stuff gets stolen, so knowing before you go can be important.

As a general rule however, if you do have something pick pocketed, especially something valuable, then you need to find a police station asap and get a police report. If you don’t have this you can’t claim on your travel insurance, but also, if you need help of any kind they can help you if you’re really stuck.

Is an Inter Rail pass worth it?

With such an extensive rail network throughout Europe in comparison to other continents, it’s no wonder train travel is a popular option for travel here. Depending upon where and when you are going, it can also be quicker and/or more comfortable than taking a plane. The question is, if you select travel by rail as you main mode of transport in Europe, should you book your ticket independently with each country’s rail provider, or do you go for something like an Inter Rail Europe train pass?

Will you save money opting for the pass? Will it be more convenient? Does it suit every type of Euro trip? Are there any hidden costs, and will it cover you for all the places you want to travel to? These are all questions that I had been asking myself before I headed out on my Inter Rail journey across Europe to review the product. I’m pleased to say through completing this trip, and travelling from Spain to Romania in the process via Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia, I was able to find answers to all of these questions.

Through this post I want to give you my conclusions on the above questions. That way if you are thinking of purchasing an Inter Rail pass or something similar, e.g. an EuRail pass if you are non-European, then you’ll have a better idea as to whether it will benefit you on your trip.

Information Overload?

The main problem travellers can find with a Euro trip in general is that with 50 countries spanning over approximately 9,938,000 km, each with their own language, customs, laws, and varying standards of transport, planning your trip can become something of a headache. You’re trying to decide where you want to go, during what time, and also make decisions that will make it the most cost-effective way for you to travel. If you don’t know the country in depth that you are travelling to, it can require a lot of research just to find out the most basic of details. Even with an Inter Rail pass, there is still research needed if you want to make the most of your pass. For a start, you have to look at what passes there are, and which would benefit you most.

To simplfy the process I thought I would list the 3 main types of pass here, a summary of what each entails, pros/cons etc, but more importantly, which type of traveller would suit what. Most people will find that they fit well with at least one type of Inter Rail pass. If you pick the right pass to suit your travels you could save a lot of money. I know I did. Pick the wrong pass to suit your trip however, and you could find you’re splashing out more than you anticipated, so it’s important to do a little ground work first to make sure you get the most out of your travel cash.

Please note: For simplicity, all prices quoted here are for youth 25 or under passes (I was travelling on a youth pass as I’m 23.) If you do not fall within this category, please check InterRailNet.com for more information.

1 month Global Pass – €409 – Unlimited train travel within or between 30 European countries – suits the traveller who doesn’t like to plan ahead, and wants to visit lots of countries.

• This is the pass I had, and is for the no fuss style traveller who likes to go with the flow, chop/change plans as they go, and not have to worry about losing money should they change their itinerary or plans last minute.
• You can travel on as many trains as you like, on any day (during the time your pass is valid of course), and in or between any of the 30 selected countries. You just go to the train station, make your reservation if applicable, and get on the train. It’s that simple.
• With some trains you have to pay reservation fees. In particular, most international and night trains charge a reservation fee. In general I found that Eastern European countries tended not to have so many reservation fees, whereas popular western countries did, and they could be quite expensive too. For instance, I had to pay a €50 reservation for a 2nd class seat to travel by Elipsos train hotel from Barcelona to Milan, but from Ljubljana to Zagreb, Zagreb to Belgrade, and Belgrade to Bucharest I paid no reservation fees at all with each local train provider. I just got on and showed my pass.
• If you chose your countries well you could easily get away with covering long distances on this trip by paying no extra. By choosing the wrong countries you could be paying hefty reservation fees, so chose wisely. If I’d have done more research before hand, I wouldn’t have been stuck with the trenhotel as my only option, so learn from my mistakes!
• Definitely suited to those who like to country hop, and see as many places as they can over a short(ish) period of time.

- Similar types of pass to the 1 month Global Pass include the “Every day within 22 days pass” (€319) , and the “Every day within 15 days pass” (€289). They are basically the same as the 1 month global pass except you get less days. You may want to consider these if you have less time to travel, your budget doesn’t quite stretch to the 1 month pass, or you’d maybe like to do part of your trip with a rail pass, and the latter part without for instance.

10 days within 22 days Global Pass – €249 – Choose your own flexi travel days – suits the traveller who wants to country hop, but have days off in between. Also good for travellers who want flexibility.

• For me the best pass after the 1 month global pass has to be this one. You have 10 days that you can travel on over a 22 day period. You choose which days, when, and in or between which of the 30 European countries available that you’d like to travel as you go along.
• There is still the flexibility of the being able to decide on the day, but you don’t have the pressure of feeling like you have to travel everyday on a train to get the most value of your pass.
• It’s also just cheaper than the consecutive travel global passes.
• Again, reservation fees apply, so check before you get on the train if you need to make a reservation.
• The most important thing with this pass is that you need to record on the form what train you are getting on, where to, when etc before you get on the train. If you don’t do this, and you get caught, you could be liable to pay a hefty fee or made to pay for a full-fare ticket amongst other things. With the consecutive passes you can travel everyday so you don’t have to bother about counting how many days of travel you have left.

- Alternatively, if you are only in Europe for a short time, there is another pass which gives you 5 days of travel within 10 days, costing €169.

One country passes – for the traveller who wants to focus on one country at a time, and see more of each destination.

If your trip is going to be focused a lot within one country, you may actually be better off getting a one country pass. Particularly with more expensive countries to travel by rail, such as Spain or France, this could save you a lot of money. Italy is also a popular option to purchase a one country pass as you often don’t have to pay reservation fees for travel within most parts of the country provided you have a pass.

• To give you an example, if you are planning to travel Spain (which is for the record quite an expensive place to travel by rail), you can pay €119 for a one country pass that allows 3 days of travel within one month. This may seem like a lot for 3 days of travel, but when you consider it costs around €117 to get from Barcelona to Madrid by rail without a pass (and this price doesn’t really change at any point across the year) then it starts look worth it.
• If you choose cheaper countries however, you can get a similar pass for as little as €49 in Croatia or Romania.
• Reservation fees still apply on some journey’s, e.g. night trains.

Does the Inter Rail Pass save you money?

I’ve heard a lot of people gripe about Inter Rail passes in the past. I think the main problem however for most of these people was that they didn’t do their research before hand, pick the right pass for themselves, or the best countries to travel in with that pass. I think you also have to look at the bigger picture.

When you’re forking out hundreds of Euros for a pass, having to pay reservation fees on top can at first seem like you’re paying too much, but you have to look at the price that ticket would have cost you without the pass you begin to see the value.

For instance, when I travelled from Sevilla to Barcelona I had to pay a €10 reservation fee. This seemed like a lot just to reserve a seat, considering the pass on it’s own costs €409. However, to take that same journey without the pass would have cost me €142.30 booked online. It’s around a Euro more if you book it at the station. With Renfe, the Spanish rail company, there never seems to be any discount on trains for booking in advance. Prices tend to stay the same there. So in one journey I’ve already recuperated €132.30 of my pass, and I still had another 29 days of potential travel left to go at that point. Make a lot of journeys like that, and you will more than get your monies worth out of a Inter Rail pass. The key is to stick to popular routes, or cover long distances. This is where you will see the value in the pass.

Please note: The folks at InterRailNet.com/EuRail.com very kindly gave me a 1 month Inter Rail Gobal Pass for free in exchange for an honest review of the pass.

First Impressions of Bucharest

My previous perceptions of Bucharest, and Romania in general, were completely blown out of the water as soon as I set foot into the city. In fact, even upon border control I was surprised as I crossed from Belgrade to Bucharest by rail how tight everything was, i.e. I didn’t expect them to be so vigilant. Yet again, as I travel, I am surprised by my own ignorance, and how I can form such a silly opinion. Romania is not the under developed country I thought it was. On the train customs came on, doubled checked our passports, had us all of the train, searched our bags, and even took apart the inside of the train and seats with drills searching for people who may have been trying to sneak in illegally. At the time, I must admit, my thoughts were along the lines of – “surely people would be trying to smuggle out not in”, but as soon as I touched down in Bucharest I felt annoyed at myself for thinking thoughts so disrespectful to the local people. This is why I’m glad I travel. It blows any perceptions, ignorance, and pre-conceived ideas out of the window.

Old Vs New

In Bucharest there was a definite sense of a culture clash between different age groups here. You had the young(ish) businessmen & women walking around in crisp designer suits. You had teenagers, and young people in their 20′s walking around in cool, fashionable clothing… no doubt costing much more than what I was wearing, but then you had the elderly people… I saw so many old people out on the streets selling things at markets. Most of them looked very poor, and had the old gypsy style Romanian vibe about them, which until I actually came to Bucharest was the only previous experience I’d ever had of Romanian people. It was like Bucharest was changing. There was new life being breathed into the city. It was emerging strong from a time when things were not so good for the local people, but unfortunately in my experiences there, the older generation were getting left behind.

Stray Dogs

I’d heard a lot about the stray dog problem in Bucharest before I came, and I must admit, I was a little wary when I stepped out and saw all these dogs wandering about. It can be intimidating when you’re about to walk down a dark street and all you can see is the silhouette of a big dog down the bottom. Throw in some barking and there’s no chance I’m walking down there. The reality for me however was that actually, the stray dogs I came across in Bucharest were not at all aggressive. They’re not afraid just to walk right past you up close. They’re used to people, but if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you in my experience.

What I actually found in general was that the only dogs who acted aggressively were the one’s stuck behind a garden gate, and that were actually someone’s pet! I have a theory on this though… I have two dogs back home. They are very friendly, lovable, pet dogs. However, dogs by nature are territorial, and if they hear the sound of another animal or strange footsteps near the garden gate in the middle of the night they start barking. It’s a particular type of bark too. Pet dogs in Bucharest I found to be much more aggressive. I guess they have a territory to defend. With the strays however, they don’t have somewhere they call their own, so I guess there is no territory so to speak to defend.

I really hope that as Bucharest continues to develop that the local government, council, or equivalent really makes a push to try and re home these dogs or get them off the streets. I say this both for the benefit of the animals, and the city.

Bucharest Palace

I spent half a day wandering in and around Bucharest Palace while I was there. What I didn’t realise was that this is actually the “Palace of the Parliament”, i.e. it’s a main government building. To get inside you have to through a lot of security, and you are not allowed access to certain parts. I also accidentally bumped into a security, black out windows style car as I was walking in. Everyone who worked there looked at me worriedly as I did so, before averting their eyes and getting on with their work. I had to leave before the person could get out the car, so god knows who was in it? I may have just bumped into the most important man or woman in Romania! Who knows? Nevertheless, it’s a huge building that is important to Bucharest so it’s worth a visit if you’re there.

 Crazy Jumbled Architecture

When you get away from the main square and head into the more residential areas of Bucharest city centre, it’s almost bizarre how the architecture of the ordinary buildings are represented. You’d have semi-detached buildings, one about 2 foot bigger than the other. Terraced buildings which looked like they’d originally been built as stand alone flats, and then someone joined out with different brickwork at a later date with no real effort to make them look the same. I kind of liked the mish mash. It was cool. One building would be old and falling apart, another renovated to look completely different, and another completely brand new, again, nothing like anything else on the street. It made it interesting I guess, in a jumbled, non-conformed sort of way.

Doors Hostel

I stayed at Doors Hostel while I was in Bucharest, who very kindly let me stay for free during my 4 nights in the city. I can honestly say they are one of the coolest hostels I have ever stayed at. Any hostel that has pets is always cool in my book, but the kitten was especially cute. The main reason I loved this place though was the cool, hippy-eske hangout common room areas. They also had a really cool garden, which I can imagine in summer would be a great place to hang out in when the weather is better, and it’s not just me who says this place is great. They also get really good ratings and reviews on both HostelBookers and HostelWorld. I highly recommend staying there.

If you’d like to read more about my “first impressions”, check out my First Impressions of Budapest, or Belgrade.