Ahh Eastern Europe you beautiful oasis between two foriegn lands. We had a great time in Eastern Europe even though it was shorter than we would have liked and probably longer than our budget can afford. We watched the waves roll in on the beach, climed castle walls, indulged in all things western, walked the streets of Sarajevo, and best of all we were able to spend time with Lindsey’s younger brother.

There really isn’t much that can be said against our time in the region, although I dont think anyone would complain if Croatia either instilled a diet/workout ethic or made some of the beaches a bit more “clothed”…

(Don’t forget to check out the Eastern Europe Photo Gallery here)

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July 7, 2009 – Day 194 – Budapest, Hungary

Well, it was time to leave Bosnia last night on the train. We chose Budapest because we need a good hub to fly into Hong Kong from and this seems to be a good place. It was a long ride and we spent a very frustrating 2 hours trying to find any hostels which at first didn’t seem to exist. Then, once we began to find some, were all fully booked. Finally, we found a seasonal dorm (one of the college dorms that rents out as a hostel in the summer months) for a whopping US$19 for a 4 bed dorm. We got dinner and a large bottle of wine. The plan: Play cards and drink until no longer sober.

July 6, 2009 – Day 193 – Sarajevo, Bosnia

Old men are the same universally. They all like to watch other people and tell them how they are doing something wrong. It was no different when we stumbled upon a chess match in the park today and Saben was drawn like an old codger to a construction site.

Saben watching a game in the park

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July 5, 2009 – Day 192 – Sarajevo, Bosnia

Today we walked all over the smallish city and eventually found ourselves standing in the spot where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. Very strange to be standing on the very spot where the beginning of the first World War was begun. There used to also be a sign showing the exact spot where the assassin stood on the river bank but it has long since disappeared

The bridge

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July 4, 2009 – Day 191 – Sarajevo, Bosnia

It’s July 4^th and we’re on a train to Sarajevo, Bosnia. At home, our friends and families are celebrating with cookouts and reunions, enjoying a great American day. Today, we feel a bit homesick and definitely out of the loop of the goings-on in our motherland. For us, there will be no grilled burgers, cold beer or fireworks but it was a good reminder of the cost of freedom to experience July 4th in a land where the scars of war are still so evident.

Out the window and into the world

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