Our next stop was Budapest and although many of us were struggling we did a very enjoyable night driving tour of the city. The city is divided in two by the Danube River, one side is Buda and the other Pest. The bright lights excited me and I was ready to explore the following day.
The following morning after withdrawing our 10,000 Ft notes we were ready to go sightseeing. Only to realise most of the tourist spots are closed on Mondays. We did though mange to find the Labarynth. A series of underground tunnels forming mazes below the Castles. Me and a few others spent a few hours pretending to be Indiana Jones searching for the secret door. But to no avail.
To complete an enjoyable day I had a massive steak for dinner. At least I thought it was massive till I saw the monstrous plate of food Josh ordered for himself.
The events back at camp that night I will never forget. After being woken in the middle of the night by a couple of friends I helped them get Abbie, another friend, into an ambulance. At the time I had no idea quite how sick she was or that it would be the last time I ever saw her.
We continued on the next morning leaving behind Abbie who was in hospital and her friend Jess stayed to look after her.
Leaving Hungary we stopped for lunch in Brataslava, Slovakia to see a castle completely covered in scaffolding. It is something you get used to seeing while touring Europe although nobody ever seems to be working on the buildings.
Our next stop was Vienna and in less than 24 hours I went from acting like a young child to a mature adult. After a brief driving tour we stopped at Prater Amusement Park running around being childish riding the go-carts and dodgem cars.
The following day we undertook a tour of a schnapps museum before getting as many free taste tests as possible. I tasted my first drop of gold. The tour guide was very passionate about his tours and many people but not me bought some of his Absynth.
I went straight from the schnapps museum to watch a orchestra perform at the Kursolanwein. They performed the works of Mozart and Strauss in the same venue Strauss himself had performed. This is where I had to act like a mature adult.
Crossing the border into Poland we got a flat tyre. Luckily most of the guys were feeling manly that day and in no time we were back on the road.
We visited Krakow in Poland on a weekend where the students got the keys to the city. This meant young people drunk walking through the streets in all sorts of attire. Seeing guys in fairy costumes districted us from the Schindlers List tour, where we learnt about Oscar Schindler as well as seeing the sights used in Spielbergs movie.
After the tour I wanted to get out of the city as it felt like it was all we had seen on the tour. So a few of us went to the Saltmines. They are just outside the city and listed on the UNESCO world heritage sights. Everything underground including and amazing curch with grand chanderliers was engraved into the salt.
Our final stop in Poland was Auswitz and Birkenau where we were taught of the torture and deaths of over 1 million jews. I found it difficult to comprhend the devasting losses that had taken place at the sight. Many of the prisoners belongings and hair are on show for visitors to see.
Leaving Poland the group was told that Abbie had died in hospital. I had been expecting the bad news but was still not prepared for it.
R.I.P. Abbie- one of the most caring, friendly and down to earth person I have ever met. I will never forget the wonderful memories.
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