Backpacking in Germany: So are Hamburgers from here or not?

My reason for visiting Hamburg was not really to find out if the word Hamburger actually started there, although it did intrigue me, it was just a nice Northerly German city, and only a 2 hour trip from my base with Rene in Hannover. Having had an Interail Ticket for Europe, I was finding it Read more about Backpacking in Germany: So are Hamburgers from here or not?[…]

Backpacking in Germany: Osterweddingen!!

Youve got to love the name of this little village – Osterweddingen, a bizarre and picturesque little ‘Groomsport-esque habitat’ in the middle of Germany. Well actually, close to Magdeberg in the former East side again. I spent two days there with a great German mate of mine, Rene. Rene’s parents live in a lovely house Read more about Backpacking in Germany: Osterweddingen!![…]

Jonny Blair at Die Grune Zitadelle, Magdeberg, Germany

Backpacking in Germany: Die Grune Zitadelle, Hundertwasser, Magdeburg

Having spent two days in Hannover, I then visited Magdeburg, a massive city in the former East Germany. Magdeberg is quite peaceful and beautiful, and there is no way I would have known it was part of the former East Germany, it was hard somehow to see the difference. Standing head and shoulders above any Read more about Backpacking in Germany: Die Grune Zitadelle, Hundertwasser, Magdeburg[…]

Backpacking in Germany: Hangovers in Hannover

When I arrived in Hannover, Germany (following a fantastic train journey from Leipzig), my mate Rene was waiting there to meet me, which was class, seeing as I hadn’t had a phone for 6 weeks or seen Rene for 2 and a half years and I also had to ask a polite young German lady Read more about Backpacking in Germany: Hangovers in Hannover[…]

Inter Railing in Europe: Czechia to Former Communist East Germany

I caught a train from Prague’s Kolesovice station and the final destination was Hannover in Germany (part of the former West Germany), therefore it was a 9 hour journey and I would need to change twice, which I was really looking forward to. One of the things I enjoy about travelling, is the variety of Read more about Inter Railing in Europe: Czechia to Former Communist East Germany[…]

Smith’s Not Dead!!! – Party up Prague

It was Lock in Lee that said to me three years ago (2004) that someday we should go to Prague. I don’t know why, but we always knew it would happen. So there I hopped off a plane (delayed by two hours) to find a flight had just arrived from Nottingham. Wearing a graceful Lomas Read more about Smith’s Not Dead!!! – Party up Prague[…]

Jonny Blair in Warsaw Poland in 2007

Backpacking in Poland: Warszawa Skies They Wont Rain On You

I first visited post-communist Poland in 2005, getting a train from Berlin to Warsaw. I stayed there for two nights with my Northern Irish friends and sampled only a teeny bit of the Polish culture, as I was there to watch the Northern Ireland football team and quite honestly to get pished on cheap beer Read more about Backpacking in Poland: Warszawa Skies They Wont Rain On You[…]

Northern Ireland football team in Belarus

Five Nil and you still Don’t sing! Belarus 5-0 Northern Ireland, in Bobruisk

“We’re in the army now” – Status Quo. I had watched the Northern Ireland ladies team in May 2007 in Gillingham, Kent. We lost 4-0 to England and played with passion and pride against full-time professionals. Me and a few of the lads sang our hearts out, completely making fools of the silent England fans Read more about Five Nil and you still Don’t sing! Belarus 5-0 Northern Ireland, in Bobruisk[…]