To the Balkans

I have started this blog (Cool Runnings, in reference not only to an amazing film but what the title claims to stand for, 'Peace be the Journey') to record my trip around the world with my fiancée, Hannah, as much for ourselves as to share with other people.  Having read about what travel blogs should be and what I should and should not include I have decided to ignore all of the advice and just write for my enjoyment and to remember the year we have planned exploring the globe.  We are both fairly experienced travellers having spent long periods abroad in Asia and Central and South America, as well as just finishing living and Teaching in Mexico City for two years together which we hope will put us in a good starting position for the year.  We plan on travelling from Italy up through Eastern Europe, completing the Trans - Mongolian express before heading down through South East Asia and Japan.  We are finishing our trip in Rio for the Olympics next year.  As a History Teacher and sports enthusiast I guess my blog will follow these themes and I plan to see (and report on) as many weird and wonderful sports as I can on our trip, as well as recording the trials and tribulations of our journey and the amazing people and places we will no doubt encounter over our year away from home.

We left Pescara airport on route to Croatia as we planned to carry on for the year, on 4 forms of public transport in day 1:  Bus, train, car and Ferry.  Having been recommended to try Italy's answer to a hog roast, Porchetta,  we ate in Pescara (amazing!) and then left to take the two hour train up to Ancona, watching the usual problems Italians face when getting on trains; where to sit in an empty carriage, how to cut labels off of a range of potentially stolen puffer jackets and guessing which second class carriage would be the one to have functioning air-con.  The Italian Adriatic coast is a collection of beach towns with umbrella suburbs  but the train runs along the coast and the views over the vineyards and Adriatic are stunning.  Having the harrowing experience of an air craft style seat on our previous voyage (and my refusal to pay an extra 25 pounds for a cabin) we boarded the ferry early to hunt for a place to sleep.  There was a final red sunset over Italy before we left whilst we sat out the front trying to see through the plumes of smoke and attempting to distinguish the fading sun from yet another glow of an Italian cigarette.  

Eventually the haze lifted and we left our front row seat, trying to search for a sanctuary away from the traditional on board entertainment in the bar.  We found a space between two life boats behind the bridge of the ship and took refuge on our 3 Euro lilos, a god send for sleeping on the deck. Fortunately it was a very clear and mild night and we managed to sleep relatively peacefully (save for a few confused South Africans looking at us like we were animals on a safari).