I’m now away on what is gradually becoming a yearly ritual. Me and my good friend Alex Hope have yet again hit the rails of Europe in search of sun, sea, music, alcohol, culture and much more.

Our first stop is Istanbul, before we head on to Sofia in Bulgaria, then Varna, on the Black Sea coast. We then head north to Bucharest, before returning west to Serbia and Exit Festival.

After a totally debauched former Yugoslav republic music fest, we will head north towards Germany, stopping in Budapest. Germany hosts our second music festival – Melt festival, before we fly from Bremen to Riga in the Baltic state of Latvia.

A quick replenishment in the beaches of the north-eastern European state will suffice before we head into Russia and a land of expense, corruption and a far-from-heart-warming welcome.

We will first travel to the northern jewel of St. Petersburg, where the days hardly ever turn in to nights, thanks to its proximity to the North Pole and 21 hours of daylight.

We will then take the train overnight to Moscow, an expensive captial steeped in significant 20th century history. After a breif stay, we will travel to Kiev in the Ukraine for a cheap flight to Luton.

The return to the UK isn’t the end though, as we hit Field Day in Victoria Park in east London on the 1st August. After this, Alex will leave for home and I will try to find accomodation in the British capital for my imminent return to tertiary education.

Well, at least that is the plan.

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