So with this being my first blog post I thought I’d start with my first solo adventure. Prague, Czech Republic. So I headed over to Prague in the early hours of the Saturday 26th November 2016 with my mum dropping me at the airport and watching me go through security (quite weird not having to wait for the family to follow you through security) but I got through quick and easy and then sat on air side for just over an hour for my gate to be announced. When it was announced I then headed to the gate and boarding commenced. *fast forward* I arrived at the hostel I was both staying and volunteering in at about 11am and check in wasn’t until 2 so i left my bags in the luggage room and headed out to see what everyone had told me about. 2 hours in and I’m already in love with the place.

Monday 28th – So I started my volunteering today which included setting up the breakfast stations for all the guest and then clearly it away at 10am and then starting housekeeping. Housekeeping included making sure all the guests had checked out and re-making beds for the new guests coming to stay.

Okay so an average working morning included, waking up at 07:30 to be down and ready at the breakfast station at 08:00, I then work on the breakfast stations for 2 hours until 10:00 where I then pack all the food and beverages away and wiping down all surfaces. I then make my way to reception to see Tiina or Christina who have the information of which beds need to be re-done and who needs to check out. While volunteering it ranged from 5 people checking out to 107. (For those who are wondering where I am volunteering its a hostel called Equity Point Hostel and I applied to volunteer through a company called GoEco).

So I did that for a total of 20 days as well as working on the bar – which I’m used to because I’m a bar maid back home.

Okay so when I finished housekeeping for the day, I go and explore Prague for at-least 3 hours a day, although Prague is a relatively small city there is always something different to see. The best thing about Prague is that it isn’t too big yet it isn’t too small, so you can get lost but you’ll always find your way back to something you recognise. There is always something new to discover and it doesn’t take you 3 hours to walk from one end of the city to another it only takes about 50 minutes.

So by staying and working in the hostel it means you get to meet and talk to people from all over the world, I met people from: USA, China, Argentina, Guatemala, Peru and so many more. With meeting those people I have now been invited all over the world which is so exciting.

Monday 19th December – My solo travel and volunteering experience draws to a close, I had breakfast like a normal guest and then checked out at 10:00am and sat in the ‘chill out area’ for an hour or 2. I then had one last wonder around Prague seeing all my favourite things which I discovered one last time. 17:30 came and it was time to get to the airport (I got a taxi because my suitcase is huge which equals public transport nightmare) I then got to the airport at 18:10 and my gate opened at 18:40 so waited then checked my bag in, the boarded and 20:55 came and TAKE OFF, 2 hours later I’m back in London Stansted Airport and through security, passport control and baggage reclaim in 20 minutes (i like to get things done quickly) and there they were – my family waiting with a banner (how embarrassing) but i wouldn’t have them another way. *fast forward 2 hours* I’m home and in my own bed.