Today's Bruges has a population of about 45.000 people (the Europeans put commas where we put decimals and decimals where we put commas). It is also the capital of the Belgian province of West-Flanders and among the important cities of Belgium. A lot of people take day-trips from Brussels to Bruges, (about an hour train ride), but there is a lot see in this quiant little walking town. Like Amsterdam there are quite a few bikes on the road, but I chose to walk it. Today I went to the museum within the Belfort Belfry Tower. Here the bells toll for no apparent reason, far more often than on the hour. Afterwards I went to the Dali museum next door where many of his pieces were on display. I'm convinced that man was tortured by day-mares! He was obsessed with animals and requestes a horse and several sheep be brought to his room when he stayed here in Bruges...I don't want to know. (See pics on FB)
The hostel was cool for hanging out and partying, but at some point I wanted to go to sleep and found it challenging with everyone still drinking and playing guitar until late. I suppose train rides are made for sleeping:) I'm leaving this evening for Oostende, a small resort town on the west side of Belgium about a 15 minute ride from here.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Hamsterdam:)
What a great time I had in the Netherlands...Oh Amsterdam with your alluring tall men and people with skin so clear it would put Irina out of business. (I'm seriously considering making herring a regular part of my diet. I'm convinced that's what does it.) I stayed at the Stayokay hostel just next to Vonder Park and in was lovely. Some of you will be able to appreciate the following: When I arrived after travelling on the train I wanted to take a shower so I got my towel and clothes and left the room to find the showers. I walked the whole floor before deciding to knock on a neighbors door for directions. (Fortunately they didn't answer...) I went back to the room, frustrated and tired from my journey, to discover the private bathroom and shower in our room!! It even had a regular twist faucet and not the push kind that spays water for 10 seconds like I'm used to.
I met the nicest bunch of girls in Amsterdam!! The first was my roommate Heloisa, a 29 year old from Brazil also traveling alone:) She was great and I miss her company already. While she was at the library checking her email she met two other girls, Elvira and Maria, who happened to be locals. They took us out to a little Latin salsa bar where we shared dance moves and met their friends Tanya and Sophie. All of us are in the picture posted on my Facebook page:) They taught me the funniest Dutch sayings...like when something happens that you knew would you say "There comes the monkey out of the sleeve" and when something goes your way you say, "I always get my sin". When someone makes you mad you say they've "got the blood under your nails" and when someone won't leave things in the past tell them "Don't pull the old cow out of the water". My favorite was used to describe why the oldest prostitute in the red light district was so popular "To learn, you need and old bike". Ha!! I love it.
I went to the market and had some authentic local food and went to the Van Gogh museum. I had a great time in Amsterdam and have the girls above to thank for it:) Thanks for the memories!!
I met the nicest bunch of girls in Amsterdam!! The first was my roommate Heloisa, a 29 year old from Brazil also traveling alone:) She was great and I miss her company already. While she was at the library checking her email she met two other girls, Elvira and Maria, who happened to be locals. They took us out to a little Latin salsa bar where we shared dance moves and met their friends Tanya and Sophie. All of us are in the picture posted on my Facebook page:) They taught me the funniest Dutch sayings...like when something happens that you knew would you say "There comes the monkey out of the sleeve" and when something goes your way you say, "I always get my sin". When someone makes you mad you say they've "got the blood under your nails" and when someone won't leave things in the past tell them "Don't pull the old cow out of the water". My favorite was used to describe why the oldest prostitute in the red light district was so popular "To learn, you need and old bike". Ha!! I love it.
I went to the market and had some authentic local food and went to the Van Gogh museum. I had a great time in Amsterdam and have the girls above to thank for it:) Thanks for the memories!!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Au revoir Paris, bonjour Brussels!
A bittersweet good bye yesterday to the city of Paris. It seems just as I begin to adjust to the city that I'm in I change cities and I'm still not sure which causes which. In Paris I discovered my new favorite: escargot, "salted" soy sauce versus "sweet" soy sauce and that in Europe it's not called wi-fi, but rather "wee-fee". Ha! (It's just funny to hear them say it.) One thing I can tell you without a doubt is that the people in Belgium smell a hell of a lot better than the people in Paris did:)
I spoke with Freddy before I left and asked him what countries in Europe would I be welcome in as an American and not feel I had a dirty secret. Between him and his friend, they came up with one: Kosovo!! Are you kidding me?!?! Geez...
I'm really proud of myself. Yesterday, upon my arrival, I hit the ground running. I went straight to the Centre Vincent Van Gogh and checked in, dropped off my pack and began walking the city. As directionally challenged as I am I almost count on getting lost, but yesterday I didn't!!! I got out my map and decide to go to the Botanical Gardens. There I found myself in a garden labyrinth complete with a bar and "wee-fee". Is there anything the Europeans haven't thought of?! I figured it was about time for dinner after that and mussels in Brussels couldn't be better!!! (I say "I figured it was time for dinner" because this is the season of Northern lights so it gets dark much later. Many of the pictures I've taken so far have been taken after 9pm, but you would never know it based on the amount of light in the photo.) I had remembered how amazing the mussels were last time I was here and I was ready for an encore. I walked from the Botanical Gardens past Grand Place to Rue de Bouchers where the air smells of lobster and butter. I had mussels that melted in my mouth and made sure to take a picture to share:) I ate one before I took the pic because it didn't even look real!!! I had one of the 500 different beers brewed here and then left to go walking around. I had read about a place called Havana that had djs spinning everything from techno to salsa and that on the weekends they have live music. They hadn't opened yet when I got there so I popped into a little restaurant owned by a husband and wife a few doors down. They were the cutest! I had the greatest time talking with them, watching Nadine run around the cafe like it was her kitchen at home with their dog close at her heels wielding his pacifier. (Apparently he is a puppy and "training his teeth" as they put it.)
Today I leave for Amsterdam. I'll tell you about that someday when you're a little older...Ha!! I'm kidding:) I'll be in touch.
Somethings I've learned since I've been here: to make the conversion from pounds to dollars double the number. For conversion in euros add half again as much. From celsius to fahrenheit double the number and add 30:) Remember, "coffee" in Europe is espresso! And the barely legal kind that has you grinding your teeth for hours!!! I'm convinced that the majority of the population is either drunk or spun out on caffeine.
I spoke with Freddy before I left and asked him what countries in Europe would I be welcome in as an American and not feel I had a dirty secret. Between him and his friend, they came up with one: Kosovo!! Are you kidding me?!?! Geez...
I'm really proud of myself. Yesterday, upon my arrival, I hit the ground running. I went straight to the Centre Vincent Van Gogh and checked in, dropped off my pack and began walking the city. As directionally challenged as I am I almost count on getting lost, but yesterday I didn't!!! I got out my map and decide to go to the Botanical Gardens. There I found myself in a garden labyrinth complete with a bar and "wee-fee". Is there anything the Europeans haven't thought of?! I figured it was about time for dinner after that and mussels in Brussels couldn't be better!!! (I say "I figured it was time for dinner" because this is the season of Northern lights so it gets dark much later. Many of the pictures I've taken so far have been taken after 9pm, but you would never know it based on the amount of light in the photo.) I had remembered how amazing the mussels were last time I was here and I was ready for an encore. I walked from the Botanical Gardens past Grand Place to Rue de Bouchers where the air smells of lobster and butter. I had mussels that melted in my mouth and made sure to take a picture to share:) I ate one before I took the pic because it didn't even look real!!! I had one of the 500 different beers brewed here and then left to go walking around. I had read about a place called Havana that had djs spinning everything from techno to salsa and that on the weekends they have live music. They hadn't opened yet when I got there so I popped into a little restaurant owned by a husband and wife a few doors down. They were the cutest! I had the greatest time talking with them, watching Nadine run around the cafe like it was her kitchen at home with their dog close at her heels wielding his pacifier. (Apparently he is a puppy and "training his teeth" as they put it.)
Today I leave for Amsterdam. I'll tell you about that someday when you're a little older...Ha!! I'm kidding:) I'll be in touch.
Somethings I've learned since I've been here: to make the conversion from pounds to dollars double the number. For conversion in euros add half again as much. From celsius to fahrenheit double the number and add 30:) Remember, "coffee" in Europe is espresso! And the barely legal kind that has you grinding your teeth for hours!!! I'm convinced that the majority of the population is either drunk or spun out on caffeine.
Au revoir Paris, bonjour Brussels!
A bittersweet good bye yesterday to the city of Paris. It seems just as I begin to adjust to the city that I'm in I change cities and I'm still not sure which causes which. In Paris I discovered my new favorite: escargot, "salted" soy sauce versus "sweet" soy sauce and that in Europe it's not called wi-fi, but rather "wee-fee". Ha! (It's just funny to hear them say it.) One thing I can tell you without a doubt is that the people in Belgium smell a hell of a lot better than the people in Paris did:)
I spoke with Freddy before I left and asked him what countries in Europe would I be welcome in as an American and not feel I had a dirty secret. Between him and his friend, they came up with one: Kosovo!! Are you kidding me?!?! Geez...
I'm really proud of myself. Yesterday, upon my arrival, I hit the ground running. I went straight to the Centre Vincent Van Gogh and checked in, dropped off my pack and began walking the city. As directionally challenged as I am I almost count on getting lost, but yesterday I didn't!!! I got out my map and decide to go to the Botanical Gardens. There I found myself in a garden labyrinth complete with a bar and "wee-fee". Is there anything the Europeans haven't thought of?! I figured it was about time for dinner after that and mussels in Brussels couldn't be better!!! (I say "I figured it was time for dinner" because this is the season of Northern lights so it gets dark much later. Many of the pictures I've taken so far have been taken after 9pm, but you would never know it based on the amount of light in the photo.) I had remembered how amazing the mussels were last time I was here and I was ready for an encore. I walked from the Botanical Gardens past Grand Place to Rue de Bouchers where the air smells of lobster and butter. I had mussels that melted in my mouth and made sure to take a picture to share:) I ate one before I took the pic because it didn't even look real!!! I had one of the 500 different beers brewed here and then left to go walking around. I had read about a place called Havana that had djs spinning everything from techno to salsa and that on the weekends they have live music. They hadn't opened yet when I got there so I popped into a little restaurant owned by a husband and wife a few doors down. They were the cutest! I had the greatest time talking with them, watching Nadine run around the cafe like it was her kitchen at home with their dog close at her heels wielding his pacifier. (Apparently he is a puppy and "training his teeth" as they put it.)
Today I leave for Amsterdam. I'll tell you about that someday when you're a little older...Ha!! I'm kidding:) I'll be in touch.
Somethings I've learned since I've been here: to make the conversion from pounds to dollars double the number. For conversion in euros add half again as much. From celsius to fahrenheit double the number and add 30:) Remember, "coffee" in Europe is espresso! And the barely legal kind that has you grinding your teeth for hours!!! I'm convinced that the majority of the population is either drunk or spun out on caffeine.
I spoke with Freddy before I left and asked him what countries in Europe would I be welcome in as an American and not feel I had a dirty secret. Between him and his friend, they came up with one: Kosovo!! Are you kidding me?!?! Geez...
I'm really proud of myself. Yesterday, upon my arrival, I hit the ground running. I went straight to the Centre Vincent Van Gogh and checked in, dropped off my pack and began walking the city. As directionally challenged as I am I almost count on getting lost, but yesterday I didn't!!! I got out my map and decide to go to the Botanical Gardens. There I found myself in a garden labyrinth complete with a bar and "wee-fee". Is there anything the Europeans haven't thought of?! I figured it was about time for dinner after that and mussels in Brussels couldn't be better!!! (I say "I figured it was time for dinner" because this is the season of Northern lights so it gets dark much later. Many of the pictures I've taken so far have been taken after 9pm, but you would never know it based on the amount of light in the photo.) I had remembered how amazing the mussels were last time I was here and I was ready for an encore. I walked from the Botanical Gardens past Grand Place to Rue de Bouchers where the air smells of lobster and butter. I had mussels that melted in my mouth and made sure to take a picture to share:) I ate one before I took the pic because it didn't even look real!!! I had one of the 500 different beers brewed here and then left to go walking around. I had read about a place called Havana that had djs spinning everything from techno to salsa and that on the weekends they have live music. They hadn't opened yet when I got there so I popped into a little restaurant owned by a husband and wife a few doors down. They were the cutest! I had the greatest time talking with them, watching Nadine run around the cafe like it was her kitchen at home with their dog close at her heels wielding his pacifier. (Apparently he is a puppy and "training his teeth" as they put it.)
Today I leave for Amsterdam. I'll tell you about that someday when you're a little older...Ha!! I'm kidding:) I'll be in touch.
Somethings I've learned since I've been here: to make the conversion from pounds to dollars double the number. For conversion in euros add half again as much. From celsius to fahrenheit double the number and add 30:) Remember, "coffee" in Europe is espresso! And the barely legal kind that has you grinding your teeth for hours!!! I'm convinced that the majority of the population is either drunk or spun out on caffeine.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Pictures
I'll be posting my pics on my Facebook page because it's just easier from my computer. Find me at "missivy949"
In Paris!!!!
As opposed to "Mad Donnoe" as I am it seems to be the new Starbucks in Paris...so here I am blogging in the plush executive seats that they are furnished with!
France has been welcoming me with constant showers since my arrival via the Eurostar Sunday evening. I was met by my good friend Frederik whom I have not seen in 9 years! After a quick catching up and a few metro rides around, we arrived at the Blue Planet Hostel where I dropped off my stuff and quickly changed for the evening. Frederick planned to escort me to an evening hosted by the Belgium Embassy for the results of the European Union elections held this week. But first we took a quick detour to the neighborhood where I lived when I was here in 2000 for my study abroad semester. Although it was late in the evening during the summer months it doesn't get dark until around 10pm. As we walked I saw brasseries and tabacs which seemed as though they had been frozen in time, unchanged. The biggest difference I noticed was in the cleanliness of the buildings and the lack of prostitutes...that sounds bad as I write it but they were as much a part of the Parisian experience as the distinct smell of the metro. (I'm not ruling out that the two are some how related...) When we arrived at my former home Alexandra was there to greet us. She has been working there since it was home to me but has since settled down with a husband and had a baby:) She invited us for dinner at her house the following night so I could meet her family. I had no idea what I was in for...Monday night was unbelievable. We got to catch up, I got to meet her daughter and her husband, not to mention the largest spread of Serbian French fusion you could imagine. The meal was so expansive it took shifts where everyone literally took a break, got up and walked around before the next course. What a treat being able to enjoy good conversation, good company and good food:) I'm still tring to talk Freddy into going out to the Rex Club where the group of us used to go dancing all night when I lived here. Years ago there would be a point in the night where we would need to make a decision as to whether we wanted to take the last metro or continue to party and take the first metro in the morning. What fun!!!
France has been welcoming me with constant showers since my arrival via the Eurostar Sunday evening. I was met by my good friend Frederik whom I have not seen in 9 years! After a quick catching up and a few metro rides around, we arrived at the Blue Planet Hostel where I dropped off my stuff and quickly changed for the evening. Frederick planned to escort me to an evening hosted by the Belgium Embassy for the results of the European Union elections held this week. But first we took a quick detour to the neighborhood where I lived when I was here in 2000 for my study abroad semester. Although it was late in the evening during the summer months it doesn't get dark until around 10pm. As we walked I saw brasseries and tabacs which seemed as though they had been frozen in time, unchanged. The biggest difference I noticed was in the cleanliness of the buildings and the lack of prostitutes...that sounds bad as I write it but they were as much a part of the Parisian experience as the distinct smell of the metro. (I'm not ruling out that the two are some how related...) When we arrived at my former home Alexandra was there to greet us. She has been working there since it was home to me but has since settled down with a husband and had a baby:) She invited us for dinner at her house the following night so I could meet her family. I had no idea what I was in for...Monday night was unbelievable. We got to catch up, I got to meet her daughter and her husband, not to mention the largest spread of Serbian French fusion you could imagine. The meal was so expansive it took shifts where everyone literally took a break, got up and walked around before the next course. What a treat being able to enjoy good conversation, good company and good food:) I'm still tring to talk Freddy into going out to the Rex Club where the group of us used to go dancing all night when I lived here. Years ago there would be a point in the night where we would need to make a decision as to whether we wanted to take the last metro or continue to party and take the first metro in the morning. What fun!!!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Safe arrival
I landed safely this afternoon to the most beautiful weather London has seen in months according to residents:) My transit here was without incident, waiting or long lines and even included an upgrade...tee hee Ironically, international flights are far more smooth than domestic.
I'm realizing I don't have much to blog about right now except that my pack is heavier than I am!! Everything seems important to pack at the time...until you have to carry it on your back!! Uphill, both ways...geez I'm sure that will no longer be a problem by the time I leave for Paris.
I'm missing all of you, but doubt the reality of where I am and what I am doing has really hit me yet. I'll be sure to keep you updated on the adventures as they unfold.
Before I go, a particularly warm thank you to James, Anthony and Joe for spending days moving all my worldly belongings into a "holding cell" until I return. Additional thanks to Vikki, Heather and Brenda for helping with the pesky red tape that comes with putting your life on hold. So far I've learned more about how incredible the people I call my friends are. Thank you for knowing me better than I know myself.
I'm going to go play drinking games with a bunch of strangers...I'm loving this already. Cheers!
I'm realizing I don't have much to blog about right now except that my pack is heavier than I am!! Everything seems important to pack at the time...until you have to carry it on your back!! Uphill, both ways...geez I'm sure that will no longer be a problem by the time I leave for Paris.
I'm missing all of you, but doubt the reality of where I am and what I am doing has really hit me yet. I'll be sure to keep you updated on the adventures as they unfold.
Before I go, a particularly warm thank you to James, Anthony and Joe for spending days moving all my worldly belongings into a "holding cell" until I return. Additional thanks to Vikki, Heather and Brenda for helping with the pesky red tape that comes with putting your life on hold. So far I've learned more about how incredible the people I call my friends are. Thank you for knowing me better than I know myself.
I'm going to go play drinking games with a bunch of strangers...I'm loving this already. Cheers!
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