So this is probably going to be the longest blog post ever. If you (the three of you that might look at this from time to time) have been keeping updated you know I have been traveling...by myself...through Europe. It was probably the scariest, but most enlightening experience I have ever had. Lot’s of crazy things have happened to me, but let’s be serious, I am my parent’s daughter and therefore attract the crazies. The first place I went was Brugge, as you know. It was a good place to start because it was small and very touristy. This meant that I didn’t get overwhelmed as much and my depressed state upon leaving Edinburgh, Scotland, and the UK in general wasn’t heightened. The hotel also had the BBC and Sky TV so I was able to keep up with British television (Ironically, I didn’t watch television while I was in Britain because I didn’t have it-oh well.)
From Brugge I went to Lille and met up with my French teacher. I got lost trying to find my hotel because the roads weren’t marked well and my map didn’t list the roads that were marked. This led to a panicked call to my parents asking them to find me on google maps and direct me. Thank god for cell phones. I was still reeling from the fact I left Scotland while remembering my first experience in Paris which led to me not enjoying myself as much as I could have, but I still had fun and was able to get by with my french. I hadn’t heard in such a long time that it sort of washed over me, but I could read the signs and speak some, luckily no one wanted to talk about existentialism or something of that nature. My first day was literally spent in the art museum-I got there around 10:30/11 and stayed there until 4:30/5. It was lovely and not too crowded. The second day I met up with my teacher and she showed me around. She introduced me to Carrefour, the french grocery store. I have never seen anything like it, ever. The yogurt aisle is overwhelming and they actually have a butcher’s inside-like a real one. She said that they didn’t sell packaged meat until a few years ago; love from America. We then went to restaurant and tried a sort of french pizza called flam. It was delicious (no surprise) and I want to try to make it when I get home. One unfortunate thing though about France and Europe in general...no air conditioning. I had completely forgotten, and Lille was hot, especially after Scotland. Dr. Cassidy also asked how I was dealing with the no ice in your beverage issue. She said that after 15 or so years she has realized that she can’t do without it.
From Lille I went to Antwerp, which proved to be somewhat of a fiasco. I was supposed to have a direct train, but in the end I had to travel on three different trains. When I was checking into my hotel, they said that I had made two reservations (which was not true) and I was freaking out that I was going to have to pay a heck ton of money. Let’s just say that when I got to my room I was a little bit crazed and collapsed. Antwerp was nice though, especially the old town. It wasn’t too busy and there were enough actual businesses that it didn’t feel like I was in tourist land. My favorite part, besides my waffle of course, was probably just walking around. The zoo was nice too though except for the whiny, smelly, loud, obnoxious, children. I also tried the most popular fast food restaurant in Europe called Quick. My french teacher had told me to so I felt like it was a must- and why not live up to the American stereotype I asked myself? Oh, and it is true what they say about Antwerp, there were literally diamond shops everywhere. Sadly,I did not invest in any while I was there (although, if you [whoever you are] are concerned with what I like, I am particularly fond of opals, emeralds, and rubies). Oh! I almost forgot smelly man! I have come to the conclusion that I must just have a friendly face and southern charm (bahahaha) because museum docents always like to talk to me. Well, at the Rubens museum I was walking through and looking at things when this 40/50ish year old man starting telling me about every room and showing me around. This wouldn’t have been that bad, but I couldn’t breath around him. However, I didn’t want to be rude and just ended up trying to breath through my mouth.
Now Amsterdam...and it was even more fun getting there. My train left in the morning and I was supposed to get to Amsterdam around 9:45 - I did not. I eventually just quit looking at the time because I got frustrated. The train ended up in a standstill for a half an hour and then the police had to investigate something at the airport stop. I thought I was going to die. I eventually made it and finally saw a familiar face. Leesha, and two of her friends from home were in Amsterdam as well. Her friends were lovely and I think we all got along well. Her friend Sammie had been studying in Strasbourg and Alex had flown over to travel around with them. Our first day we went to find our hostel and ended up finding two wonderful Scottish men as well. Leesha and I just ended up wanting to listen to them all day. The hostel was really cute and quirky with big paper maché animals. We got settled then went into Amsterdam. We got important things done such as eating Pancakes and seeing the Anne Frank house. The second day was spent at the zoo, the museum square, and dun dun dun...the red light district. Leesha and I were very frightened, but Sammie and Alex wanted to see it. Leesha and I put our hoods up and stared at the ground the entire way through. It was not an experience I wish to repeat...and I smelled more pot than I ever have in my entire life. Needless to say, I got a massive headache and thought I was going to die. Our last day there we went to the Lake near our hostel then I headed out to Delft.
The train to Delft was the first direct train that worked out for me. However, I got there, couldn’t find the street I was meant to get to and ended up getting a taxi to my B&B. The B&B was neat as it was situated on a horse farm. The owners Patty and Maarten were very accommodating and friendly. The first day I was there I didn’t do much as I slept for fourteen hours. The second day I rode my bike in Delft itself and saw the churches, vermeer museum, and such. I hate to say this, but everything had started to look the same to me. The buildings followed the same sort of plan and lined up along the canals. I enjoyed it but, Scotland was different. Everything there was exciting for me and each time I stepped out it was new, but comfortable. I did enjoy Delft and being outside of a big city was peaceful although I did come across another crazy docent. He was an old indian man who ended up giving me his phone number, address, and email. I am supposed to email him about america-no worries, I did not give him similar info.
My train to Brussels from Delft was good as well, but I missed the connecting train because I couldn’t find it in the five minutes I had to get there. I spent an hour in the Rotterdam train station which was a sort of a weird deja vu moment. My dad and I had waited there for our ride to the Rotterdam port. I almost wanted to run to the P and O port and find my way back to Scotland, but I knew I would eventually see Leesha in Brussels so I refrained. I got to Brussels, was paranoid about the fact that they kept talking about pick-pockets, but made it safely to the hostel and Leesha. We decided to try to find our way to the Grand place and made it about two feet before we got confused and sought help from the first friendly face we saw. The kind woman ended up just taking us and giving us step by step directions (in french) on how to get there by metro. We looked around and then decided it was time to start our gastronomic tour of brussels. We found a waffle place that was established over 100 years ago and had our first waffle from Brussels. We decided that the guy there could be my best friend because he had sweet dreads and called me “My Queen”, Leesha was “Little Princess”. They had a special at the belgian beer shop where you bought 5 and got the 6th one free. We took advantage of that and stocked up on fruit beers. I felt bad a** carrying it around, but they only have like 3.2% alcohol content. We ate at Paul for dinner, a french cafe chain and then headed back to our hostel. The next day we explored some more, got a little lost, and ate the best mussels I have ever had in my life. It was then time to go back and pack our suitcases as the next day (today) we had to catch an early flight out.
I will probably write more later, but right now, I am done and becoming anxious as I sit in the Brussels airport waiting on my flight to Paris.
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