Friday, September 24, 2010

Amsterdam

I Amsterdam
On train to Amsterdam

Just about to finish an extremely long train journey which began in Frankfurt back at 9:40am. Extremely bored! We've seen 2 windmills and thankgod it isn't raining like how it was this morning. Almost got hit on the head by a giant suitcase but got some of the mans spit on me instead. Train driver is going crazy with laughter oer the speaker. Germans... We arrive in 3 minutes. Curious about hostel life

First impression of the city is that it's dirty. Well, the train station at least. We're one stop from Centraal Station. Took awhile to find hostel and felt like a target with my backpack. I want to think of a name for it. Anyway, found hostel, looks like a school, huge, inside is really nice. Michelle and I are in a room with 2 unknown people as of yet but we have two beds in a loft looking down at them. Linen is clean and fresh. Came in sealed plastic bags, good sign. Shower and toilet are in room, yay! Had dinner with a cat at an Italian restaurant down the road. The cat wouldn't stop harassing me and trying to get my food. I paid for it! They also have Dove chocolate here, neato! Excited for tomorrow. Over and Out.



First things first - my hair smells like weed. And here's how it got that way...
At the estimated hour of 3 or maybe even 4am last night the anonymous roomies came in. Two guys. I fell back to asleep and when i woke up for the 5th time after that event the surprise of someone else being in the room was the same as the very time. I decided to get up around 8:30am and every time I'd turn around to have a look at our room mates one would always quickly shut their eyes. You have to be quicker than that to pretend you're asleep. Did these people learn nothing in their childhoods?! Anyway, we went down to the breakfast hall. And now, I think we can all agree that any hostel that offers chocolate at the breakfast buffet is a good hostel. I filled myself up with the free food whilst surveying my fellow backpackers. I was surprised to see a couple of families and old people there. We caught the train into town and it wasn't long after we arrived that we began our New Europe free walking tour.

Our guide was so enthusiastic it was unbelievable. A New Zealander named Mason, he was. Mason showed us the Red Light District which isn't quite how I imagined. It's made up of all little alley ways. Michelle and I went back later at night to see it all in business. It was... interesting. Mason tells us the girls have glasses of pee in their windows to throw at anyone who decides to take a picture of them, one man even got pushed into the canal. Also during the tour we were shown the church which ironically is in the middle of the Red Light District. Then the Marijuana College where the slogan is 'Learning for your higher education'.,The Coffee shops which all have the worst stench of weed coming out of them . It's legal to sell a certain amount of weed but how they get the wine is in fact illegal. But since the government makes a nice 4 billion euro revenue from it they just turn a blind eye. So would I. We were also shown the pee reflectors which are in the dark corners of Amsterdam to stop men from peeing. They use to have electric currents in them so the men would be electrified but not anymore. Then it was back to the palace which was covered in scaffolding, the Jewish Quarter then it ended.
We walked to the Anne Frank house after the tour and the line was so long so we skipped that till the next day and walked around a neighbourhood. We found a fast food place called FEBO which looks horrible. The food is in a box in the wall. Gross. That was pretty much the end of day after we had dinner. We felt we had done most of Amsterdam, not a good sign..

10th August 2010, Hostel

I've just found out that the two guys are from Finland. Today we went to the Anne Frank House. Once prepared and in town we lined up for 1hr to get in. Inside everything was explained which was good for me as I've never read the book. In the end I felt that even though all but the father died these Jews had it better than many of the other one's I've read about. The annex in which they hid was not entirely small. I always imagined it to be a 1 roomer but there was about 5! And I feel no more sorry for Anne Frank than I do for any other Jew that died just before or after liberation. I felt sick the entire time in there so we just walked around casually afterwards. We did some souvenir shopping and went back to the hostel for some rest before that nights pub crawl. Not too sure on how it will go as it's raining outside. I'm getting the urges to talk to more people so the pub crawl should be really great.

7:45pm, hostel.

Ready to go! First pub crawl!

3:10am, Hostel

So drunk. Joined up with some British 18yr olds, they're awesome. Guide is from Red Rock near Coffs Harbour! He had an agenda. Had great chat to another guy about the pies at Barnetts Bakery out at cresso, small world. Can't wait till next time goooood night.... I stink like cigarettes, they smoke inside over here.

11th August 2010, Hostel.

Woke up this morning to bright blue skies and a horrid feeling all over. Michelle went to breakfast while I hung out in the room and met the 2 other people in here. Truth revealed the girl is from Brisbane and the guy from Spain. Everyone is from bloody Australia. They were actually really cool and I wish I'd talked to them earlier. We rented out bikes today, bright orange ones at that.
We took to the crazy Dutch Bike lanes (The Netherlands has 550,000 bikes compared to 216,000 cars). We went to the Museumsplein where the I AMsterdam sculpture is.
Then we rode into a huge park called the VondelPark. Laid in the sun for some times there and got a bit burnt even though it was cold. I refused to wear by jeans and jacket from last night. We just rode around an area of Amsterdam after that which was quite beautiful. Slept from a bout 6 to 9 then talked to our new roomies - 2 girls from Liverpool. They were so confused as when they first walked in everyone in the room was asleep and in darkness. I've come to realise that no one asks what you're name is and you don't even think to ask them either. I'm really glad to be leaving tomorrow, I get bored of places after 3 days. Belfast should be okay, not looking forward to using the Pound again though.

Belfast





12th August, 2010. Belfast Hostel.

Today was pretty standard we hung out in the hostel all morning talking to the girls from Liverpool an going on the Internet. Slowly we made it to the Schipol Airport and flew to Belfast. There was so much turbulence on the flight and it could easily go down as my worst landing experience yet. We caught the bus and then a taxi from the small international airport to the Lagan Backpackers Hostel. The owner, William, gave us the quickest run down of the "city". Basically he told us all the tours are "shite" besides 2. Great start here. We went and had subway, came back and here I am. Tired and wondering if Belfast is worth the stop...

15th August 2010, bus to Dublin.

Right now I'm on a bus full of Irish people escaping the likes of Belfast and heading South to Dublin. I've skipped 2 days so I'll rewind. On Friday 13th we did a 'Black Taxi' tour. Which was a tour that went around the Protestant and Catholic areas of Belfast. We saw the Murals, wrote on the Peace Wall and some other little things. The guide declared in the end that he was protestant but 3 out of 4 in the tour imagined he was Catholic. Michelle was the only one that guessed right.

Afterward we completed the rest of Belfast within the day. We saw the Statue of Belfast, a giant fish, where the Titanic was built and City Hall.
After City Hall we found a cupcake place where in the end they gave us a free cupcake each. They were the best Cupcakes I've ever had. You can find them just left of the front of City Hall when you walk out and they're called 'Cherish Cupcakes'. We were on a bit of a mission this day as well. We had to find some Irish Stew. We went to the oldest pub in Belfast which was so beautiful and hasn't been changed since it's beginnings in the 1800's. They had just sold the last of their stew about 1/2 an hour before we arrive. So we bought the Steak and Guinness Pie instead. We made our back to the hostel before it was too dark. There were police everywhere and last week saw 3 car bombs go off. Just like any other normal people we didn't want to experience any of that.

On Wednesday 14th, we joined a day group and travelled out to the Giants Causeway on McCombs tours. Overall the day was 10 hours long and I was so exhausted. Along the way to the Causeway we stopped at Carrickfergus Castle, Old Bushmills distilleryt and Dunluce Castle. We also stopped in this cute one street Irish beach town where we met Harry. He gave us ice cream for 10p cheaper than the going price. Nice guy, Harry. Finally after hours and hours of green hills, Catholic schools in hedges and police station which looked more like jails, we reached the causeway. It was smaller than I imagined but still impressive and of course it's just good to say that I've seen it.

That night we made chicken noodles, which I hadn't had forever! They don't sell them in Germany. Germans. And then we watched a Knights Tale. I'm so excited to be going to Dublin now! Northern Ireland felt a bit too British for me whereas Dublin will be full on Irish. No more Union Jacks flying everywhere and no more pounds.

1:17pm, still on bus, crossing the International Irish Border

Just got the passport checked by police on the bus. Finally back in the EU!!! Yay!! Some excitement, so bored.

Dublin

It's an 'Ard Decision...

Italic
17th August, Dublin Hostel.

.... my pen ran out so that entry didn't happen...

19th August, Aer Lingus flight.

Right now I'm flying over Spain and it would be easy to mistake it for Australia. Dry (unlike Ireland), brown (unlike Ireland) and it looks pretty warm down there (once again, unlike Ireland). The sun is setting on the other side of the bright green plane and I scored the window seat... again. Even if its on the boring side.

Sooo, Dublin. On our first day in the city we waited in the cold for the NewEurope Dublin free walking tour to begin. The tour began, it rained lightly and we froze the whole time. Fantastic. The tour was rather good though. We saw Dublin castle, a garden, Ha' Penny Bridge, Trinity College and St Stephens square. Along the way to these things we also witnessed The Millennium Spire, River Liffey and O'Connell st


After tipping 5 euro we went to the most magical place in Dublin... The Leprechaun Museum. Twas awesome indeed! Ireland is amazing, truly, they have fairy trees which are brightly decorated and you can't cut them down. Also they have fairy hills which you cant walk over and roads are even built around them. In the museum however, we got to sit on giant furniture so we were the same size as Leprechauns and we listened about them and so on. It really was a 10 Euro tourist trap but it was so fun and I now have a Lucky Leprechaun coin! Beat that, kids, beat that.

After lunch we went to St Patricks Cathedral. It was nice and had lots of Shamrocks about. Actually Dublin is very cute. The street lights all have designs on them which include shamrocks. Another interesting thing is that all the sings in Ireland (not Northern Ireland) have Gaelic on them before English. (Bit of turbulence now).


On our 2nd day in Dublin we caught the Dart (a train with green seat material) to Dun Laoghaire.
Sound familiar? Yes, it's where Gerry from P.s. I Love You came from. And the people here were as crazy as him. On the sunny but sometimes rainy yet always windy day, they were swimming. With the Jellyfish. I was wearing jeans and my infamous Belfast hoodie with kids in swimmers running around me. I've gotton old. We just walked along the coast as it's quite a nice fishing town.
We caught the green train back to Dublin in the arvo then did a quick museum visit to where they were exhibiting parts of the bible from 150AD. Admittedly that was really interesting, especially on how such a tiny fragile piece of papyrus was preserved. Begrudgingly we went back to the hostel. We didn't really like this one as it had an awkward set out and the people in our room were crazy. Besides Ken, a 5th grade teacher with tattoos from New Mexico.

3rd day in Dublin we got back on the Dart and went north to
Howth (hoth). Why? Because they said there would be seals. And seals there were. Once in particular I named Benny. He was fat. As in, all you could see of him was his fat rolls (neck) and eyes and nose poking out of the water.
Like it did everyday we were in Ireland it rained and was so cold then warm and sunny within a half hour period. After watching some kids throw Benny some fish we began to walk up the huge hill of Howth. A short while after the 16th Century Abbey ruins we decided to turn into a street which was suppose to lead to the cliff walk.

We got to the end of the Cul De Sac and admired the view with the sad thought that we had walked all the way down the wrong street. A couple of steps to the left and there it was, the pathway to the trail. We walked through what looked like a compost bin but there was a slight pathway. Then so randomly this electrician pops out of the bushes on his phone and walks straight past us as if it was normal to see two people in a compost bin thing. We decided to follow. Soon enough we were back on the road with some proper direction. We applied some pawpaw cream to the odd bumps and itches we developed and continued on.

(Just touched down in Barcelona). So we made it to the top of the hill which in the end was actually very beautiful. We took some weird pictures using the self timer, were attacked by flying ants, then made our way down again for some warm chips.

While Michelle was in the shop before we left on the green train she heard these 2 boys looking at the ice creams and then one said in the thickest Irish accent "Its a hard decision" So funny and that's been our little phrase from then on. That night we went out to the Temple Bar and I had my first Guinness. Was gross but I wanted to try it in Ireland and I did and never again.

Today was a bit dodge. We were recommended to go out to Bray and catch a bus to the Lake District that had a funny name I can't remember. So I cancelled my hair appointment and we went. The bus time ended up colliding with our flight times and that was that. Went back to Dublin, looked in Zara, brought a big winter hat, posted in back to Germany and that was Ireland.

Barcelona

20th August 2010, Barcelona hostel terrace.

Last night we arrived at about midnight in the pouring rain and had to walk for what felt like ages to find our hostel, however now in the day it seems so beautiful. The interior is really nice, I love it. Right now I'm sitting on the terrace in the sun! It's hot and I can't wait to get going. Once Michelle is ready we're gone! So much to see. Here's our room:
.........

So we went on a hop on hop off bus with the whole thing taking 6 hours. We saw he beaches which we'll be hitting tomorrow and then our first stop was Sagrada Familia, the famous church which is still being built. Building began in the late 1800's and won't be ready for about another 50 years. Yet, though unfinished this place, to me, was so much better than the Vatican! The architecture is beyond amazing inside you feel like you re under a forest canopy, which is actually what it was inspired by. The outside even resembles a tree trunk. I really hope that one day I can see it complete.

The next stop off the bus was Parc Güella which was inspired by Gaudi, the architect that made Barcelona so unreal. I don't know how to explain this place but it's just a super creative park which you must visit when in Barcelona.
After this stop we went on the conjoining bus tour for the other side of the city. Not as great as it was mainly in the new part with the Olympic stadium and buildings. It did have the beautiful palace though. This tour brought the day to an end and we now have most of our stay here planned from now on.

23rd August 2010. Hostel.

For our second day in Barcelona (21st) we visited Casa Batllo. A house which is on our street (along with Chanel, Burberry and McDonalds), which is considered to be Gaudi's best work. There's an under the sea them all throughout and is simply amazing to see.
It was 40°C all day this day so we finally went to the beach. The walk down seemed soo long but we got there.
The beached in Barcelona are packed, we were lucky to get a good spot with enough space for both our new towels. We looked around and noticed something we didn't expect. A majority of the women here were topless. It was like Moulin Rouge but here not everyone had that perfect dancer body. In fact some women were very old, some had kids with them. We kept our tops on and walked through the different types of sand to the water. Don't be fooled, Barcelona doesn't have pristine white sand. It has brownish dirty sand, then that stuff you put in fish bowels the tiny stones then rocks and your feet sink in so it's hard to get out of the water as it's a bit of a drop to get in and out. But it was a beach and after 9 months of no beaches, it was good enough.
We laid in the sun and pretended to be asleep while people walked around us trying to sell drinks, food, hair braiding, massages and weirdly, tattoos. Walking back from the beach took forever. It was so hot we had to keep stopping. That night we went to a music festival. It had cool fireworks and we got lost a 1am in 35°C heat. Not fun.

Yesterday we caught 2 trams up to what must have been the highest peak in Barcelona, Tibidabo. We went and saw the church which looked over all of Barcelona as well as the little park there.
In the afternoon we went back to the beach but later on so it wasn't so hot. The best part of this day happened last night. The 2 Aussie girls in the room - Vanessa and Ashley got fed up with the Ukraine girls turning off the aircon as soon as they walked in the room. So they did it again on this night and Ashley says to turn it back on and they say that 1 of them is just sleeping for 15 minutes (in high heels) before they went out for the night (they had thick blankets on their beds as well). Once they left Vanessa stole the remote and put it under her pillow. Much later the Ukraine girls came back and went straight for the remote, realised it wasn't there, and got reception to turn off the aircon. We all pretended to be asleep whilst this was happening. Vanessa turned it back on later and our room got so cold. Now, this morning, Michelle and I are a bit sick from the extreme changed in temperature. Great.