oot goot aat hallo.

Thursday we took the train to Brussels. It only took about an hour. I definitely prefer the train over Ryanair. We got a nice table too.

Brussels was amazing. It is the cutest little city and the hostel we stayed in gave us a fabulous room with a fabulous view. It was awesome.

Our hostel with its huge ceiling windows and carpeted floors (!!!)

Everything was within like 10-15 minutes of walking distance. We started off going to the plaza and looking in all the little shops... Slowly knocking off the touristy things we wanted to do: buy chocolate, eat a belgian waffle, drink beer.

Brussels, Belgium

We went to Delirium Cafe which is famous for it's Delerium Tremens beer which has been voted the #1 beer in the world for taste. It was pretty good. But besides that, they have over 2000 kinds of beer there. Even Lone Star, probably... ha ha. I tried some others as well. After being here in Europe, I think I've tried a couple of good quality beers. Leffe is really really smooth and good. I have yet to try Hoeegaarden, sigh... Haha. Then we went to some dance club that I can't remember the name of. I do remember they decorated their walls with South Park characters, ha ha.

The next day we went to Amsterdam... a completely different city than Brussels. It's like an industrial Venice. Everything about it so modern and design-focused. But at the same time, they hold on to their old city feel with the buildings, canals, bridges, bikes, etc.

Amsterdam in a picture.

The first day we just wandered around ... paid an arm and a leg for our hostel. Sigh. We went to the Red Light district. It was interesting. Not as raunchy as I thought it would be. The most chilling part of it was seeing an old man come out of the door, knowing that he had just finished up... yeah. We ate dinner at this fabulous Indonesian restaurant called Bojo. Oooo it was so good! It was like a mix between Thai and Indian. So yummy. And then we went to Green House and then went home.

There was this cat I discovered who lives in the hostel we stayed in. He was the cutest, nicest cat ever. He followed me up to the third floor (and these were very tall and steep staircases... and the ground floor is floor zero) and then he climbed into my lap! I named him Bobert. And I love him.

Bobert.

Saturday, we saw the Anne Frank house and the Van Gogh Museum. We ate at this good pancake house too. They had valentine hearts in Dutch. We also took a canal tour that just put me to sleep. 8 Euro down the drain... but for a good nap. Joy and I were so set on getting tattoos. The two famous places are BodyCult and Hanky Panky. We spent this entire month figuring out what we wanted it to look like. I have been thinking about it for a long time... and I finally got it pretty much the way I wanted it. So we were determined. And we went. And my little drawing was going to cost 120-140 Euro. Holy shit? I guess I'll just get it done in Austin... if I do. Just being in Amsterdam was a nice push. Now the sweetness is gone. Later that night we went looking for a good club and ended up at some lame ones... so me and Joy ended up going to Escape, which was in the Rembrandtpleins. Apparently this is the hit club.... Haha. It was like techno-hiphop-wiggling... sweatiness. Europeans wiggle. There was another club, Paradiso, that was in an old church who was having an 80's party. I wish we had gone to that too! But Escape was fun, nonetheless. It really made me realize that I don't want anyone else but who I've got. No doubt.

Graffiti in Amsterdam

I really liked the fashion and graffiti in Amsterdam. The graffiti was so good. It was art. Unlike in Austin or I guess anywhere else I've really seen. It's definitely much more prevalent in Europe. But the Amsterdam graffiti was excellent. And I never thought I'd say graffiti is excellent, haha. The fashion was also nice. It's interesting how everywhere we go, the fashion is so different, despite how close these countries are to eachother. The cultures are completely different.

Amsterdamians..

Anyway, all in all it was a fabulous trip. An extremely expensive, but good trip. It was an experience and I'm glad to say I've been.

I was ready to come home though. I think it's just because I'm so ready to go back to Texas, now. We're all kind of antsy and itchy to get on that plane... since we all would much rather just skip this hell week of exams and final projects. So lame.

Tonight was Spain v. Germany. I'm so glad Spain won! :) Who likes the Germans anyway? Jk.

How many people can say they've been to 4 countries in 1 week: Spain, France, Belgium, The Netherlands.

Sigh, I can't wait to see you. 5 more days.

<3
Frances