Hello all!
Well, we're a week into the trip now. Flew into London (not literally).. 9 hours from Melbourne to Hong Kong, 2 hours stopover, then 13 hours to London. Cattle class is bullshit. We arrived at Tullamarine very early in the hope that we could get an aisle seat, but no luck. My 6'2" frame unfortunately had me with a pillow jammed between my knee and the seat in front - my poor knee was being smooshed into the people in front of me! Pah! Slept a few hours, but nothing really substantial.
Arrived in London, found our way on the Tube to The Oval and our hotel for the first night. Had a curry in London's West End with my sister Mel and her friend Judith; they have recently moved to London to find work and probably boyfriends. Here's a tip - try and hold your breath when waiting for a train on the Underground. Even after taking just one train, if you blow your nose - all your boogers will be black from the soot down there (seriously). Curry was excellent, we got an early night for the big start the next day.
Hopped onto the Eurostar at London Waterloo Station at 10:38am. Zipped over to Lille, then Brussels (Belgium). Changed trains to a domestic line, on to Brugge (or Bruges in French). Pronounced 'Broo-zhe'.
Brugge is the most amazing city I've ever seen. Just astounding. Tons of Gothic architecture (you know, buildings that cut themselves and listen to Marilyn Manson). Many buildings dating from the 1400's and 1500's. Our B&B was built in 1740.. predating the First Fleet by about 48 years. Ate steamed mussels (moules) on the first night - Alli had Flemish stew (with beef and kidneys). Loads of frites (fries), they're ubiquitous.
The beer and chocolate are spectacular. Really. There must have been a chocolatier in Brugge every 50m. Pastry shops every 100m. And cafes (pubs) every 100m too. It's awesome drinking Grolsch and Trappist beers as 'local' beers - they're the cheap ones!
Climbed all 366 steps of the Belfry in Brugge, took quite a few pictures, and jumped 10 feet into the air as the giant bell next to my head rang out the 11am chime.
We spent 3 nights in Brugge (2 full days), and then zipped off to Amsterdam (via Antwerp - where all the diamond traders .. trade, er, diamonds).
Amsterdam is fucking wet and fucking cold. There, we got that out of the way. Our jackets are working triple time - ski jacket, jumper, beanie, gloves, scarf. And it's not enough. Brugge was cool, Amsterdam is cold. Canberra cold, but windier and wetter. We have had a few hours of no rain, so it's not a bust. Having such a good time, that the weather doesn't seem to dampen our spirits at all.
We first visited Anne Frank Huis (Anne Frank House). Does your head right in, standing in the real-deal place that Anne and her family hid in for 3 (?) years before being marched outside by Nazis.. off to Auschwitz (Anne died a month before the English liberated the camp). Very packed, but well worth the visit. Lots of videos and pictures to see there, it takes about 30-45 minutes to walk through the lot. Really sad stuff.
After wandering around for a few hours, we took an evening canal cruise last night, which was 90 minutes with an English speaking guide. Top stuff, you learn and see more about the city in that short time than wandering around aimlessly. Saw some crazy stuff, including the red light district (pot and hookers), and 7 houses with dodgy foundations - so dodgy, that they're all leaning against each other, almost falling over. The council just keeps putting new concrete pillars into the foundation, as repairing the walls would destroy the houses.
OK.. couple of quick things that may explain the pics.
We've been to an Irish pub around the corner here in Amsterdam, 2 nights running. On the first night, we saw a pub cat that just walked around and did whatever it liked. We gave it a pat, walked back to our table, and it followed us. Hopped up onto the table, then sat on Alli's lap. For the next half hour, it kept taking turns sitting alternatively on my lap then Alli's lap, purring loud enough that you could hear it over the music. The 2nd night we were there, there were 2 cats! The one from the night before, and another one - curled up with each other, asleep, on the counter of the bar (no exaggeration). Got a great pic of them, with a Guiness tap behind. :)
Yes, stuff is expensive. It's best not to convert the prices of things, or it does your head in. It's not unbearably expensive, but the Aussie $ could be stronger (please!).
We're having a top time. One more night (tonight) in Amsterdam, then off to Frankfurt-am-Main in Germany, and a one-week Christmas Markets tour.
Will try and update this journal soon!
All the best,
Phil and Alli
