Wow. What a trip. Some photos up, still uploading, so don´t go away :-)
Am meeting Erica and Mum at the bus station in an hour, hence the rush to write a little at least.
Well, what can I say! The whole trip was amazing, and Jaron was aweseome to travel with from Hungary to Czech Republic.
Budapest is incredible. We travelled a bit with Josh and Adam from Canada also and they´re great guys. This city, capital of Hungary is just wonderful. So old!!! Even went to some Turkish baths, but that was a bit of a catastrophe, because we accidently paid for a cold swimming pool.
Bratislava, capital of Slovakia was our next stop, and due to easter, EVERYTHING was basically closed. Our cheapest city and we couldn´t shop properly!!! Not fair!!! We met up again with the Canadians which was just as well coz the city itself isn´t that exciting or as granduer as the othercities we´ve seen. At least beer was cheap, at a bar, 0.5l costs just over NZ $1. Jaron and I even got a nz $70 fine for not paying properly on the tram. That iced the cake for a dismal Bratislava.
Vienna was really really historic and very well laid out. Was nice to hear a familiar language (ok, so german isn´t that familiar to me, but i got around ok. It wasn´t like Hungarian thank goodness!), and the trees and parks and buildings and statues here had us in awe the whole time. Only one night here, but just as well because it was quite expensive.
Then on to Prague which is my favourite European city (outside of Spain) so far. Wow, words cannot describe Prague, you´re just going to have to wait until i put some photos up. Really really cool. Definately want to go back here.
Then from there we went back home, but not before stopping in on Irene in Cambridge, yes, that is in England, and wow it was great to see her!!!!
Will have to add more later, time is short.
Holland Is Cold
yes. cold.
and erica was surprised!!!! she was in shock. the look on her face and her surprise was fabulous. well worth only 2 hours sleep.
met up with a few of mums friends, walked around a bit, went to the beach with wouter (mums first boyfriend) and stayed the night at his house. next morning on sunday we went to haarlem to see my relatives (uncle, aunty, 3 cousins and thier children), of whom the 2 boys, allard and eduard were having thier birthday party (we had good timing). stayed the night there with nicoline in a wonderful little house with her crazy dogs, and yesterday we rented bikes and biked around where mum grew up. pancakes for dinner!!!!
today we went to a dungeon place thing in amsterdam which tells us about hollands gruesome history thru scaring us with people that creep up on you etc. that kind of thing.
then goodbye at the trainstation, and i go on a 2 hour flight to BUDAPEST!! my new home until friday. am meeting up with jaron tomorrow, my friend from america who i study with, and we are travelling the rest of our trip together.
the kezboard here is annozing. the y and the z are swapped around. i have done well to correct most of mz mistakes, but now i dont mind. but it does drive me crayz, as im sure it does to zou guzs right now....
hehehe. until next time!!
enjoz the slideshow.
and erica was surprised!!!! she was in shock. the look on her face and her surprise was fabulous. well worth only 2 hours sleep.
met up with a few of mums friends, walked around a bit, went to the beach with wouter (mums first boyfriend) and stayed the night at his house. next morning on sunday we went to haarlem to see my relatives (uncle, aunty, 3 cousins and thier children), of whom the 2 boys, allard and eduard were having thier birthday party (we had good timing). stayed the night there with nicoline in a wonderful little house with her crazy dogs, and yesterday we rented bikes and biked around where mum grew up. pancakes for dinner!!!!
today we went to a dungeon place thing in amsterdam which tells us about hollands gruesome history thru scaring us with people that creep up on you etc. that kind of thing.
then goodbye at the trainstation, and i go on a 2 hour flight to BUDAPEST!! my new home until friday. am meeting up with jaron tomorrow, my friend from america who i study with, and we are travelling the rest of our trip together.
the kezboard here is annozing. the y and the z are swapped around. i have done well to correct most of mz mistakes, but now i dont mind. but it does drive me crayz, as im sure it does to zou guzs right now....
hehehe. until next time!!
enjoz the slideshow.
Special Place
ok, so a little white lie. I am in Amsterdam at the moment!! I am lying in wait to surprise Erica, she doesn't know i'm going to be here in Holland.... hehehehehe.
Left Bilbao yesterday and had a mini worrysome eppisode because my flight wasn't on the board... instead of flying to Amsterdam direct like i thought, turns out i got a free holiday in Palma de Mallorca also!!! Wihoo! Sun and palm trees! I did even leave the airport, and all i saw were palms and sun. And the carparking lot hehehe.
Arrived into Amsterdam at midnight and took tram & walked to my hostel, called The Flying Pig. Yes, interesting name. And an interesting room, i got the marijuana leaf themed room. Had a pint at the hostel bar then sleeeeeep. Getting off the plane in the airport gave me a really creepy sensation, it made me feel, for the first time in 9 months like i was in New Zealand. And it was something nonnewzealand which made it weird. I was surrounded by dutch!!!!!! There were Uncle Teds, Wilgerts, Birgittas, and Marians everywhere.
Rented a bike today and had an AWESOME time like i did in Valencia, renting a bike. Except this time it was a traditional style Dutch bike!!! and it was so relaxing and stimulating to be doing stuff!!!! Especially excersize, being with tendonitis and all its difficult to get moving much.
Toured around A LOT even getting lost amongst the canals, going out of the bounds of my map, going round in circles in Vondelpark (Amsterdams huge park), eating icecream (despite the cold weather), biking past thousands of porn/sex shops, biking past millions of 'coffee shops', huh, yeah, they don't sell coffee as thier main attraction. And stopped off at the Red Light District.
Now. I locked my bike, walked around a little, and a guy asked me the time. This was a guy in his 40's, about to go grey, a genuine smile, really nice dutch guy. "its 1.30" "oh, thanks, well, that means i have lots of time until my work starts, do you me to walk around with you?" ~ janine looks hesitant~ "c'mon, i know the area, i'll just waste some time with you" "er, ok then" .... general conversation, shows me some streets, we talk about dutch culture and openess.. "yeah, the other day i went to a live show and it was quite interesting... (pause)... have you seen a live show before?" "er, no" *alarm bells* "oh ok" .... awkward silence, then i notice he's wearing a watch *alarm bells* .... more general talk about the red light districe, he informs me that you have to be carefull when selecting the girls sometimes because they can be guys, and he knows, it happened to him. HIM, he didn't even cover it up by saying a friend or seomtning. *alarm bells* ...then he can see i'm itching to leave "hey, .. do you want to go to a special place?" *alaaaaarrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmm ABORT ABORT ABORT* i didn't even have words, i just shook my head then said thanks for the walk around and left. Very glad to leave. He was a nice guy, just, well, out for sex.
Went home for a snooze, then another bike ride, had a McKroket at mcdonalds, then went to the movies! Saw Brokeback Mountain, in english even as it had dutch subtitles. Biked home, and here i am now, 1am. Actually, i should go to bed, goign to the airport in 5 hours to see mummmmmmmmmmmmmm and riiiiiiika.
okies, slaap lekker.
Left Bilbao yesterday and had a mini worrysome eppisode because my flight wasn't on the board... instead of flying to Amsterdam direct like i thought, turns out i got a free holiday in Palma de Mallorca also!!! Wihoo! Sun and palm trees! I did even leave the airport, and all i saw were palms and sun. And the carparking lot hehehe.
Arrived into Amsterdam at midnight and took tram & walked to my hostel, called The Flying Pig. Yes, interesting name. And an interesting room, i got the marijuana leaf themed room. Had a pint at the hostel bar then sleeeeeep. Getting off the plane in the airport gave me a really creepy sensation, it made me feel, for the first time in 9 months like i was in New Zealand. And it was something nonnewzealand which made it weird. I was surrounded by dutch!!!!!! There were Uncle Teds, Wilgerts, Birgittas, and Marians everywhere.
Rented a bike today and had an AWESOME time like i did in Valencia, renting a bike. Except this time it was a traditional style Dutch bike!!! and it was so relaxing and stimulating to be doing stuff!!!! Especially excersize, being with tendonitis and all its difficult to get moving much.
Toured around A LOT even getting lost amongst the canals, going out of the bounds of my map, going round in circles in Vondelpark (Amsterdams huge park), eating icecream (despite the cold weather), biking past thousands of porn/sex shops, biking past millions of 'coffee shops', huh, yeah, they don't sell coffee as thier main attraction. And stopped off at the Red Light District.
Now. I locked my bike, walked around a little, and a guy asked me the time. This was a guy in his 40's, about to go grey, a genuine smile, really nice dutch guy. "its 1.30" "oh, thanks, well, that means i have lots of time until my work starts, do you me to walk around with you?" ~ janine looks hesitant~ "c'mon, i know the area, i'll just waste some time with you" "er, ok then" .... general conversation, shows me some streets, we talk about dutch culture and openess.. "yeah, the other day i went to a live show and it was quite interesting... (pause)... have you seen a live show before?" "er, no" *alarm bells* "oh ok" .... awkward silence, then i notice he's wearing a watch *alarm bells* .... more general talk about the red light districe, he informs me that you have to be carefull when selecting the girls sometimes because they can be guys, and he knows, it happened to him. HIM, he didn't even cover it up by saying a friend or seomtning. *alarm bells* ...then he can see i'm itching to leave "hey, .. do you want to go to a special place?" *alaaaaarrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmm ABORT ABORT ABORT* i didn't even have words, i just shook my head then said thanks for the walk around and left. Very glad to leave. He was a nice guy, just, well, out for sex.
Went home for a snooze, then another bike ride, had a McKroket at mcdonalds, then went to the movies! Saw Brokeback Mountain, in english even as it had dutch subtitles. Biked home, and here i am now, 1am. Actually, i should go to bed, goign to the airport in 5 hours to see mummmmmmmmmmmmmm and riiiiiiika.
okies, slaap lekker.
Out Of Time
¡Writing this at the airport, going on a 2 week trip featuring Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Prague.
hope you´re all doign well, i´m gonna have an absolute blast travelling around with Jaron from USAC.
And then mum and erica come to spain to see me!!!
wihoo
Fun Times Here
ciao
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)