Living in Luxury: London

What was I thinking leaving my own queen sized bed with jacuzzi tub ensuite? London was much more than a luxurious place to stay, but good times with Syd and lots of walking. It´s also where I got my dose of culture - Brazilian symphony (it was actually an underpriviliged youth symphony), Billy Elliot the musical (amazing!), National Museum, Natural History Museum (somehow I made it a month in Europe without going to any museums, but they´re free in London)...

The line of definition of time and place (for the whole world!)

I also straddled the longitude meridian in Greenwich and tried to go to platform nine and three quarters at the King Cross station. Unfortunately there was lots of construction and you needed a train ticket to access the platforms. At least I tried.

Train-hopping: Belgium

Antwerp: Finally felt like fall, took a great walk to the 'beach', but the highlight was surely ginger tea at Lombardia’s. Ginger tea the highlight? Yes. The best combination of sweet and spicy with a hint of creaminess. And I enjoyed Antwerp a lot (except for being alone in an ancient hostel - me and nine other empty beds and creaky floors was a bit creepy). Reminded me of home in a way, it is a college town, but unlike Bellingham nobody wears sensible shoes. 

Canal in Bruges

Bruges: Lots of Belgian beer sampling with an international crew from the hostel. Probably shouldn't have started out with the Kasteel Brown Ale and didn't realize it was 11% until too late. Also went to the Chocolate Museum, a great outdoor photo exhibit, and explored lots of cute shops.

Brussels: Note to self - don't whip out your map in the seedy part of town. Nothing bad happened, but it definitely attracts the creepers. Ate a waffle and saw some old buildings. Not my favorite of the three.

Change of Pace: Paris

Taking a break from the hostel world to stay with a real French family for five days was wonderful. I think I could get used to their way of life - baguettes with every meal, true appreciation and respect for free time, drinking wine while cooking, a certain nonchalant attitude...

Some of the more notable dishes made by Katie (mostly) and I (a little) included: zuchinni/leek/blue cheese soup, potato salad (recipe courtesy of the Old World Deli in Bellingham), apple crumble (with apples from the country house), walnut pesto made by mortar and pestle (with walnuts from the country house),  and stacks of eggplant, roasted tomato, mozarella and basil.

Katie picking out produce in the Vincennes farmers market 

Of course I did all the tourist sites (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomph, Jim Morrison's grave, Notre Dame), but also got to do non-touiristy things (shopping for produce at the market, mushroom exhibit, fire show/outdoor concert, 'clubbing').  Clubbing, by the way, is extremely expensive. 'm not sure if it's worth spending 12 euros on a gin and tonic (that's like 17 USD, I only had one) and wasting the next day by sleeping in until one.

In a Nutshell: Budapest

- Thermal baths
- Corn on the cob and goulash
- Worst stubbed toe of my entire life - left my blood on the streets of Hungary
- Hostel experience was the closest I will ever come to knowing what it's like to be on the Real World (the Australian version)

That's Pest across the river. Photo taken from the Buda side.  

Made it to Paris today and am staying with my friend Katie and her boyfriend Boris at his parents' house. What am I looking forward to the most? Not sharing a room with nine other people. And the food. And hanging out with Katie.

Schnitzel and Reunions: Vienna

Took some time off from sightseeing today - old buildings are just old buildings, right?

Went on a coffee date with a Viennese (one of those guys in the funny coats that sells you classical concert tickets), and as interested as I am in experiencing local cultures, I declined his offer to go back to his apartment for "wiener schnitzel". No thanks, buddy. Later that evening at the hostel I ran into Dan and Nicole from good old Bothell High School. Nicole and I were actually in the same third grade class, and she lived just a few streets away from me. Small world.

Budapest by bus tomorrow. Wunderbar!