Netherlands

So I made it to Belgium... I didn't want to go here (or at least I wasn't planning on it), but it just happened. The guy that I was going to go to Dusseldorf with decided against going, so instead I took a cheap train here!

The last night in Amsterdam was crazy... I ended up not having a bed (b/c it was sold out), so I slept on a chair for half the night and the floor for the other half. Then Saturday morning I rented a bike (completely hungover) and rode around the city.

(Swear to god, you haven't truly lived until you've ridden a bike through Amsterdam!)

I was peddling along, minding my own business, and was almost run over by this crazy chick wearing three inch stillettos. EVERYone rides a bike in Amsterdam. Businessmen in suits and old grannies doing groceries. EVERYONE. Unfortunately, if you're just another "stupid tourist" like me, you'll run into trouble. I almost ran over two pigeons and a tourist, and almost got killed by a delivery truck backing up. But it was totally worth the experience.

So now here I am in Brussels. I just got back from a walk around the city. I splurged and bought 10 euros worth of chocolate. I also sampled the "King Arthur" chocolate, which is titled the best chocolate in Belgium. Oh yea, and I ate Belgian fries with Andalouse sauce (mayonaise and ketchup mixed together). AMAZING! Don't be sceptical until you've tried it! seriously... (oh and also, last night I ate this Turkish pizza that had eggs over-easy on it... weird, but delicious!)

Not sure where I'm going next. Probably spend a day or so in Bruges, then fly to Scotland. Or maybe Eastern Europe? There's this big festival going on in town, so there's people in costumes everywhere!

Ahhhh I wish I could do this forever! It's amazing how easy it is... all you need is a bit of money and time. ANYone can do it, and you don't have to go with anyone, either. Traveling just puts the world into perspective... it's a cool feeling!! Anyways, I'll upload more pictures soon! Ciao...

so far (in two days), i have...

~ bumped into Jaydee Bixby (second place in 2007 canadian idol) at tim horton's...
~ ridden a greyhound, two cable cars, two subways and a city bus JUST to get to pearson airport in toronto
~ spilled soup all over my pants in the airport
~ made it through customs alive (as opposed to deported)
~ gotten completely and ridiculously LOST approximatly 8 times
~ accidentally sat in first class instead of second.. oh and got yelled at by the train conductor!
~ met over two dozen people from literally ALL over the world
~ figured out why the houses in amsterdam lean forwards (you'll NEVER guess)
~ walked throught the red light district and got winked at by a prostitute
~ met a kid who got his own name written on a hat, so that when he and all his friends are intoxicated, they can remember what his name is
~ met someone who did NOT know what the kid's name is, even though it's written on his hat! (idiot...?)
~ drank tea with only ONE sugar.. (yea, for all those who know me well, this is a HUGE deal... seriously!)
~ eaten WALK TO WOK - amazzzing
~ eaten at McDonald's - disgusting
~ slept in a bed that felt like a bunch of bricks...
~ slept on a floor (i'm on a budget and the hostel was completely booked! somehow, the floor feels better than the bed!)
~ basked in happy hour
~ discussed global politics and the beauty of van gogh
~ gotten drenched by the rain
~ bought and drank TWO bottles of wine (altogether costing me 4 euros... no joke!)
~ walked around aimlessly and still found our way back to the hostel
~ spoke to someone in french
~ met an australian who DOESN'T drink (i dare you to try and find one)

it's been crazzzzzzy... and the next step? i'm thinking dusseldorf, but not entirely sure! ciao for now