2nd Stop - The Netherlands

So, the second part of my trip consisted in catching up with friends in the other neighbouring country of Belgium.... The Netherlands....

I love this statue.... is on the coastline somewhere next to the Hague..

After a morning chilling out in Brussels - hot croissants, hot chocolate and loads of rain - I jumped on a train that took me straight to the Hague.... What was I doing in the Hague?? Francesca... who I haven't seen in years, was a friend since 6th form and also turned out to be an AIESEC colleague in the future. It was great catching up. I had missed her engagement last year, so we sat in her appartment and looked at photos, reminished and caught up. I later got a tour of the Hague in the pouring dutch rain and enjoyed a big dinner of mussels and wine on the dutch coast..... a pleasent way to spend a couple of hours.....

mussels, wine and Franny

I once again jumped on the train... this time the next stop was Rotterdam.... there I met up with Tom who I haven't seen for ages too. Tom has spend the last year in Rotterdam and thus knew every corner of it..... we enjoyed dutch apple pies, walks admiring the strange Rotterdam architechture, Rotterdam bridges, pancakes, this funny dutch egg thing, and kinderdijk windmills..... although it was cloudy and rainy most of the time.... all you had to do is not think of it and you'll enjoy the beauty of Rotterdam....

the block houses... I still can't understand how people live in them.... but got the chance to go in one and they look pretty cool!!!

in denial.... it is not cold, there is no rain and the sun is shining

windmills..... they somehow remind me of Don Quixote

The final destination on this Dutch trip was obviously and inevitably Amsterdam..... Tom and I headed up to Amsterdam..... where I stayed in the same hostel I stayed in 4yrs ago (looks exactly the same), withdrew money from the only ATM in Amsterday that would give me money 4years ago (as is still the only ATM in Amsterdam that gives me money), walked down the same streets, looked at the same markets, and drank beer in the same cafe I used 4years ago!!

Apart from the drunk English men enjoying their stag night stumbling around the red light district, and young teenagers stoned in the coffee shops for probably their first time.... Amsterdam is quite an enjoyable city. The walks in the little streets with the little canals, the serenity of the place as well as its hidden treasures make Amsterdam quite an enjoyable place to spend a day or two. Not to mention you still get to enjoy the delicious Dutch apple pie and catch up with friends such as Arthur and Russel!!!

mmmm... dutch apple pie

... Amsterdam...