Riding to Holland

We extended our stay in Bruges an extra night because it's too nice to leave. It's a relaxing little town with a population of about 20 000 so on a regular day there are more tourists than locals in the city. You don't really notice or care though because you are too busy thinking everything is pretty and sighing wistfully at things, as is everyone else.

There are lots of little parks, canals, quaint houses, a few windmills and a Belfry that plays a little melody for you every so often. the beer is delicious, like nothing else. We tried the beer that won the World Beer Competition, the only beer brewed in the very centre of Delft old town.

On our last day there we took our bikes along a tree lined canal past fields and cows to Damme which is a little town on the way to the Netherlands. The wind picked up a bit too much so we didn't quite make it across the border (we were about another 20min ride away) but the sun was out, the breeze in our hair and little waterbirds were building nests on the canals. It was so relaxing I didn't even notice how much my butt hurt from all the riding, I was having so much fun.

In Bruges

If I ever used the word 'pretty' to describe Brussels, I'm sorry, I misled you. Because really it was UGLY UGLY compared to the quaint delight that is Bruges. And to steal the word 'pretty' from Bruges for Brussels would be plain wrong.


We are at a great BnB with a cheery host who bought us a free bottle of wine, picked us up from the station, gave us unlimited tea, coffee, chocolate cookies and MnMs, and promises a huge breakfast tomorrow where we are allowed to pack the leftovers for a picnic lunch and take her free bikes for a cruise along the river! So homely and sweet.

Brussels

The Brussels free map or young Travellers has some tips for living like a local and this is their first description:

'Brussels is ugly and we love it.
And if we don't love it, we live with it. So don't be surprised that we built a terrible apartment block next to an Art Nouveau jewel, or a UFO in front of the Central Station'

Written by locals, this sums up Brussels pretty well in my opinion. Pretty things and ugly things kinda lumped together and the pretty things are really pretty and the ugly things are really ugly! Some of their other tips include:

-Be yourself especially if you're weird (acting cool may work in Paris but not here)

-Mix some languages.

And my favourite:

-STOP STEALING OUR BEER GLASSES.

We meant to do a Waffle making class
Or a beer tasting class but we got a bit lost. EVERYONE gets lost in Brussels.. The streets are all bendy... But in a sneaky way.. They just gradually bend you round and then you think you are south but you are west and generally just muddled. We hired bikes today and rode to some nice parks and now my legs want to fall off. The riding was supposed to give us a break from all the tiredness from walking but the constantly getting lost just meant for extra riding. Brussels has lots of hills.

On to Bruges tomorrow for some further beer tasting and prettiness.

Oh yes, and Paris finished up lovely -only one tip I have and that is: if you are a girl travelling with your significant male other, DONT accompany him to the military museum. Just go to the park and read Northanger Abbey and eat a baguette.

If you do go you will see HUNDREDS of swords, armour, guns, military equipment, crossbows, crossbow/gun combos, arrows, shields, knives, horses, more armour, knights, videos showing historical BATTLE TACTICS. Boys, you will love it.

Girls: you will find it interesting at first (especially if you have studied medieval/french history) but after the 50th room your legs will be tired and you'll have lost the will to live.

Ps. My only photo is of Toby's FIRST selection of macaroons ever! He'd never had them before so we bought some in Paris. They were yum.

I love Paris in the springtime

Today we went out to find some cheap dinner and when we came home our suburb had turned into a music festival. This was a full outdoor festival, every 30 metres there was another band playing - everything from Jazz to gospel choir to African drumming circle, folk and fiddle, classical, old Jewish solo singer, rock, punk, marching band, everything! Our little apartment is smack in the Place des Vosges which is the heart of Marais and a sort of town square meeting park so there were bands and people and bevvos everywhere! The whole suburb for streets ad streets had musicians playing on every corner. We had to sidestep a waltz to get to the door leading to our apartment. It was one of those times where you could not actually plan it better - today is actually the Fete de la Musique http://www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr/en/International/presentation/ - but we would never have known if it hadn't been right on our doorstep (literally).

The only thing that has stopped us from partying into the evening is we spent the whole day exploring Versailles and walked for about 6 hours (see photo of me being princessy in the grand trianon below; and our we're happy but exhausted faces) so i pushed through for another 6 or so but I really cannot go on.

So let's step back in time a little bit.. Yes we are in Paris! Here is the mandatory smiles-at-Tour-Eiffel photo to prove it. it's stunningly beautiful. Our apartment is tiny but in a great location surrounded by so much life and fun. Food is great but so expensive! So tonight we sought out the best cheapest food recommended: felafels in the Jewish district. They have been reviewed by the NY times and he certainly reviews them better than I could do. Read it here: http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/travel/31bite.html (they were seriously AMAZING!! Everything he says is true and more!)

On the walk home we got a nutella crepe (win!), and as you now know, music! My fav was the gay and lesbian choir doing an Abba medley. Dancing Queen. They were wearing rainbow sweaters. Classic.

And are you ready to hear the CRAZIEST thing that happened today (a very gay man in a cat suit purring at Toby wins second prize)..

Well in Versailles we were just strolling along toward the Petit Trianon getting a bit tired and thought we better stop for a coffee.. And who do we run into?!

OUR LANDLORD JOHN!!!

We knew he was on holiday in Europe but to find him in Versailles (which is huge), in Paris (which is huger) in Europe (which is the hugest) at the tiny coffee shop at the BACK CORNER OF THE PARK?! Weird and crazy. So we had a coffee with him. What a small big world we live in!

(ps. Sorry the photos go all out of order and the links don't really make links with this free blog app.. You'll have to continue to match the picture with the words. But to help, I think the one at the very bottom is the remains of a mostly eaten Nutella crepe.. Mmmm)

Lyon

Lyon is called the gastronomical capital of the world. That of course is subjective, but it is considered the food heart of France and if you consider France the world food leader then I guess it deserves the title.

We've spent a lovely few days eating, and while Toby insists this is not a food blog, I couldn't help but take a photo of pretty much every plate put before me. We did other things too, like wander about inside cathedrals and look at frescoes and meander through parks. It has been a lovely couple of days. My five years of French buried deep in my long term memory is serving me well.. I can't really form sentences well but I understand a lot written and a bit spoken so we're doing alright.

On our first night we ate galettes and crepes and cider from Bretagne. It was delicious :) then we were treated to a sunset over the town square.

we also got to wander through an outdoor food market that had huge wheels of cheese and sausages and tubs of olives - we feasted on the free samples.

we are now packing to head off for a week in Paris. I'm looking forward to being in one place again, the moving about is fun but exhausting!

What's news with you all?

Innsbruck and Italy

Hello lovelies..
So what's happened with us? Well we spent two days in Salzburg, one day exploring the city and the next day we got on a tour to explore the lakes and mountains around Berchtesgaden, which is just inside the German border and boasts Hitler's Eagles Nest. It was too cloudy and rainy to bother going up to the Nest so instead we took a trip to the lake Konigsee (king lake) which was exquisitely beautiful. We ate amazing food there too, real apple strudel and Hause Shokolade :)

Then we left Salzburg for Innsbucj: the city in the mountains. Stayed at a lovely BnB/hostel owned by an amazing sweet shop cafe that always smelt delicious. It was cold and rainy of day 1 Innsbruck so we could barely see any mountains.. But the next day cleared up and we took a short hike up the mountain (one of the many) for views over the city. Then a tram ride to the beautiful Tyrolean village of Igls where we were treated to views of rolling hills, dramatic snow capped mountains and cute Austrian steeples.

We then left Innsbruck for Verona and had a spectacular train ride through the alps. Sorry none of the photos from my phone really capture the beauty. Verona is gorgeous, we've had fun exploring the city and eating :) it hosts the house of the capulets and I made Tobes indulge me by going up onto Juliet's balcony (well, you know, supposedly). It's a crazy tourist attraction with a statue of Juliet there, apparently if you rub her right breast it will bring you a new lover.. So huge crowds of people rubbing her boobies, and masses of graffiti covering the walls with love messages.. People have stuck hundreds of pieces of gum there too and written their initials in them. A bit gross but makes for a cool effect.

Today we are off to hire some bikes and Give us a break from all of the walking. having a stellar time!!

Austria

Here we are in Salzburg after a week of gallivanting around Vienna. We said a sad farewell to Wilhelm this morning. We are living on a diet of meat, bread and cheese, so I guess it's a good thing we have been walking around 3+ hours a day seeing hills, museums, churches, palaces, pubs, zoos, cafes, shops, woods, castles, markets, etc.

I have lots of exciting Viennese photos but you will have to wait until I get onto a computer for me to show you, and that costs €1.50, and I'm stingy. Mostly its also two floors down and I can't be bothered because my legs hurt from all the walking.

Here you can see the view from the top of the castle over Salzburg city. Also the nicest McDonalds in all the land. I ate a cheeseburger there and it still definitely tastes like cheeseburger though. We got into Salz at 1pm and have already walked much of the city so we are thinking of getting a tour to berchtesgaden or up to the eagles best tomorrow for some stunning mountainous terrain :)

Across the globe

I described going from Vietnam to Singapore as like having a shower after camping for 2 weeks.  You feel so clean and fresh there.  However going from there to Vienna is like someone then driving you to a day spa where they give you a body massage, foot scrub and play the sounds of the ocean.

Eveything is SO nice!  The buildings are beautiful!  The streets are clean!  The food is delicious (and cheap!)

Singapore was OK... we were told by three different people that we didnt really have time to go to the zoo, which was our original plan (looking back we totally did) so instead I thought I would try and spend time shopping in a shopping capital of the world.  IT DIDNT WORK.  A frustrating couple of hours later and a story that is longer then I can be bothering writing, I ended up with two new pairs of bathers to replace my lost ones... they arent exactly what I would buy if Id shopped in Aus--- the song "íncy wincy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini" comes to mind.  Even though I ended up with the éxtra large´ size I still feel like most of my bits need a bit of coaxing to stay inside the fabric.  Oh well, they were cheap.

Now in Vienna with Wilhelm who is a kind and generous host... thanks WIlly!  He´s cheeky though.  The other night just as the sun was going down he said ´you two should take a nice walk to the park at the end of the road, its only 2 minutes away and its quite nice´... so we walk down the street except it turns out this is no ordinary park it is a PALACE and the grounds are all amaying huge hedges with water fountains and rose gardens and can I repeat it is a PALACE.  We are going there on Thursday night to hear a classical concert... cant wait.

Then yesterday Wil took us on our first adventure which toured the market, the city and then we got to watch a big marching band regatta with marching bands from all over Austria perform down the main street and in front of the town hall.  It was awesome.  Today is Sunday which is a slow day for Vienna.  I am expecting we will walk, eat, walk some more.  Will post some pics when I can be bothered... having some brekky now so ciao!

(Ps... It´s cold again!)