Budapest Snow

Yesterday I went to the thermal baths and swam around in outdoor heated pools while snow fell on my head. And then I watched Magic Mike in my hostel. To Zagreb!

Ooooo snow!

Buda Buda Buda

Rockin' everywhere. Budapest is a cool cool city. Second favorite after Amsterdam. I read a quote somewhere that "Hungary is viewed as the East by the West and as the West by the East." I like that and it seems very spot on.

First day I went to art museums and had a nice day. Unfortunately, that isn't much a very interesting story. I did realize how cheap Budapest is though! I got a "smoked cheese" (?) sandwich and sparkling water at the museum cafe (always notorious for being over priced) for 950 Fl!! That's less than $5. Oh yeah. And I got two cute skirts and a lil coin purse for under $20. Budapest is great!

City Park

Saturday was a really lovely day. I went on a WONDERFUL walking tour. Our guide Anita was super. They showed us the sights, but also have us a lot of helpful tips about Budapest. She explained tipping practices, public transport, Hungarian food and beer,and even taught us some Hungarian phrases. I gotta TripAdvisor them.

St Stephens

Spooky!

Cafe Alexander!

Castle Gate

I love all the old run down buildings. Looks like beautiful haunted houses

ME

The tour ended right next to the Faust Wine Cellar, which I remembered the lovely Em Batt recommending. So nice! For $22 I got to sample 6 wines with an attentive guide. It's this little husband and wife team. He explained all the "notes" or whatever and I loved it. Am I at the age where I should stop buying Three Buck Chuck and maybe go for the $10 bottles?? Only time will tell.

wine tasting!

I was also pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the white wines! All the white wine I've had is either gross and sugary or smells faintly of pee, but not these! I even bought a bottle! So unlike me. It might be nice to send it home buuuuuut I'll probably just drink it. Hungarian wine y'all, get into it. But you can't because apparently they don't have much of an export.

THEN I was supposed to go on a pub crawl from my hostel but it got cancelled for the third night in a row! Not enough people. Trés disappointment. I ended up going to Szimpla Kert (once again a stellar Em Batt suggestion). I wish we had something like that in Brooklyn! It's an abandoned building and so so neat. They had this weird stationary bike race thing in one corner? Lots of guys in those silly little cycle hats. And there was a stag party with everyone dressed up with a nautical theme. The groom was a merman. All stag parties should be nautical themed. I have decreed.

I didn't stay long though because I was by myself and awkwardly wandering around. Traveling alone is hard. It takes a lot out of you. You try to talk to someone and it falls a bit flat or they don't speak English. Solo travel has perks, but on the whole, I wouldn't recommend it. Lizbob Lonelypants.

ANYWAY, I retired back to the hostel after a kebab and ended up going out with a couple American boys from my room. We met these Chinese kids that were so plastered celebrating Chinese New Year. They kept giving us champagne and asking about their favorite American TV shows. It's year of the Snake! I'm year of the Snake!! It's my YEAR.

ok bye bye I love you

A Brat in Bratislava

I went to Bratislava! Being able to say that was a large part of my reasoning for going, so mission accomplished?Bratislava (in Slovakia) is just an hour from Vienna and en route to Budapest. So why the heck not! Also, Rick Steves recommended it and he is my mentor.

I ate some Slovakian food: an onion & sirloin soup and some cheese dumplings. Those cheese dumplings could kill a man. It's like macaroni and cheese on steroids with cheese fondue on top. It was an intensely cheesy experience. But "death by cheese" may be a good way to go.

Then we walked around and saw the Reader's Digest highlights. Check out those photos. Bratislava, bb. Next we hiked all the way up to the castle, with Vanessa and I stopping like every 15 minutes because UGH. Anyway, check it off the list.

Just a general note: Europeans love Django Unchained. It's weird. I've heard the Django soundtrack in 3 different countries. My Berlin hostel played it every morning during breakfast. My new "line" to start up a conversation with any young European? "So Django." Literally all I have to say. I'm tempted to try to analyze this, but I'll resist.

Now I am in Budapest! I'm happy to be here. I also just bought a new shampoo that I am SO EXCITED ABOUT. And my hostel here will do my laundry with a DRYER for $10. I'm giddy about this. Clean and non-stretched out clothes will be mine tonight!! I'm always pretty chill about big things and weirdly enthusiastic about little things. What's up with that?

Wien Wieners

So Vienna is another one of those cities that we made up a new name for? I didn't know this. It's actually "Wien" here. Which also explains "wiener schnitzel" finally. A lifelong mystery: solved!

Firstly, I went on a walking tour with an adorable octogenarian guide named Ingrid. She was lovely. I got some quick Vienna history, saw some sights, and quickly realized what I was interested in doing. Vienna is apparently known for opera, schnitzel, and coffee shops.

I first went to a coffee shop and sampled some famous Sacher cake. It was kinda of dry and I was unimpressed. HOWEVER I did really enjoy the coffee shop culture. You've claimed your spot and no one will bother you. Fantastic. I love not being bothered.

I would like to do this for 100 hours

I then traveled to the Leopold Museum. They had a giant exhibit called "Nude Men" which I find hilarious because I am 11. Lots of penii. That's the plural of "penis" I may have just made up. Whatever, I don't have Internet right now to look it up. Also, lol that iPhones capitalize Internet.

heehee

Oh! And a very nice but alcoholic man was singing at the hot dog stand and I forced him to dance with me. It was charming in a Vienna way. Just trust me on this one, it was cute.

Finally I went to my hostel bar and became so friendly and forced the bartenders to teach me their craft. I can now fully put "bartender at hostel bar in Vienna" on my résumé. I also stole an abandoned box of toffee at the bar. Well it's eaten now.

And now I am off to Bratislava! I convinced this fun Australian girl I met yesterday to come with me on the day trip. I am so bossy! (cue Kelis)

Vienna

Vienna is pretty! Doesn't it look a little Diagon Alley-esque with that Gringotts at the end?

me being bossy

Segway Segue

I finally took the Segway tour! It was two hours and quite fun. Freezing cold though. Shockingly, I wasn't as terrible as I expected to be. There were definitely a few moments of pure terror, but nothing catastrophically dramatic happened. It was just me and the guide as well, and she was very patient. I also think she could read the terror in my face occasionally because she would say things like "You hanging in there?" But later she took the speed governor off and I was zooming along and I felt like Tron.

The funniest moment was at the end when I was trying to get off. I took one foot off and the things just started spinning, going around in a little circle. I was standing there with one foot dangling off, doing that kind of panicked "ahhhhhhhh" groan. This guy from the front desk ran and had to help me. Luckily, it was pretty minor mishap, in the grand scheme of my life. How fucking cute do I look on this Segway though?

Segway!!!

I went to Prague Castle and a toy museum that morning. Prague Castle was nice, but I'm getting a bit spoiled with cathedrals and old things. They did have some very cool Muchas stained glass.

St. Vitus Cathedral

The toy museum was great though! They had old toys from the WWI and such. Really interesting to see. I already tweeted it, but let me say it again: Thank you Northeastern for not putting a date on my student ID. I've gotten so many student discounts.

Nightmare Fuel

Umm

Just a fun alcoholic sailor toy

Very Fantastic Mr. Fox I thought! For Eric Allen

Lil Devil Doll

Trains planes and automobiles

The toy museum had a big collection for 50 Years of Barbie. I was nostalgic looking at all the sweet 90s Barbies I had. Thanks for all the Barbies, Mom & Dad.

girls girls all types of girls, girls I do adore

If you ever want to feel stumpy, take a photo next to Barbie

I'm currently killing an hour and a half in the Prague train station, waiting for my train to Vienna. In other news, I got my first European nosebleed! It wouldn't be a Liz Kelley Adventure without a nosebleed.

I'm now thinking the rest of my trip will be: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Zagreb, Venice, Munich, Frankfurt, Iceland, NYC.

Czech It

Well, first of all, I am not going to Turkey. A US embassy was bombed in Ankara and a young female tourist from New York was murdered in Istanbul on January 21st after a solo backpacking excursion through Europe. So yeah, no. Nope nope nope. I'm sad about it, but I'll just have to go another time.

Lennon Wall

So Prague. Yesterday I went to the Lennon Wall, which is just a lil baby Berlin Wall, pretty much. There were three different groups of British tweens that were taking lots of photos in front of it and writing quotes like "Live. Laugh. Love." But I don't judge too harshly because I whipped out my iPhone to take a photo for my blog. I wasn't the one that wrote Harry Potter.

Then I went to the Museum of Decorative Arts and wowee. I'm so glad I'm a graphic designer because I love this shit. (Do you love this shit?) I had no idea art nouveau was so big here. To be honest, I knew totally nothing about Prague before getting here. At one point in my life, someone said "Prague's cool." Therefore, I go to Prague.

Stained glass at Museum of Decorative Arts

crazy elaborate beaded table centerpiece thing

cool poster

cool woodcut

In that same vein, I went to the Alphonso Mucha museum. I like Mucha even if he is "commercial." Hipster problems. But do I like him enough to buy a $80 scarf? Hell to the no. That place had the most outrageous museum shop I've encountered yet.

Then I went on a pub crawl which was fun in that pub crawl way. Apparently I'm very Canadian because I apologize too much. Also, four people at my hostel came to the consensus that I have the exact same voice as Donna from That 70s Show. I get it, but I think it's 70% just because I'm American. Then I said "Eric Foreman!" and we all laughed and it was jolly.

Today I had a full day with a trip to Kutna Hora, an hour train ride outside Prague. I paid for a tour and I feel so spoiled! I have a GUIDE and he buys the tickets and tells me which train to get on and tells me history and takes me to a wonderful Czech restaurant for lunch and I love him. Yes I'm paying for it, but that bothers me not at all. We were a small group of five.

Kutna Hora

unfinished cathedral

Czech Republic bb

Our guide is Pavel and he's great. Probably like 40, married, Czech, dad. Does not seem to give any fucks. "Over there is main square, but it is not interesting so we don't go." He told us a lot about the recent Czech elections on the train ride. Also he says "pagan" like "peggin" and I'm only mildly joking when I say I love him. For this visual, picture a Chris O'Dowd type character with a beard and Czech accent.

Haha, I just wrote a whole paragraph about our guide before talking about why I went to Kutna Hora. Priorities! Kutna Hora was the silver mine town that pretty much funded all of Prague. Pavel pointed out three different buildings that were half finished because the silver stopped. Whoops.

The main reason for my visit is for the grando tourist trap that is The Bone Chapel. Nancy Drew and the Mystery of Bone Chapel. This guy decorated a chapel with the bones of over 40,000 people. Plague victims and soldiers. It serves as a giant memento mori; like don't forget you're mortal so behave. It's not satanic or anything. It was cool to see. A bit twisted. Please don't let my bones be used for decoration though, please and thanks. Peace n blessins.

I'm getting into interior design

Coat of ARMS (literally)

For lunch I had wild boar goulash with gingerbread dumplings and a Czech beer. Pivo! Ugh so good. I wish I could just run that back and eat it again. Round two.

GOULASHES

Let me tell you, the Czech people hate tourists. Apparently it's mostly a cultural thing. The Czechs do NOT do small talk, partly because the hesitation to divulge information with strangers has carried over from communist spy days. And since they don't do small talk, they complain. And everyone loves to complain about tourists. This is what Pavel was saying, but that the younger generations are changing.

Tonight I may do the Segway tour (eee!) and then Prague Castle tomorrow morning. Then I'm off to Vienna on Tuesday for a day or two, followed by Budapest. Since Turkey isn't happening anymore, I don't really know what's happening. Barcelona may be in my future.

Happy birthday to Adley Kloth! Happy birthday tomorrow to Amanda Hawkins! Happy Half Way Mark to my trip! Happy Superbowl to America! If I'm awake and kickin' I think I'll go to an American bar tonight. It starts at midnight here though so ick blah, maybe not.

Oh and the Georgia thing was a fail. I kept forgetting. Look at all this weirdness on this Czech keyboard ů§¨ěšč¤¤

Staying: Charles Bridge Hostel

Prahahaha

Let's talk about Prague baby. Let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things that can be. Let's talk about Prague!!* Well I had a very bad taste in my mouth about Prague initially. But I think it's just because I was hungry and a dog pooped in the train station Claire's. 4/5 times I'm in a bad mood, I'm actually just hungry.

Yesterday I was super hungry (and therefore grumbles) and decided to get some food from a street vendor. "I'm so cool and adventurous!" However, I didn't fully understand what was happening and ordered "Parma Prosciutto Ham" from the menu which I thought was a thing, but now realize was just multiple translations. I received two giant hunks of ham. Seriously, two tennis ball sized cubes of ham. So as far as things go, this wasn't a terrible outcome. Good ham at least. I always know I've screwed up somewhere when the guy taking my order says "Really?" But at that point, I'm in too deep and just say "Yes." To add insult to dumb-American injury, it was in the touristy part and overpriced. I ate $12 of nothing but ham on the streets of Prague. Put that on my tombstone.

Prague

Today I did a walking tour. Prague is very very pretty. There's a huge Art Nouveau and Baroque presence here that I was unaware of. I'm excited to go to the Muchas Museum.

Then I went to a random cafe for dinner and an old Czech man adorably harassed me. He used to live in San Fran and kept holding my hand and telling me how New York is the coolest. And America is SO BIG. He was pretty drunk, but very sweet. "In Czech Republic it is very cold outside but very warm inside!" His name was George. He looked like Alan Arkin if you need a visual.

Tomorrow I'm going to Kutna Hora in CZ that has a BONE CHAPEL. Oh yeah yeah yeah.

Ok, here's some photos of Prague.

Prague

Prague

Prague

*this blog will get me a Pulitzer.

Weetabix

Sit down child, and listen to my Tale of the Weetabix. *throws Are You Afraid of the Dark powder onto a campfire* I bought this carton of Weetabix in London. It's a cereal, but instead of all loose, it's in pressed cereal pucks that you put in milk. It was £1.50, 8 servings, 135 calories per serving, and filled with protein and fiber. "What a great, cheap way to start my day!!"

Well I have yet to eat my Weetabix. I have carried it from London, to Belgium, to Amsterdam, to Berlin, and now to Prague. Inexplicably, I am highly dedicated to this box of Weetabix. My hostel in Prague has a guest kitchen and breakfast is not included; WILL I FINALLY EAT IT?? Stay tuned for the gripping conclusion.

As you may have guessed, I am still bored on a train to Prague.

Nomadic Thoughts

I'm on a train from Berlin to Prague at the moment. I think it's dumb we have different words for cities. We should just call it whatever the locals call it, ja? So Praha. But now I sound pretentious. First, a somewhat important announcement for my Brooklyn clique (let's keep that pretension going). I have officially decided to go to Ohio for the month of March. I'll be in NYC from Feb 29 to March 4. My birthday is March 2. Let's hang out. Then I go to the magical land of a free bed and Mom-made meals that is Ohio. There I will prepare myself to be a grown up again and get a portfolio in order.

And since I am bored on a train, I will share some travel trips. You've been warned.

• Reviews

I've had seriously wonderful hostels so far, all thanks to HostelWorld/Trip Advisor reviews. Thanks guys.

• Earplugs

Hostels are full of snoring, sniffly monsters. Earplugs are my savior and magical, and just a little bit frightening with their effectiveness. Allegedly, a British boy dropped a handful of change on the floor at 5 in the morning the other day, and I didn't even stir.

• Pub Crawls

Ok, pub crawls are gross in principle. But they are pretty much an instant way to make a couple temporary friends. Walking tours ain't half bad either. BTW, last night I went out with the hostel bartender because I said "What would Rick Steves do?" and you KNOW he'd want to go to bars with a local.

• Eurail

I love trains. I got my Eurail pass for 20% off (off-season) AND discounted Youth rate. So wonderful. I just go to the train station, up to the ticket window and ask which train to take, then proceed to whatever gate they told me. So easy. On a related note, I'm really not looking forward to my flight to Turkey (just the airport part). Oh and Ina suggested traveling on Mondays since many museums are closed Mondays, which is totally smart.

• Plan of Attack

I like to go straight from the train station to my hostel usually around dinner time. Get settled, drop stuff off, etc. Then wander around in the area of the hostel. Get some "lay of the land," find some dinner. Next day do a super touristy walking tour to help me get my bearings. A cool museum in the afternoon.

• Pack Light

Duh, everyone says it, but that's because it's true. I have one 23lbs backpack and it is my BFF. I can pack it all up in 20 minutes, throw it on my back and I'm great. Yes, I may accidentally knock into some Germans because I don't compensate for my doubled girth, but hey. I'm so happy to not have a rolling suitcase. I had to abandon two shirts in Berlin due to troubling stains (wine and mustard?) by the way.

• Google Maps

I cannot believe I can just ask Google Maps for directions from Berlin to Prague and it WORKS. Train times, everything. It got a little confused with the Berlin metro, but that's ok baby. I still love ya. A sub-tip: walking. I enjoy walking and I find it is a great way to see stuff. If it's within a 25 minute walk, I'm down.

• Moolah

Fees suck. As soon as arriving in a new currency spot, I hit an ATM and take out enough cash for about $50 a day. Keeps my spending in check (Czech hahaha) and I only get charged once for the conversion.

• Language

I have been pretty bad with language so far. I finally pick up a decent amount of words by Day 5 in a country, and then I leave. I've tried to learn some Czech in prep, so maybe I'll be better in Prague. Ahoj.

• Rooms

Since I'm traveling in winter, no hostel is terribly busy. The secret I've found is booking the SECOND cheapest room. The cheapest room, with 8 or 12 beds or whatever, will always have at least some people in it. Those people just want the cheapest room, naturally. However, no one books the second cheapest room, so I can get it all to myself for at least a day or two. Worst case scenario, I have roommates, which I signed up for anyway. The difference in price is usually a euro and I have a much better chance of my own room.

Okay, what the hell was this post? Do you think this old German man next to me can hear Rihanna through my headphones? Can you call me Georgia now? I'm trying to make that happen; a bit of an experiment. And Liz has had way too many embarrassing moments in her 23 years and could use a clean slate.

Straße

Museum of Natural History and a Street Art Tour. I am pooped though, so you just get photos today. Tschüs.

Butterflies

I spy a hermit crab...

Dead stuff in jars

Tachles

Little dudes

BRRLIN

Hi Berlin, thanks for the wein-rot. Sorry I was lazy.

I was a bit of a bitch to Berlin upon first arriving. I can admit that. It was cold and my hostel has such nice wifi... I didn't do much. But I've been re-energized! Ready to take Berlin by storm and see all the lovely things it has to offer. I've extended my stay an extra night as an apology to the city. 

I did however go to a bar called "White Trash Fast Food" and the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum of modern art. Both were way cool and hipster-approved.

Today I did a big walking tour of Mitte, the generally older historical neighborhood of Berlin. Berlin has a dark history. Two world wars, Nazis, and then Soviets. Oof. I really want to watch a James Bond film that takes place in Berlin; there must be like 6, right?

Germany

Germany

I learned today there were 42 known assassination attempts on Hitler. Also the Nazi salute and swastika are illegal here. Apparently a French-Canadian (le sigh) did the Nazi salute in front of the Reichstag and was fined €12,000!! As a result, I have now developed an anxiety disorder where I'm terrified I'll somehow end up accidentally doing a Nazi salute. My arm is tingling. Ahhhh.

I've been properly educated on the history of the division of East and West Germany/Berlin. I think it was always in the part of the history book that we never QUITE reached during the school term. My world history knowledge gets fuzzy after WWIIish. I knew about the wall, people trying to escape to the West, Stalin, the basics, etc. I wasn't aware quite how terrifying it all was though.

Checkpoint Charley

Berlin Wall

Holocaust Memorial

Brandenburg Gate

All in all, a very nice tour today.

I am meeting people, by the way, if you were worried for me. Lots of Australians. It's slightly surreal to meet these people from all over the world and also know how temporary the whole thing is. I will never ever ever see that person again, but lets live in the moment and talk about how shitty the music playing in the bar is and laugh. Strange. I am getting a wee bit tired of the "What brings you here? How long are you here? Where to next?" standard travel convo though. C'est la vie.

Staying: Circus Hostel

Baby's First Pub Crawl!

I went on a pub crawl last night! My first ever! I got into Berlin around 6 and was quickly energized by a magical German second wind. Das Winderein. Who knows. This was an "alternative" pub crawl, which meant the bars were interesting. First was a hippie-type bar with really bad murals of Janis Joplin and Bob Marley. Then a gothic bar. It was like a Hot Topic and all the goths glared at us, which was fitting. Next was an indie bar where they played Phoenix and Vampire Weekend and I got into hipster arguments with Brits. And finally some Berlin club thing but I left shortly after that.

Happy Australia Day! All the Australians I keep meeting are freaking out about Australia Day and so excited. I'm going to an Australian bar tonight I think to watch those Aussies celebrate.

By the way, I've developed a very strange speech as of late. I've been speaking with so many different people and so few Americans, I've picked up some weird inflections and accents? I think it will wear off when I'm home. Hopefully. It's very affected.

Berlin Bound

Auf Weidersehen Amsterdam! Yesterday was eventful because I ate a Cheese Pancake. There are pancakes joints all over Amsterdam and I needed to try one. I was secretly hoping for a giant Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit frisbee with syrup on top because I am a simple Midwestern girl, but the cheese pancake was much closer to a saucer of cooked cheese. Imagine an extra cheesy pizza minus tomato sauce and bread. If you can get past the amount of cheesiness (no problem), it's good? Kinda? I put some syrup on it out of curiosity and that was no good.All in all, I really liked Amsterdam. I could envision myself living there. It's so small; you can walk pretty much end to end in 30 minutes. And perhaps there are some more Amsterdam stories for another time.

Today I spend 6 hours on a train to Berlin. I imagined Europe a lot smaller than this. Like Amsterdam to Berlin should be 2.5 hours TOPS.

Yes We Heineken!

I awoke this morning, snug in my hostel bed, and peeped out to Vondelpark all gray and covered in snow, inviting me to stay in my little hostel bunk. But no! I have a JAM(sterdam)-packed day planned. Sarah, my Portland friend from the London hostel, has joined me in Amsterdam! She shall be my partner in crimes and taker of photographs. First up? The Heineken Experience! Site of the original Heineken Brewery, and now home to a very well-produced Heineken museum-ish. I even successfully poured my own beer with appropriate technique and foam. New profession, found!

I'm so obnoxious

Lovely Sarah learning to pour a proper Heineken

Heineken Logos

Then we strolled over to the Hermitage Museum, which is the temporary home of the Vincent Van Gogh Museum during renovations. No photos allowed, but I was quite impressed with their Potato Eaters, as a former art history student and current lover of potatoes. They also had a wing of Impressionist works. Then a tram to the Anne Frank House. It was wonderfully well done and I highly recommend it to anyone in Amsterdam. Sarah and I then went

Alive in Amsterdam

After train hopping through half of Belgium, I successfully arrived in Amsterdam! But first, here's the train station of Antwerp.

Antwerp Train Station

Amsterdam is lovely! I got in around 6pm on Friday, so I strolled around near my hostel and actually went to see Django. Rick Steves said seeing a movie while traveling is ok, so you aren't allowed to judge me. Let's look at some cute Amsterdam.

Amsterdam looking picturesque

Pretty Canal.

Amsterdam at Night

On Monday I went to the Stedelijk Museum, the modern art museum. I loved it. They had a great amount of graphic design works as well. I made a big list of designers I need to look up. Really well done too. I always feel a bit "lost at sea" with contemporary art, but the SM had really accessible write-ups that definitely helped with context. They had a huge retrospective on Mike Kelley, so I immaturely enjoyed seeing my last name all over the place.

Neon Coolness

A striped selfie

Less Than Perfect

Mike Kelley exhibit

KELLEY SQUARED

Today I went on a walking tour and I'm planning Anne Frank house tomorrow.

Staying: Flying Pig Uptown

Get it, Ghent.

Ghent is too pretty. It seems unfair. I turn a corner and I'm hit with another  potential desktop background. Today I walked around for a while, tried to sketch, froze, walked some more, nibbled on Belgian chocolates. Nice day.

The dragon that protects Ghent from atop the cathedral

There was DRAMA last night. These six Netherland dudes came into the hostel room last night at 4:30am and turned on lights, talked super loudly for an HOUR, made "hilarious" fart noises for a solid 5 minutes and ignored us when we asked them to be quiet. Seriously, the WORST. I told on them this morning and they got kicked out. HAHA bye jerks!

Phlemish

So long London! I had a really nice time in London, to the point I may have gotten a bit TOO comfortable. It was easy. The last day I had a gross cold, so I just stayed in and did laundry. Very wise decision, feeling good today. Today I quickly walked from one train station in Brussels to another so I could see the Grande Palace. Wow-ee. Gorgeous. I'm glad I hop-skip-jumped out to see it. I also got a sugar and butter crepe which I thought was SO BELGIAN.

Brussels

Brussels

And onward to Ghent! Today really felt like day one of my adventure. But so did London. And Iceland. It was the first day away from English though. If it were not for the kindness of folks, I would be stuck wandering Belgium. I would become legend in these parts. On cold snow-covered nights, you can hear her cursing to herself... She is the Tourist of Flanders.

Anyway, that is not my fate. I made it! Ghent is stunning. A Disney princess should be singing over the canal in the morning. Jimminy Christmas it's beautiful! 100% credit to Justin Jackson for telling me to go here, otherwise I would have been unaware it existed.

And the hostel here is lovely! So clean and spacious and check that view. I really know how to pick 'em.

Staying: Hostel Uppelink

My room! Fireplace!

View outside my window. No joke.

------

In my hostel I met this very cool girl from Dublin traveling around. She's rad. We walked around a bit and found this restaurant full of people, all locals. Good sign. The menu was all in Dutch and we were a bit lost. "Spare Ribs" were obvious, so we ordered a "Halve Kib" of those. I assumed this must be "half rack." Incorrect, Lizziepie. It meant half a chicken. So we got an order of spare ribs and half a chicken. Needless to say, I've had more protein tonight than the previous week.

And before the meal, they brought out bread and salad and these little bowls with sauces. We assumed they were unique Belgian sauces for the bread. We were sampling them and putting them on the bread. Um no. Salad dressing. I even said one tasted like Thousand Island. Because it was straight up Thousand Island dressing I was putting on bread. My coolness is off the charts.

The Rain and The Slain

'Ello 'ello! I've been bopping around London Town these past two days! It wasn't particularly conducive to photos though, so bear with me.I made lovely friends! A Yankee, a Canuck, and a Spaniard walk into a hostel bar... They're very nice folks and we've been hanging out quite a bit these past 36 hours. Look how adorable and happy we look:

Monday was snowy which was beautiful until it turned to cold rain. We decided to hang out in museums for the day. British Museum (aka setting of the cinematic masterpiece The Mummy Returns starring Brendan Fraiser). Did you know I own The Mummy trilogy? Is that embarrassing? Is it embarrassing I was annoyed the third one included was Dragon Emperor and not Scorpion King? What does it say about me that I like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in a platonic and totally non-ironic way? ANYWAY, I saw some mummies and very impressive artifacts. No Scorpion King, but I did see THE Rosetta Stone.

Next up was the National Gallery! Lots of all-star painters in there. Van Gogh, da Vinci, Monet, Gaughin. Very cool. I did some sketching.

Then quite spontaneously, Tim suggested we go see a show. We settled on Spamalot after a delightful exchange with the ticket lady; she could do stand-up. But first, to the pub to kill some time! Great times were had all around, bonding commenced.

Spamalot was fun. A good choice since it's so English. Only complaint is that it was 85% Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which I didn't realize it was a direct adaptation. Same jokes. Good jokes, but same ones.

The next day, Sarah and I went to the famous Camden Stable Markets. Open air vendors covering a huge expansive area that used to be horse trade I believe? I bought a "jumper" and a vintage satin jacket. I wanted to buy so much stuffffffff.

Then I took a nap because I am human and enjoy an occasional nap. Then I went on a Grim Reaper Tour this evening. They covered Tower of London executions, plague, Bedlam, and Jack the Ripper. We walked around the East End for the most part, which was a new area for me.

I got Indian food for the third time since England. HELPME. SAVEMEFROMMYSELF. I love Indian.

Tomorrow is my pilgrimage to Harry Potter Studios! SLYTHERIN OUT*

*originally I meant that to be like a rapper leaving, but it's also like I'm slithering out which is great. Don't you love it when I explain jokes?

American Tourist in London

Today I was a tourist. I went on a nice walking tour. It was good to get some context and history. I also signed up from a Grim Reaper tour I'll do another night. I love grisly ghostly tours! And here are some nice touristy photos.

I will share my favorite factoid from the tour. When Vice Admiral Lord Nelson died at sea after the Battle of Trafalger, they brought his body back in a brandy barrel for preservation. However, by the time they got to England half the barrel was empty because crew members kept sneaking drinks! And that's where we get the term "a stiff drink." Har har har I love it. I'm going to the pub.