As if I won't get enough rain over the next year in England, it rained most of the day again today. Actually, this morning was more of a torrential downpour. The hostel was leaking everywhere and our floor was partially flooded. Beautiful. Thankfully I was checking out anyway and the water didn't get in our room. The morning after a festival night is always a sight to see - so much garbage and beer cans and plastic cups. But they were in full cleanup mode. It was a weird vibe - rest of the city was quiet minus the street cleaners at work. I took this time to visit the churches though and wander through the quiet streets. Very charming city. I hadn't noticed these last night, but now I'm seeing them everywhere... these portapotty urinals ... read more

(Internet is pretty much still not working and worse than it was yesterday... so no photos for now. Hopefully Belgium brings better wifis) Right, so against my better judgement I went on a tour with "Tours and Tickets" ... their Marken, Volendam and Windmills one. Really, I should have just taken the time to plan the trip myself because although each location was beautiful - the tour hit pretty much all my tour pet peeves. Unfortunately, the wifi at the hostel is pretty much down (works for 2 min every... hour? haha) So, I sucked it up and paid. First stop was Maarken. The town was cute... but we didn't get to see much of it. We were herded along like cattle... ugh, the absolute biggest pet peeve of mine on tours. Such a pet peeve. ... read more

Sunburn update: The pools in Budapest did not turn me into a lobster. No, instead I'm only partially a raccoon. Not bad. Yesterday: I windowshopped in the morning - how adventurous, I know... but I had a bus to catch early afternoon and only had one metro ticket left... so I had to stay close to the hostel haha. Saw the best sign ever in my journey today - there was a prohibition sign on some (important?) building that showed not only are dogs mot allowed to pee, but neither are humans - who incidentally apparently also pee on their four legs. Fascinating. That is one sign I have never seen before haha. At the bus station (which I begrudgingly headed off to) was a homeless man with the two cutest dogs I've ever seen - ... read more

Last night: I am having the best (/sarcasm) time with French people as of late. So, we had the train boys a few days ago - now - I have two French roommates. We had the following discussion after I said I was from Canada: Girl 1 (english): "Oh. So you can probably understand what we're saying?" Me: Uhm, yeah. I can... and I speak it too. G1 (english): "Ah. Yes. You speak French with funny words." Sigh... seriously? That is definitely the way to endear yourself to your roommate. *a few minutes later* G1 (in French to Girl 2): "She's from Canada - she speaks French." G2 (in French): "NO! A FRENCH CANADIAN! I LOVE YOUR ACCENT! OMG! TALK TO ME." Me (in French): Uhm... I don't know what to say to that...? G2 (giggling ... read more

Another day spent on a train :) I'm ok with that - more than ok. I love watching the world speed by, or slowly chug-a-long. Varying paces each with their own beauty. I love the slight sway of the cabin as you pass along the tracks; hearing the rumbling of the train, or the clickity-clack. I love passing through the villages; I love seeing people go by their lives, watching the old couples sit hand in hand, and I love the kids that wave at the train (you just have to wave back!) I love the scenery; I love that the train gives you a more "behind the scenes" view of a country's beauty than the highway does. I especially love the lakes and rivers - the tranquility of it all. I love whizzing through old ... read more