Exploring Holland...

Hi All!!

On Friday Harry dropped me off at my hostel in Amsterdam.  Even though I have been traveling solo for almost 4 months now I have to admit that it was nice to have my friend take me there and walk me to the door (and of course help with the heavy bags!). 

In Amsterdam I met up with a girl, Erin from Australia, whom I met in Barcelona.  We had two good nights in Amsterdam.  It is a crazy little city!!  During the day it is very charming with all of the canals and candy cane house-like buildings.  It's weird though because walking through Amsterdam's streets I sort of felt like I was in a movie set, it didn't seem real.  Even though the buildings are of an old fashioned style they look so new.  One of the things that I found most bizaar about Amsterdam was that the buildings were so squished together they were leaning, either to one side or forwards.  It is like the builders didn't use levels... strange.  For a party city I found it to be quite clean compared to cities in Portugal or Spain.  However the dutch are very germanic and the entire country is pretty much spotless!  Amsterdam was also seemingly really quiet for a "party" city.  It was funny to walk around and enjoy the random groups of people laughing boisterously obviously enjoying some of Amsterdam''s "goodies".  At night Amsterdam lit up with all of the neon lights, for me it was a very sterile play ground for adults.  All in all I enjoyed it but to be honest found it a bit of a strange environment. 

Yesterday Erin and I headed to Rotterdam.  It was nice to get away from the crowded and crazy Amsterdam and chill out in the quiet city.  It was a Sunday night so there wasn't a whole lot going on but we managed to find a small bar that had cheap beer and live music!

Today we are in Utrecht.  It's very cool so far with a young vibe to it!  Lots of students and a beautiful cathedral, the tallest in Holland.  We didn't do a whole lot today but are hoping to hit the city hard tomorrow.  Wednesday I am off to London and Sunday I fly to Thailand!!  It hasn't really sunk in yet!!  I feel like I am almost on auto-pilot!!  But I am really looking forward to getting back in the sun and exploring the beautiful beaches that Thailand is so well known for!!

That's all for now...

It's nippy in the north!!

I am currently staying with long time friends of the family Harry and Nicole in Eindhoven which is about an hour and a half drive from Amsterdam.  It's great I met Harry over 10 years ago in Mexico (my first out of the country trip with my grandmother when I was a young girl which was an experience that sparked my enthusiasm for travel!) 

It has been great to stay with my "european family".  I have my very own room, free use of a washer and dryer and the fridge!!  They are so sweet, Nicole even asked me which food I don't like prior to stocking the kitchen!!  They are so sweet and it is these simply luxuries that come to mean so much when you have been "on the road" for 6 wks!  I think that they wonder what is wrong with me because I have been sleeping so much and actually at times I wonder myself! :-)  But for whatever reason I just sleep, sleep, sleep!  Today we went to a beautiful city on the southwest coast of the Netherlands which was lined with an amazing soft sandy beach along the North Sea.  I had the best nap of my life on that beach today!!  The sun was out and it was warm, though I and everyone else on the beach was fully clothed.  Still, surprisingly great weather for Holland in October!! 

I survived my night's stay in the Madrid airport.  I was better prepared this time which was a bonus!  Also another traveler in Barcelona informed me of a very useful website called sleeping in airports.com  I checked it out and it really came in handy!  I probably only got 3.5 hrs of sleep on the hard granite floor but it was restful then followed by a 2 hr. nap on the plane and another 1 hr. sleep in the car and another 3 hr. nap at the house, like I said, I just can't get enough sleep these days!!  Resting up for the adventures that lay ahead I think!!

For those of you who aren't in the loop I am heading to Thailand in 2 wks.  I will be traveling in Thailand for 3 wks. then onto Australia!!  It was an idea that I had kept in the back of my mind and while on this trip I decided to go for it!!  I applied for a working/holiday visa in Australia and was approved so I will be able to work while I am there to continue to fund my traveling.  At this point I have submitted a few applications to some riding stables and have a connection to a racing barn in Australia as well.  Who knows though, I may end up pooring pints in a bar...  I am pretty much open to whatever job I can get that pays decent!!  However I am really starting to miss riding, I mean a lot!!!!  In fact it is starting to cause physical pain like going through withdrawels or something so I need to do something about that pronto!!

Tomorrow I am getting shots for my trip to Asia, I hate needles but it has to be done!!  Then Nicole and I are going to a friend's farm.  They are show jumpers and the father won the individual silver medal in show jumping 10 yrs ago!!  I am so excited to see their amazing farm and meet them!!!

That's all for now...

Lisbon, the city of vampires!!

I am really liking Lisbon.  I am here for a week, I just didn't have the energy to cram pack a lot of traveling within one week so I decided to just stay in one place.  Because I am staying in Lisbon for several days in a row I decided to to work at my hostel in exchange for a free room during my stay.  It has been really cool working at the hostel.  I am making beds which is funny because I don't habitually make my own bed at home so I find it a little ironic.  Being apart of the "staff" has been really fun!  There are several people working here that are from all over and getting to know them and socialize with them has been the best part! 

Lisbon is crazy!  I came here and my plan was to chill out, relax and rejuvenate for this entire week.  My average bed time has been 6am!!  During the day the city sort of sleeps but at night it completely comes alive and the streets fill with people!!  It's been really fun but I have been struggling to keep up with it, catching a few hours of nap here and there.  :-)

I have made a friend with a guy named Chris who works at the hostel.  He has been living in Lisbon for 4 months.  He is a very cool guy and it has been great to attach myself to him as his shadow.  He had a friend visiting from Australia so I tagged along with them for a great day at the beach and another day where we took the train to a great beach town where we rented bikes and peddled along the coast for some amazing views of the Atlantic!!  On the last night of Chris' friend's visit we had a big dinner party at a friend's house.  It was the highlight of my time in Lisbon!  The old building has so much character.  It was once a university building converted into an apartment building.  The party took place on the top floor so we had the opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine on the roof for an amazing view of the city!!  It was so much fun to meet and party with the locals!  Portuguese are super friendly and nice.  Very warm and a great sense of humor!!  We made so much food and I ate way too much!!  I actually ate so much that it hurt!  Then after the big meal we went to a park that overlooked the city and the castle of Lisbon on a hill opposite us.  The castle was showered in warm lights that made it look like it was glowing in the dark of night.  The park was full of people!!  Really cool!!

Yesterday I had a very chilled out day including naps, some good home cooking and a movie.  All of the theaters show movies in their original language with subtitles.  I can't remember the last time I went to the movies, it was great!!

Lisbon has a certain authentic charm to it.  It's a little rough around the edges, if you will, but has such a laid back vibe filled with many creative people.  I really really like it!!  So far it is one of my all time favorite cities including Granada, Spain and Copenhagen, Denmark!!  Love these cities for the local people, music scene and creative vibe!!

Tomorrow I leave for the Netherlands..