Barcelona Day 1

Oh yeah! The land of tapas, sangria, beaches, paella, omelettes and over sized buildings.

Our first day we walked and just walked...

The flight over from Brussels to Barcelona was a quick one!

This was just around the corner from our place, it seemed almost like an introduction to Barcelona.

The harbour is a nice hubbub for all. 

Seriously it is tough to do much else than relax. 

The infamous gate...does that mean I can check off Barcelona, Berlin and Paris...are there more of these? 

The familia! Even though it was raining we made it. :) day one 'check' now this was the most exhausted I have felt in a long time.  

Antwerp to Bruges

This little town was really recommended to me (us) over and over again. Maybe I heard it a little more than he did but either way since we bought 10 train tickets for 70€ you mind as well use it up.

We were able to get on a train and off a train as long as we wrote down the destination. The 10 trip ticket is only for outer city train and is valid for 1 year from purchase date. I feel like we got our monies worth. :) I actually didn't check all the prices of the trains we rode around in but either way I would recommend it's a steal I'm sure. 

So after about 90mins on the train we were there. It's a little city with water, like a ringed river all the way around it. 

The shopping centre provides you with touristic local food (an abundance of it) here we ate some Belgian 'waffles' lol 

Oh yes and expensive chocolates! There were so many of them! 

Next stop Madrid! 

Back to Antwerp

Due to the Ghent festival and a very good time in Antwerp last time I brought Michael here to show him around. Actually, we didn't see a lot of the city itself due to the Ghent festival and a couple lazy days trying to plan ahead for Spain.

We really just took it easy having meals and enjoying the rain :P 

There was a local harbour side party on the Sunday that we attended :) 

It was a lovely party with lots of lovely people.

This girl was manning the local food truck :P 

The Ghent Festival

The whole city of Ghent in the centre of the city has a music festival. This alternative canal filled town just celebrates for 10 days every year.

When I heard about it I really thought to myself that I should really attend. So I did just that. From July 19-29 they had their celebrations. 

There were stages all over the place, we really could have used a map. 

We met some nice people from holland under a bridge who gave us a beer and chatted with me about Edmonton. Who would have known that he would have been to the biggest mall >.< 

We got totally drenched in the rain but we still were able to meet more people trying to avoid the rain. This picture was taken by one of the French guys that were married to Belgian woman.

Last but not least I was able to even meet up with monika! As you may have known I met her again in Poland after Japan. Lucky me! 

Brussels

I think due to our wonderfully friendly greeting in Brussels it set me off in a great mood. 

The city itself is quite pretty with a skyline that doesn't disappoint. The older buildings in Brussels are just hidden behind business districts, appearing out of the corner of your eye. I really enjoy it when a city has hidden gems around every corner. 

We even stumbled on the pre-party for Tomorrowland where people bought flags for their country and wandered around town. So many tourists! 

We walked and walked for hours and I haven't started to feel like I've seen the city. Maybe another time perhaps? 

Off to Antwerpen! 

Ride share in Europe and a very awesome airbnb host :)

I already knew that ride share existed but since I was having people pick me up at stations I figured it was best to give people a time and destination for my arrival. Which is why I haven't used it until now. It would just make it simpler. 

This point I really wanted to start saving money and see what it was like to do it in Europe. 

So from Iserlohn to Brussels was 64€ per person on the DB, instead we got a ride from Dortmund to Brussels for 36€ making it only 18€ each! 

This is one of the cathedrals in Dortmund :) The town centre was quiet and the train station was really the most lively place around.

He picked us up at the station and we were off. Our driver wasn't over the top in any way and was kind enough to share his story of how he was dating a girl who lived in Germany. He, himself lived in Brussels. 

He was kind enough to drive us to our airbnb place and upon our next check point we were greeted with a very warm smile. Anass is a student and was more than happy to stay up to wait for our late check-in, since we didn't get into Brussels until 1:30am.

He gave us beer, sushi and a tour of the place. I really liked him from the moment we started chatting online and I was right about how open he was about his house. 

A great start in a new city. 

Whoop. 

Iserlohn, Germany

After I arrived at Essen I was greeted with sunshine and a lively station. It was super easy for me to buy a ticket at the DB train and had more than enough time to hop in the macdonalds wifi to inform my dear friend Ben that I was arriving. 

Finally, I made it to iserlohn to visit him. It really was over due since I had made mention to of my journey to Europe back in October last year. 

It was time to drink a couple hours into my arrival, a serious long over due reunion. A round at the bar was only 5€ I was so surprised and super thankful that I was back in Germany. Paris was so very expensive. 

The following Monday I rode the DB train all the way to Düsseldorf airport. I was able to buy a day pass for two people for 52€ (for all of Germany which really adds up and pays itself off very quickly) since each train ride was about 20€...9 trains in total, you can do the math. 

Since Ben was kind enough to let us crash in his two bedroom apartment whilst we gathered ourselves to head out  to the Ghent music festival we had some time to enjoy the little city of iserlohn. 

It's time to go again :) 

The Uncertain ride From Paris to Essen

Alright, my bad I should really do more research when booking uber cheap transport. 

I booked a bus with Flixbus again because it was only 25€ and I'm starting to really regret it. 

When I was on the bus to Paris the wifi didn't work but that was okay since I had a tv show to watch. Next thing I knew I was an hour late due to traffic...

Now today I am riding the bus from Paris, we stopped in a random parkade several times and I became more and more confused. It was just that they didn't pick anyone up, or get gas or have a shop that we could pop into and grab something. I didn't know if anyone on the bus is even going to Essen. 

The bus driver didn't even check my ticket and had a little kid do the passenger count. The wifi doesn't even exist on this bus but I was ready for that this time. 

There are no announcements whatsoever so i don't know if we'll ever get a break to buy food or water. I'm starting to feel like I have picked the wrong company to get me to where I need to go. I question the direction we were going. 

Last time I checked we were headed to the Netherlands? 

Why does the bus driver get to smoke on the bus? 

Oh and why is the clock upside down?

So it's 17:22....oh wait no it's not. The actual time is 14:35 wtf? I guess I won't be online for anything today. 

Seriously that clock thing is messing with me. 

Paris (Reunions are beautiful)

I arrived in Paris and like people have told me this was a beautiful city. As I came in from Antwerp the rain ceased and it was shown to me that summer was very much here.

I took the flixbus which I am sure is some sort of low cost bus but what the hey, it was only 19€. I'll let this one slide, the bus was stuck in traffic for an hour which made my ride a three hour ride to a nice elongated four. >.< 

My time here was a short one since I had decided to go back to Denmark and get lost in a musical dream.  

First stop was a quick wander around to find a metro stop with a slight hangover from the previous evening. I was able to grab an espresso and soak in the Parisian atmosphere. 

I was luckily enough to stay with my friend Sam who I met in Tokyo. It was a lovely rekindle of a place we both love. 

Cooking again :)

As we all know the main attraction is the effort tower so that was my evenings stop. BUT...there was more to Paris! My dear friend Lily (my oldest friend, what is it 24 years I have known?) was here! 

There are a serious plethora of places to see here in Paris but I didn't have enough time nor money. So this trip is gonna be able walking around taking in what I can without cueing for anything :P it's alright I might be back in the near future, although I would like to see more of France. Everyone says the south is amazing! 

The Notre Dame!

People just sit out front and drink :)

The oldest hospital in Paris. 

Ahh sunset in Paris. 

Hey look what I found the Wanderlust bar! 

After some more wonderful goodbyes it is time to be en route to more heartwarming reunions! 

Thank you to everyone who made my Paris trip amazing. 

Antwerp, Belgium (Reunions are beautiful)

I left the Netherlands from Rotterdam via the train to Antwerp, this was a very quick ride over. I really have to state how much I love Europe. Everyone over here is so lucky that all the countries are so close.

My jealous of the size of all the countries supersedes everything else. The availability and access to see different countries hours from each other. Silly Canada is so big!

Traveling through Europe has been my largest cost but I can't honestly say that because I have been very lucky and I have yet to stay at a hotel/hostel. So I have been able to save a lot in accommodations. (This is made mentioned to all those people who asked me how I am able to travel through Europe so easily) I know some people think I'm made of money :P

Enough ranting, my dear friend Liesbeth who I met in Indonesia, Gili Air and spent one of the best weeks of 2014.

She happily picked me up from Antwerp station (yes, it is quite an astounding station when you're coming up the escalator) and we were off! 

I hadn't even spent an hour together and off to the colour run! (I'll write another post about that soon!) 

The following day, her friends were kind enough to show me around town!

I am super thankful that I had such amazing guides, knowledgeable and super friendly. I wish I had more time to hang out in Antwerp! Next time for sure! 

Even though it rained I had a fantastic time, I quickly fell in love with this city. 

We visited the cathedral, city hall, the red light district, shopping district, ate mussels, walked passed the university area, the Mass for the view, ate Belgian waffles and even had a night out. I really crammed in a lot of stuff in the three days that I was here. 

Thank you so much to the Liesbeth and the Belgium team! It was so freaken fun, I AM coming back! You guys really made me feel like it was home. 

I really want to live in this city. I can't pinpoint exactly when and how but I really loved it here. I want to see more of Belgium! Actually, I am sure that I will. Don't wait up for me I'll be back very soon :P

The Fan Based Project (Anime Convention in the Netherlands)

Today I went to an Anime Convention! It was the best choice I have made on this random journey of events. I met so many wonderful people, I didn't think I was going to make so many Dutch friends. I wouldn't have imagined that this place what filled to the tee of amazingly passionate individuals.

Giovanni invited me to his project (Like the FB page )I was wowed by the amount of wonderful people that he had there.

And sometimes you will run into the doctor. 

I was able to join a Manga drawing workshop, practice my Japanese, eat an Onigiri and drink a bubble tea.

And you are left guessing which game he is from...Diablo or WOW...nope keep guessing. 

Watch a cosplay contest and hang out in the butler cafe while playing operation whilst enjoying a chocolate chip vanilla muffin.

Or you run into a bunch of Candy Kids and you get a nice group picture. 

Who doesn't want to hug a pikachu.

I met some wonderful people at the New Asion they have a youtube channel and a website. They made videos about the Asian culture in the Netherlands! They are wonderful passionate people! I loved talking to Christine! (Thank you so much for the lovely talk, you are awesome.

Yes the girl from Mirror's Edge! 

I can't wait to see some of the photos that people took at the convention! I really met handfuls of amazing people!

I felt like there wasn't a better place to spend my last day in the Netherlands, since everyone there was all instantly feeling a bond due to a splendid common interest. I was able to make so many wonderful friends and gave me the extra push to write this blog post. For this I tip my hat.

I'll be back to The Netherlands. Thanks for the wonderful time.