Amsterdam to Brussels to Paris

Alright. On the bus to Paris. In Brussels, Belgium. Took a bus from Amsterdam and took a break for four hours to have lunch and see Brussels city quick. Getting to our bus this morning was like a re-run of our sprinting in the airport for our plane to Amsterdam. We tried the metro and the metro security guy at the doors closed them as soon as we were in front of them. Like he watched us run and sprint to the doors and he was kinda waving us on but then nah. Bad karma for him because then we had to take a longer way to the bus station via metro or wait for another bus or try to get wifi for an uber. Keep in mind, this is all happening when our bus to Brussels is leaving in less than twenty minutes. We found a taxi. Best guy. Very helpful. We had 9 minutes by he time he started to drive. He sped and cut off the bus so they couldn't leave and we made it! So this time. I'm sitting in this bus to Paris with time to relax before moving because we are EARLY. Anyway Brussels was nice, some lunch, walked to the big plaza, saw the Christmas shops. Which, by the way, they celebrate Christmas for a while. They keep saying Merry Christmas and still shop and still have decorations up. Cassie said they might do it because of holiday is done on the 6th or 8th of January. I don't know.

Amsterdam on the other hand was cleaner than last time I saw it (on Kings Day). It was still dirty. Tons of drugs other than marijuana. We saw the red light district. My favorite part was the fact that we rented bikes (pretty pink btw) and rode then around the city. Saw Rembrandt park and ice skated on the pond. Had some hot cocoa. Saw Dam Square. Had some iced waffles. Fries. Mexican food for lunch. Went to the Bulldog, had a space cake and some other things. Got offered drugs. Stroopwafels in a vending machine at our hostel. Hostel was super nice besides the beds (hard as a rock) and the heat blasted at night. Hostel had a bar and some pretty hipster vibe with the lounge and art everywhere. Went to Primark because they have one on the Main Street too!! (Brussels too) This time I bought more than one clearance sweater. I got a hat and better gloves because riding bikes in this cold is real cold, like real real cold. I also found my favorite spotted tights that I had when I studied abroad. I grabbed two. And I got a few other "tiny" stuff. Bikes were perfect if I didn't mention that. Like we felt apart of the Dutch life even though the Dutch were swearing at us because our bike road driving was rough. We had little bells to ring to warm people were behind them or that we were going first. We got to ride a free 24/7 ferry from our hostel to the city which was cold but an experience. I found out that there is more than one "I AMsterdam" signs. I saw three including the original one in Rembrandt park. I had lots of Heineken. My first time in Amsterdam I found my love of Heineken. Before I never really had favorite beer. Got Girl Scout cookies and suckers that didn't work. Had someone roll a blunt for us, it was embarrassing so the Swiss guys did it for us. They were shocked to find out we didn't add tobacco in ours. Italian guys sat with us in the BullDog for two more. Oh. The first night a group of guys were following us, that was scary. Got in the first bar we saw. Met a guy our age from Minnesota there. Rob. It's also very cold here. It's like thirty degrees warmer than Milwaukee but still as cold. I should have brought a warmer coat. Had Flugel shots (what our group did in 2015). Oh also it's like a rule in the BullDog coffee shops that you cannot smoke tobacco but weed is allowed and encouraged. I still haven't found mini Cadbury eggs or the regular ones with caramel or creme inside.

Paris next. Third time for me. I want baguettes with camberet cheese and macaroons and the Eiffel Tower.

12 Tapas

So I left on Christmas from Chicago and got to Madrid the 26th at 8am. One flight. No layovers. 8 hours straight. Watched Secret Life of Pets. And now I'm sitting on a plane again as I write this. A plane to Amsterdam. We spent the night in Madrid so we can meet up and have a night in Madrid. It's Missy, Cassie, and I. Our hostel was awesome. Beds comfy. Lockers very safe. Staff super friendly. Our French neighbors were nothing positive though. Loud and obnoxiously there to get drunk. Anyway. Madrid that night was hard because we were all so tired from flights and car rides. Cassie teaches English in Granada, Spain (South). She taught in Korea before. Her car ride was from Granada to Madrid. Missy took three planes to get to Madrid, and yet she was the one that wanted to stay out but I was literally falling asleep with beer in my hand by 11pm. Before our beer, we had a pitcher of sangria and tapas (like a plate of different appetizers). Like cheese, blood sausage, potatoes with garlic and tomato sauce, fried eggplant, and so on. I'm dreaming about the Paella we will get in Granada. First we go to Amsterdam, PARIS FOR NEW YEARS, and then Granada. Then we part ways. Missy goes back to the States and Cassie stays home in Granada. I then meet up in Belgium with Suzanne. In Madrid last night was a huge Christmas market in Mayor Plaza. A crap ton of colorful wigs and crazy hats. A sea of people, especially in Sol Plaza. Before our sangrias and tapas we decided to buy wigs for New Years. I bought a white bob cut and Missy has a long hot pink and Cassie, a long curly light pink. I'm really excited about it. We might even wear them as we ride bikes around Amsterdam. Our roommate in our hostel last night was like 40 and a male. It was of course all fine but a little awkward because it was us three girls and then him. Maybe if it were one of those rooms with 30 bed with more people, it wouldn't. Anyway, on the plane. 2 hours and 40 mins from Madrid to Amsterdam. Our hostel there is suppose to be awesome as well. We almost missed our flight. I've never been that close to missing a flight and never will again. We literally sprinted with our coats on and luggage. We were practically dripping sweat in that airport. The gate was left open for us, they waited like ten minutes for us. They were all so nice, from the ticket and check in, to security, and to the gate. The plane on the intercom when we were seated and buckled said "thanks for your patience". Hahaha. Well, we made it. This morning we went for desayuno (breakfast) at Paneria. Cafe y crossiant y naranja de zumo. Coffee and crossiant and orange juice. Light European breakfast, my fav. My one backpack is perfect so far. Fits a lot. Not too uncomfortable to wear (or run in airports with). OHHHH, also...I had a few hours to kill yesterday when I arrived to the city. I dropped my bag off in a locker at the hostel because I couldn't check in until 3pm (which they let me check in earlier). I went exploring and found.......a PRIMARK. And not just any Primark. A four story Primark! See, Primark is what I fell in love with when I studied in England. It's a cheap British clothing store. Super cute stuff, kinda like a forever 21 but cheaper. So once I walked in i was in awe. Im really proud about this too because I was in huge Primark and reuniting with the store, and I only bought one thing (and it was on clearance for 3€). I probably walked three miles around that place and spent a couple hours there before returning for a nap. Then I met Cassie (Missy's friend from high school). We then went to the airport to pick up Missy (met this blonde at an art education internship) via Metro. Which I took that morning to get to the hostel. I stood there at the airport metro and was confused in the same spot I was two years ago when I was first in Madrid, trying to figure out the tickets where to go. But once I was on, it all came back to me. Cassie and I waited over an hour for the damn blonde to get through customs. Later, waiting hungry and tired, Cassie gets an email with a text from Missy saying, "waiting in baggage claim". Hahahhaha which is right next to the door where she had to exit to see us. Also, no chocolate purchases from me yet. I haven't found the Cadbury eggs yet. I found the Oreo bar but didn't get it. Think I'm waiting until England to be honest. Then I'll have Cadbury chocolate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Okay, Amsterdam next. I'm expecting marajuana and Heineken, bikes galore, and red lights.