I spent the week following my time in France in Belgium and The Netherlands.

My car share dropped me off at the main train station In Brussels and I took a local tram to the hostel near the city center. It was at this point the traveling and blogging finally caught up to me; I became ill and took a few days to relax and recover. Instead of typing out my blogs I started journaling details, with the hopes of posting soon after. Sadly this is being written months later but the memories of that week are strong.

Though I did not feel great, I would not let being sick hold me back- I forced myself to wander the city. As it turns out, when you are searching for meds and soup in a random city you may discover more than you intended. That first night I sat in the hostel lounge and met some of my favorite travelers from my trip. We sat around a large table sharing travel stories and tips.

The second or third night I started feeling better, which was great because I made it out for the town celebration that Belgium had won a game that would get them into the next round of the Euros. It was great to see the celebrations at the capital:

I took a day to visit the city of Brugge with the aforementioned hostel friends. Our goal was to load up on everything wonderful Belgium is known for: chocolate, waffles, fries, and beer. Our expectations were high and Brugge delivered. We walked along the canals and beautiful scenery, which reminded my of storybooks, consuming delicious foods and drinks. By the time we got the train back to Brussels we were all trying hard to stay awake. (I was just resting my eyes!)

Back in Brussels I booked the bus to Amsterdam, ready for a long and exciting weekend ahead. During my time in The Netherlands, I was fortunate enough to stay with a friend I made in New Zealand, and I thank her for her generosity. This allowed me a true Dutch non-tourist experience.

My thoughts were that Amsterdam was going to be full of partying, but it was really much more than that. My first shock was that it was full of bicycles; I was expecting some, as I had seen in movies, guide books,etc. but not THAT many. Of course, I watched more of the Euros and went out to some cool dance spots, but I also explored the history of the city. I walked along the famous canals, explored museums, saw the “I am Amsterdam” sign, and even passed by Anne Frank’s house.

I also stayed in a house outside of the city in Wetering. The small town is full of families and I was glad to be with my travel family. We threw a BBQ, took a boat ride along the river, and spent the afternoon together. It was a great way to experience the lifestyle of people in the Netherlands.

The following morning I took a plane to London.