As Time Goes By

This phase of my trip is about power-sightseeing. Two weeks and four countries. It's a lot and it's really tough. I really would prefer to live and stay in these places instead of just seeing the major tourist attractions.

I didn't really like London. I was shocked and even a little hurt inside. I'd always wanted to go to London and imagined it being awesome and amazing. I'm not sure if I just had a bad experience or if the city really sucks as much as I think it did. Either way, it was way too expensive, way too big, way too crowded and overall just a major culture shock coming from Prague. I felt like I was back in the US. The highlights of London were going on the eye which was actually really fun, talking to some cockney children who were smoking at the train station, and seeing my dear friend Khyati who I really miss with all my heart. I really want to go back to London in the future and stay there for a while. I think I just needed way more time there to take things in.

The Netherlands were wonderful!! Dawn and I stayed with our friend Simon. I liked it so much more than London because I really feel like even though I only spent two days there, I really got a taste for life there. Um, they put chocolate sprinkles on their bread and sugar on their tomatoes. Surprisingly delicious, indeed. After Amsterdam, Simon let us stay with his parents in Wouw, pronounced Wow! It was wonderful to relax and not be in a hostel. His mother was loverly and did some laundry for me. She also has traveled alone a lot in Europe and gave me a lot of really great advice for Spain and France. I am eternally in her debt.

Now, I am in Paris. It is beautiful, but I haven't gotten to see much. I do love the flower boxes in all the windows though. It is really charming. I got really buzzed just walking the streets and hearing french and smelling fresh bread. I'm pretty excited.