WOW is all we can say, sounds like an awesome first few days. Hope you don't try and keep up that kinda pace guys :) Love to be there with you. Have fun , looking forward to your entries.
Trev & Jo
Friday, January 30, 2009
Okay, The City of ""Wow""
Here we are and, yes, it's everything that we had expected and hoped for. Maybe even more I think. I've been to a lot of places in my four years of living here in Europe and this place, Amsterdam, seems to take everything that is possible in a whole continent and plunk it right in one small city. All we can say is Wow!!
The woman are gorgeous; the men too, but I have my fears that most are gay. Alas, good thing I have Gerhard. Just try to keep your eyes open and not flicker onto 25 things in one minute. It's impossible. The smells --oooohhho, the smells. Marijuana everywhere mixed with the wet smell of canal water in the air. Something all its own here.
We got off the train - a relaxing trip but very crowded, and then headed straight to the tourist office as usual to get a city map, some advice about our next train ride and how to get to our hotel. Very friendly people here who ALL speak english. We subbed to our hotel to find an adorable room. Shocker of the year - to watch tv in our room, it will cost 25€ for the stay - yeah right, who thinks that I'm a sucker. Who needs tv anyway when I can poke my eyeball into a small little hole in the red light district and see any show that I want?
G and I walked for three hours this afternoon and took a million pictures. Hit all the bars and ""coffeeshops"" that we could in our area and brought home a supper from a local grocery store which is our habit to do.
Our new little laptop is doing just fine however, our plug-in device to convert energy doesn't work lately because all the plugs are inserted into a hole in the wall and won't let the prongs reach. Oh bother!!!
Tomorrow, we head out to the Red Light District and then to Van Gogh (my favourite) before we take in a tour of the Hennikien Museum and the Hemp, Marj and something else museum. Busy day, better go have a glass of wine to calm myself down. Life is great!!!
J and G
Our sense of Brussels
We walked all day and every day and searched out the city which is rather small comparitively to the amount of people who live within it's ring road. 1.5 million people live inside a circle that you can walk end to end and side to side, each, in 45 minutes. This place gets under your skin in a good way. You begin to understand why they are there and how they manage to get through each day. It's an odd mix of friendly to downright very nasty people who hate their job. The food is great - Belguim beer, chocolate and waffles - what else does one need?
The transports - subways, trams, trains, and busses are great - all smooth and very quick. We walked everyday for free internet because our hotel was charging nine euros for a days worth and we are too cheap for that so we purchased just an hour for settling up our hotel in Amsterdam and for checking important stuff.
Yesterday we walked to the Dino Museum and were hounded, again, by 250 elementary children when we first got there and then in our last half hour, 125 high school kids came in. We are magnets, I tell you.
We also visited a beer brewery just around the corner from our hotel. A 100 year old tradition -one of its kind that still makes the beer with lambic. Was it good? Heck, no!
Off to bed now although I don't know why I bother - can't sleep - too many things to see and do. Also, our room looks out over the main street in our neighbourhood so that we hear ""special"" music and I feel like I need to put on jewelry and begin to dance. Know what I mean ? We have worn ear plugs since day 1.
Heading out tomorrow for Amsterdam. Love to all. Wish you were all here and then , maybe, just maybe, we would have walked the street way after dark. Somehow I doubt it though.
The transports - subways, trams, trains, and busses are great - all smooth and very quick. We walked everyday for free internet because our hotel was charging nine euros for a days worth and we are too cheap for that so we purchased just an hour for settling up our hotel in Amsterdam and for checking important stuff.
Yesterday we walked to the Dino Museum and were hounded, again, by 250 elementary children when we first got there and then in our last half hour, 125 high school kids came in. We are magnets, I tell you.
We also visited a beer brewery just around the corner from our hotel. A 100 year old tradition -one of its kind that still makes the beer with lambic. Was it good? Heck, no!
Off to bed now although I don't know why I bother - can't sleep - too many things to see and do. Also, our room looks out over the main street in our neighbourhood so that we hear ""special"" music and I feel like I need to put on jewelry and begin to dance. Know what I mean ? We have worn ear plugs since day 1.
Heading out tomorrow for Amsterdam. Love to all. Wish you were all here and then , maybe, just maybe, we would have walked the street way after dark. Somehow I doubt it though.
Continued Days in Brussels
Finally we gathered our packs and off we walked the 1.5 kms to our hotel. I had ascertained our route from the Tourist people after first buying our two train tickets to Amsterdam for Friday. Our hotel, Well, our hotel is "'smack dab in the middle'' of let''s call it, a lower, lower working class neighbourhood - and we loved it!!!!!
Only Morroccans, Egyptians and Isralies make up the population wo that means very few women are seen, mostly walking kids somewhere, met sit or stand around all day and play cards, smoke and drink beer or coffee. All the shops are run by the men and all the restaurants are run and worked by men as well. We had a dilly of a time finding a place to eat that would not upset our "fine-tuned'' stomachs -:) - but we settled on an Egyptian restaurant where we chatted with the owner for 20 minutes about his life and how it all began in Belguim.
Before we found this place, G and I walked into all the bars, restaurants and cafes only to find that women weren't appreciated . Not only that, but they were full of smoking men who looked at me as if I had three heads and at the back of each place, huge smoking bongs were lit and spewing out their lovely essence. I called them the heavy smoking snakes because they were so large. G pulled me into one of them and said that he was hungry and thought that we should stay - ""It was not too bad", he says. Yeah, right, if you have a black lung wish.
Anyway, we finally find this pleasant Egyptian place and, lo and behold, doesn't he show up his "special"room in the back set up with couches and things so that his guests can partake in some smoking. Ooooh la la.
We were advised not to walk our area after night and indeed we followed that advice but we sure loved the multi-cultural atmosphere during the day.
Our room had a radiator that we could control so that I did our laundry each night and then hung in over the rad to dry. G now calls me JoAnne Lee in respect for the Chinese laundry that I did each day.
Only Morroccans, Egyptians and Isralies make up the population wo that means very few women are seen, mostly walking kids somewhere, met sit or stand around all day and play cards, smoke and drink beer or coffee. All the shops are run by the men and all the restaurants are run and worked by men as well. We had a dilly of a time finding a place to eat that would not upset our "fine-tuned'' stomachs -:) - but we settled on an Egyptian restaurant where we chatted with the owner for 20 minutes about his life and how it all began in Belguim.
Before we found this place, G and I walked into all the bars, restaurants and cafes only to find that women weren't appreciated . Not only that, but they were full of smoking men who looked at me as if I had three heads and at the back of each place, huge smoking bongs were lit and spewing out their lovely essence. I called them the heavy smoking snakes because they were so large. G pulled me into one of them and said that he was hungry and thought that we should stay - ""It was not too bad", he says. Yeah, right, if you have a black lung wish.
Anyway, we finally find this pleasant Egyptian place and, lo and behold, doesn't he show up his "special"room in the back set up with couches and things so that his guests can partake in some smoking. Ooooh la la.
We were advised not to walk our area after night and indeed we followed that advice but we sure loved the multi-cultural atmosphere during the day.
Our room had a radiator that we could control so that I did our laundry each night and then hung in over the rad to dry. G now calls me JoAnne Lee in respect for the Chinese laundry that I did each day.
Days 1 to 4
An auspicious beginning to our tour of Languages.
OUr flights were most interesting. Home to TO was just swell and on time and then we met Ryan and our granddaughter, Austyn, for some play time in the airport. Next on to Heathrow. That 7 hour trip was accompanied by a 5 month old who screamed her head off for 6 hours and 10 min. Poor child - must have had a pain but her 3-year-old sister - a little spoiled - was with her mother and the mother thought that screaming at her was the way to go to get the little one to listen. Alas, no sleepy byes for that trip. We arrived in good time because the plane was 75 people less and we could fly faster without the weight.
Our connections went well and we ended up in Brussels on time Tues morning at 10:35. However, as we entered the border patrol, G and I were swept away to a holding tank, lockup, as we like to call it. full of immigrants- sorry to say - people of all sorts of colour who looked scared and nervous, and then the two of us.
We waited our turn in the long line of passports- 1/2 hour, when the boss man comes out and tells us that if we stay the long four months in Europe, we will be considered ""illegal aliens"" --ahahahah, needless to say, this turned G very purple as he never does anything that could be construed as illegal.
As it turned out, there is a part of Europe call : Schengen: which is a band of countries joined to only allow a person, visitor tourist a 3-month stay - without a visa. We were very thankful that we had booked our return flight home and had proof of it in our hot little hands to show the boss man. The border cop winked his eye at us, smiled and told us that he was Letting Us Go. Imagine, two upstanding decent Canadians locked up. Such a welcome! This after we'd been awake since 4:30 a.m. Monday at Kelly's house waiting for the trip to finally get going.
A good beginning - very exciting - I've never been in lockup before!!
j and G
OUr flights were most interesting. Home to TO was just swell and on time and then we met Ryan and our granddaughter, Austyn, for some play time in the airport. Next on to Heathrow. That 7 hour trip was accompanied by a 5 month old who screamed her head off for 6 hours and 10 min. Poor child - must have had a pain but her 3-year-old sister - a little spoiled - was with her mother and the mother thought that screaming at her was the way to go to get the little one to listen. Alas, no sleepy byes for that trip. We arrived in good time because the plane was 75 people less and we could fly faster without the weight.
Our connections went well and we ended up in Brussels on time Tues morning at 10:35. However, as we entered the border patrol, G and I were swept away to a holding tank, lockup, as we like to call it. full of immigrants- sorry to say - people of all sorts of colour who looked scared and nervous, and then the two of us.
We waited our turn in the long line of passports- 1/2 hour, when the boss man comes out and tells us that if we stay the long four months in Europe, we will be considered ""illegal aliens"" --ahahahah, needless to say, this turned G very purple as he never does anything that could be construed as illegal.
As it turned out, there is a part of Europe call : Schengen: which is a band of countries joined to only allow a person, visitor tourist a 3-month stay - without a visa. We were very thankful that we had booked our return flight home and had proof of it in our hot little hands to show the boss man. The border cop winked his eye at us, smiled and told us that he was Letting Us Go. Imagine, two upstanding decent Canadians locked up. Such a welcome! This after we'd been awake since 4:30 a.m. Monday at Kelly's house waiting for the trip to finally get going.
A good beginning - very exciting - I've never been in lockup before!!
j and G
Here in Amsterdam
Will add lots later in the day. This is to let you all know that we are here and fine.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
here in brussels
Hello everyone,
Here in Brussels and things are going really well. Things in Europe are as I remember and are just as great, crazy, busy and all that. I am trying to get this done on 15 minutes free internet at the info bureau. We are doing well and are happy.
Spent an interesting time yesterday in the lock up at the airport as they decided whether to let us in or not. Alas, we are in. more on that later.
Love to all,
p.s. Yesterday G tried to lead me into a bong restaurant before i hauled him out. Life is interesting.
love j and g
Here in Brussels and things are going really well. Things in Europe are as I remember and are just as great, crazy, busy and all that. I am trying to get this done on 15 minutes free internet at the info bureau. We are doing well and are happy.
Spent an interesting time yesterday in the lock up at the airport as they decided whether to let us in or not. Alas, we are in. more on that later.
Love to all,
p.s. Yesterday G tried to lead me into a bong restaurant before i hauled him out. Life is interesting.
love j and g
Sunday, January 25, 2009
January 25, A day before our flight
Okay, we are set, we think.
Tomorrow we head out at 11:00 am and straight to Toronto we go. We hope to see Ryan, Kelly and Austyn at the airport before we take off again to Heathrow and then to Brussels.
We have spent a very busy two weeks in meetings, appointments and packing etc. in order to feel relaxed about leaving again for 4 months. Things such as taxes, insurances, bank affairs and the like are all to be taken care of while we are away. We didn't manage to see many people while home but we will make sure to visit when we return.
We are set for a few days in a hotel in Brussels and then we will head off to Amsterdam. The temps there are quite reasonable at 3 to 7 above so we are going to enjoy missing the rest of winter here at home.
Everyone stay warm.
J and G
Tomorrow we head out at 11:00 am and straight to Toronto we go. We hope to see Ryan, Kelly and Austyn at the airport before we take off again to Heathrow and then to Brussels.
We have spent a very busy two weeks in meetings, appointments and packing etc. in order to feel relaxed about leaving again for 4 months. Things such as taxes, insurances, bank affairs and the like are all to be taken care of while we are away. We didn't manage to see many people while home but we will make sure to visit when we return.
We are set for a few days in a hotel in Brussels and then we will head off to Amsterdam. The temps there are quite reasonable at 3 to 7 above so we are going to enjoy missing the rest of winter here at home.
Everyone stay warm.
J and G
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
In Winnipeg - Chill'n- and I mean CHILL'N
Phew! We are back for two weeks. We have been so busy since our return. Many things to do in order to get ready for the next leg of our journey. We've got two or three things up on the schedule for each day. Gonna need a holiday after this!
Our stay in Grand Forks was lovely. We swam every day in the pool that was like hot bath water. We finished purchasing little things that were needed for Europe and we walked in the frigid weather - that, of course, came from Canada.
We are trying to get around to as many places as we can while here but the days roll by and we are feeling busy. We are tending to some mail and paperwork here in our own home and trying to close up some loose ends.
Will keep in touch when possible.
Love J and G
Our stay in Grand Forks was lovely. We swam every day in the pool that was like hot bath water. We finished purchasing little things that were needed for Europe and we walked in the frigid weather - that, of course, came from Canada.
We are trying to get around to as many places as we can while here but the days roll by and we are feeling busy. We are tending to some mail and paperwork here in our own home and trying to close up some loose ends.
Will keep in touch when possible.
Love J and G
Friday, January 9, 2009
In Grand Forks
We are in Grand Forks for two nights before we head home for appointments and a change-up of clothes etc. to leave for Europe.
We left the Maritimes on Sunday and drove into snow (what else?) right up to Trois Riviere which is at the northern tip of the NB provincial border. Of course, we were again going through the mountains - what gives with the mountains in our country? Not my friends!!
The remainder of the trip for that day took us through Montreal at about 4 - traffic was great. We decided to stop half way in between Montreal and Ottawa in a town called Vans. Small place, expensive hotels. Canada has very few cheaper places to stay as we find that the US does. At first decision, we were going to go through the Sault into the US and then take the number 2 as we usually do in the better weather, but the truckers that we talked to told us to not bother as there were snow squalls everywhere around the lakes. So we changed our minds, again, as headed to the number 401 to go through Toronto and then through Sarnia. That trip was pretty good because we had missed the ice rain along the 401 throughout the night and the roads had been salted and were dry as we met them. There were several 18-wheelers, however, on their sides in the ditches and several tow trucks working together to clear the mess. We were very lucky to have slept at Vans when we did. We went through the pretty little towns trying to get to the 401 and we noted their names to go back to them during a warmer weather trip.
We stayed over night in LaPeer, Michigan in a beautiful hotel which had the most amazing breakfast.
We headed towards Wisconsin the next morning to drive through a mix of weather through Chicago area and around the lake and then up into Wisconsin to stay Janesville where we had an oil change and a good night's sleep. That's if you consider sleeping with the smell of our next door neighbours cooking their Mexican food in a microwave.
Off we went, after that, to our friend's house in Hudson to stay overnight. We enjoyed seeing them again even for only one night. Today we sit in Grand Forks taking in the end of our long trip in the same hotel that G and I first stayed in when we made our very first trip together as a couple. We will sort out our belongings, receipts, shop a little (for what we haven't a clue because we have no need for anything now) and then head for Kelly's house on Saturday. We will try to get in touch with everyone before we head out for Europe on Jan 26.
Hope you people are warm and melted.
J and G
We left the Maritimes on Sunday and drove into snow (what else?) right up to Trois Riviere which is at the northern tip of the NB provincial border. Of course, we were again going through the mountains - what gives with the mountains in our country? Not my friends!!
The remainder of the trip for that day took us through Montreal at about 4 - traffic was great. We decided to stop half way in between Montreal and Ottawa in a town called Vans. Small place, expensive hotels. Canada has very few cheaper places to stay as we find that the US does. At first decision, we were going to go through the Sault into the US and then take the number 2 as we usually do in the better weather, but the truckers that we talked to told us to not bother as there were snow squalls everywhere around the lakes. So we changed our minds, again, as headed to the number 401 to go through Toronto and then through Sarnia. That trip was pretty good because we had missed the ice rain along the 401 throughout the night and the roads had been salted and were dry as we met them. There were several 18-wheelers, however, on their sides in the ditches and several tow trucks working together to clear the mess. We were very lucky to have slept at Vans when we did. We went through the pretty little towns trying to get to the 401 and we noted their names to go back to them during a warmer weather trip.
We stayed over night in LaPeer, Michigan in a beautiful hotel which had the most amazing breakfast.
We headed towards Wisconsin the next morning to drive through a mix of weather through Chicago area and around the lake and then up into Wisconsin to stay Janesville where we had an oil change and a good night's sleep. That's if you consider sleeping with the smell of our next door neighbours cooking their Mexican food in a microwave.
Off we went, after that, to our friend's house in Hudson to stay overnight. We enjoyed seeing them again even for only one night. Today we sit in Grand Forks taking in the end of our long trip in the same hotel that G and I first stayed in when we made our very first trip together as a couple. We will sort out our belongings, receipts, shop a little (for what we haven't a clue because we have no need for anything now) and then head for Kelly's house on Saturday. We will try to get in touch with everyone before we head out for Europe on Jan 26.
Hope you people are warm and melted.
J and G
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Leaving the Maritimes
We will be heading out from my sister's place here in Jacksonville, NB, tomorrow, Sunday, January 4. We hope to NOT run into snow but hope is a very touchy desire when you are driving through the great lake's area. We have had a wonderful time in the Maritimes and were lucky to have mild to moderate weather that, to us, seemed like early fall. We walked in NS and visited many people while we were staying with Betty Anne.
Touched our hands into the north eastern ocean and then came back to NB to visit some more where Gerhard could finish some renos for my sister Jeannette. We are all groceried-up, clean laundered, and ready to get back on the road again. We are to be in Winnipeg earlier than planned in order to make some doctor's and dentist's appointments that have been set up in our absence.
Merry Ho Ho's to all and a Happy New Year. Nice picture of the family Trevor and Jo and thanks to all who have sent along best wishes and comments. We sure do appreciate them when so far away from everyone. We are excited about getting to see everyone while there and, too, getting excited about getting on the plane to get to Europe.
Love to you all. J and G xoxoxo
Touched our hands into the north eastern ocean and then came back to NB to visit some more where Gerhard could finish some renos for my sister Jeannette. We are all groceried-up, clean laundered, and ready to get back on the road again. We are to be in Winnipeg earlier than planned in order to make some doctor's and dentist's appointments that have been set up in our absence.
Merry Ho Ho's to all and a Happy New Year. Nice picture of the family Trevor and Jo and thanks to all who have sent along best wishes and comments. We sure do appreciate them when so far away from everyone. We are excited about getting to see everyone while there and, too, getting excited about getting on the plane to get to Europe.
Love to you all. J and G xoxoxo
Glad to Hear your down East
Hello J&G,
Hope your down east helping dig out, like we are doing here. By the way Happy New Year, we missed you 2 at the Lake this year. Had a quiet time, was great to get out of the city. Hope all is well and your having a great time.
All the best,
Trev Jo
Hope your down east helping dig out, like we are doing here. By the way Happy New Year, we missed you 2 at the Lake this year. Had a quiet time, was great to get out of the city. Hope all is well and your having a great time.
All the best,
Trev Jo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)