Brugge FTW (aka for the win...)

Today is the day! Well, it was two days ago but still, it was finally here! Off to see the ever so talked about and admired - Brugge!

At this point, we're coming to the end of country #4 and we've been traveling for a little over two weeks now. Someone was bound to lose it....That someone, was Casey. 

Here she is using the jaws of life to cut off her own locker lock. She lost her keys. Only to find them that day in her bed. But at least the hostel sold new locks for 5€! Lesson learned. 

But it's all good because we hopped on a train to Brugge that day!

Off the train, this is what we see. So beautiful. And not a 20 story building!

Obviously we had to get our morning capp. But they are just not up to par like they were in Denmark...we're having withdrawals/getting use to bad coffee. #RoughLife

Next up, a canal tour! Brugge is so small it took us 30 minutes to check out the canals. Worth it. 

Then we were off to this well known square. So well known, it doesn't need a name/I can't remember it...but ain't it purdy?!

Had to. 

Some local Brugge beer. Not made there since there is only one Brewey left in town, but it's a museum now. But it had the Brugge name on it!

Let the "candid" photos begin! Hello yellow wall with flowers. So natural. 

Ohhhh, look at Casey walkin down those steps! So real. 

Then I'm just chillin in someone's doorway...That's normal. 

But that green door though!

Oh wait, now I'm sitting on a bridge in front of the canal!

But check out Casey casually lounging there too

Then it was time for some meatball selfies...

Almost...

Yay Brugge!

Someone was over the whole picture thing. 

Gosh, I didn't even know she was taking this...what a candid shot. 

In honor of my mask wearing friends - welcome to the #PugLife

Thank you Brugge for brining us back to that Europeam charm. You will be missed but we will be back again to visit that Underwear Museum...

Next up, SWITZERLAND!

when in Brussels...stay for one day

When is Brussels, do as they do! Which we sadly found out, was not much...

Don't get me wrong, Belgium is a beautiful place and we were super excited to be there. What we learned was that if you're going to Belgium and you want an authentic, European experience, don't stay in the New York City looking Brussels.

Our hostel was surrounded by big office buildings, a dominos and Groupons headquarters (kinda cool but there weren't any deals around us!)

But we found three things we had to do in Brussels : visit the Grand Palace, see that peeing boy statue and eat a waffle. Excited to say we did it all in one day! Then we had to fill two more days...

Of course the rain started when we got to the Grand Palace and sat down to enjoy the view. 

But that meant time for awesome cobblestone/yellow umbrella pics!

Gosh, what a great organge umbrella...

Next on the list, this. 

It was built up to be this "must see" and then we got there...we were a tad disappointed. Just like when we saw the Mona Lisa for the first time and it was half the size we thought it would be. And behind bullet proof glass. Sad day. 

BUT our last stop made the day. Real, freshly made, Beglian waffles! 

Honestly the best waffles we have ever had in our entire lives. And they will probably never be beat! But we do challenge anyone we know to try...bring us a bunch of waffles!

Something I was SO BUMMED that we couldn't go see because it was closed :(

We ended our night in Brussles with the infamous Delirium Cafe - they have over 2,000 beers...and three stories of awesome bar-ness happening. Sad news - I asked for a cider (I know, lame) but she gave me a random beer...Probably to teach me a lesson for ordering a cider. 

Then I tried to get an "artsy" photo of Casey by this cool corner but as you can see from her face, "it smells like shit over there!" At least we tried. 

So since we saw everything there is to see in Brussles in one day, we decided to take an hour train into Brugge and get the "real" Belgium experience!

Just wait until you see all of THOSE "artsy" photos...we're getting a little out of control. And getting weird looks from more and more people. 

watch out for flying pee

Amsterdam Part Two - 

First off, we were/are FASINATED by Amsterdam, aka the whole prostitution thing. 

I think because it's so far from home life - as far as we know...Simi Valley is a little sketch - we didn't know what to expect. We had so many questions! Still do for the most part BUT we found out some fun facts we thought we would share for those who have not been to Amsterdam/experienced the whole women in windows thing. 

Top 3 Fun Facts:

1. You CANNOT take pictures of them! 

Huge signs all around each window, but of course there's that one creeper that needs a photo to show off to his friends...listen buddy, it's not worth it. Each woman has a water bottle full of pee, ready to throw at you if she sees you taking a picture! And they're in it together, so watch your back. Plus, the internet has ya covered, no need to photograph the women of Amsterdam. 

2. They take pity on drunk girls - 

We found this out at the pub crawl when a new traveling friend shared her personal experience. This girl had a little too much fun the night before and was puking on the side of the alley. One of the prositutes came out of her room and brought her water/a napkin. You can rate that however you want but I'm goin to say that's definitely going to be a high point in her trip. Solid story to tell her grand kids one day. It's a shame Casey and I keep it together so well...

3. You can't ask them questions - even if you offer to pay for them. 

Another fact we found out during our pub crawl - drunk people are the most entertaining...the drunk girl from fact #2 had a friend traveling with her who was just as curious as us but she took it one step further - or was more determined to solve the mystery behind the red curtains. During the crawl she went up to a window and asked if she could ask the girl a question - she said no. Then she yelled, "what if I pay you?" Still no. #fail. 

We could really go on and on but I'll spare my grandmother from having to read paragraphs about prostitution :)

Anyways, there's so much more to Amsterdam - like the beautiful and huge Vondel Park!

Which has an awesome high tea island thing! Too bad it opened 4 hours after we left. Casey almost cried.  

But at least she has a picture to remember not drinking tea on this awesome floating flower oasis. 

And then there are the park sculptures. Obviously had too much fun with these. Don't act like you wouldn't try it too...

Next was the Amsterdam Ice Bar! Yes, Casey wore sandals...Fool. 

It's literally a bar made out of ice. Even the cups! Thus the big ass jackets and gloves - which smelled like they had never been washed and felt like a ton of beer had been spilled on them...ugh

The penguins helped us to forget about the smell and the cold. 

Oh, and the polar bear helped too.

Pretty sure Casey's feet were frozen at this point. 

HIGHLIGHT! They played Titanic inside the bar! Well, just the iceberg scene. Understandable. #iloveLeo

So many things I could say...This is why we can't have nice things.

Another fun fact for those of you without glasses - they do not like when you go from extreme cold to hot temps and will fog up. Welcome to my life. 

After the ice bar, some food and a small nap, we decided it was time for a European pub crawl and no better place than Amsterdam to do it in!

We survived 4 bars, watched multiple guys go into the red light windows, saw a few emerge as if nothing happened and made it back to our hostel before the all night/next day rain and lighting showed up. I'd say it was a successful last night in our favorite city!

Sad to say goodbye but looking forward to the next country - Belgium! 

Bring on three days of beer, waffles and chocolate! 

Roxanne in Amsterdam

Country #3 of 5 has come and gone but here's a recap of everything we did! Which was a lot. And included prositutes. It was an experience to say the least...

But first, we actually had seats on the 7 hour train ride this time! We were way too excited but actually slept so it was worth the 8 euro it took to reserve those puppies. #noregrets

Third country "we made it" picture!

Casey & her backpacking essentials - map, neck pillow (attached to her purse) and her water proof walking shoes. On a mission to find the hostel!

A beautifully chilling experience to visit the "Anne Frank House", learn more about her & walk through the tiny place where she hid for years. 

Possible bench they sat on in The Fault in our Stars...even though I heard that one was stolen. A girl can dream, can't she?

Some canal. 

Figured it was a good photo opp. 

Then it started to rain and SOMEONE forgot their hat...

A little Wok to Walk action - bomb. 

Walkin with my wok

And of course we had to check out the Van Gogh museum! Sad news, no Starry Night to be seen...but they had this big ass wall decal, so that was fun to stand in front of. 

This ones for you mom! Fun fact - you're not allowed to take pictures of the pictures but everyone was doing it so that means it's fine, right? 

Apparently not. Everyone was yelled at. I'm just super sneaky...minus Casey seeing me and scolding me. 

Every city should have one of these puppies! Obviously a tourist magnet which we fell for. Too. Many. People. 

'I' for Interdonato! 

'A' for Ali!

And 'M' for MEATBALLS!

And then the rain, thunder & lightning started...

But the Heineken Brewey tour saved us. And provided some bomb photo set ups!

Look! We all have hats on! Yay

Fun Fact : they like their beer foam here! It helps to keep the beer fresh - we had no idea. So next time you complain about too much beer foam, know they are doing it for your own good...

Clear sky's and big clogs. 

We had to see one Windmill while we were in the Netherlands! Sadly it was attached to a restaurant and not in a poppy field...slightly disappointed. 

Classic Amsterdam...

Well those were the first two days of our Amsterdam adventure.