Spain to Santorini

In Spain, only managed to stop in two cities. Madrid being the first. When we arrived in the main square out of the metro station we were met by a crowd of people, obviously something big was happening. I spotted the Real Madrid bus and players in suits were unloading. They ended up on a balcony of some government building with their League Championship trophy and thanked the citizens of Madrid for their support. I got to see Christiano Ronaldo firsthand, he was a little camera shy. Didn't get to see any bull fights as they only happen on Sundays, oh well, I guess that will have to wait until another trip to Madrid happens.

Barcelona, was so beautiful. Boy do the Spanish like lighting things with multiple colors. One night we ended up sitting in front of a musical fountain that changed colors and spray pattern... (that makes more sense in my head than it does written). The fountain started playing some classical music, but then it started playing the classics like BSB, Whitney Houston, MJ and so on. It was so magical. Hotel reception guys was lets say very friendly and leave it at that, very helpful but maybe too friendly.

Rome: I didn't have any expectations for Rome but I was very impressed. The Trevi Fountain is so amazing. As was the Coliseum, so enormous and was rebuilt so many times. I participated in what the people were calling a flash mob, but it wasn't really. Some church group was handing out ballons and pieces of paper, you were suppose to write a message on the paper, tie it to the balloon, and then everyone was to release these helium filled balloons at the same time. Felt like such a kid that day as I held my ice cream cone in one hand and a balloon in the other.

Athens: So the Greek are fairly lazy. We didn't arrive until 2:30pm and all the atttractions close at 3 pm so we just did a tour of the outside of all the attractions. Still pretty cool. Ended the day with cheap gyros and beer.

Santorini: Greek island, enough said.

Later gator,

Nicole

Belgium to Portugal: a quick glimpse

Antwerp: after a day of sight seeing we returned to the grocery store beside our place of residence to pick up some drinks and food for dinner. A very disappointing selection left us with nothing, so we hit the street in search of some good grub. Didn't get very far, we, actually I was starving, Kelli was still full from lunch, we ended up in the bar/cafe just across the street. We sat down and looked at the menu, not in English, great. Waitress came over to take our drinks order, Le Choffre. Then we spent another 5 muntjac trying to decipher the menu. Eventually another server came over and spoke English. He recommended the soup of the day and the plate of the day. I as starving so I just went with that. The soup was a homemade veggie soup. Delicious and of course I dipped bread in it. The dish was meatballs and mashed potatoes covered in a tomato sauce. Best meatballs I have ever had. The server came back to check on us and to make sure we were enjoying our balls. He continued telling us how good his balls were. Later on another customer ordered the meatballs, and he shouted across the bar to us to say that another customer ordered his balls. Brussels: delicious chocolate, enough said. Plus some ridiculous statue of a little boy peeing that gets put into outrageous costumes Aka mannequin pis, look it up. Memorable moment: watching Kelli decipher the menu and ending up ordering something with the word American in it and it turning out to be beef tartar, glad you're not a picky eater. :)  Paris: Eiffel tower, amazing. Although, at times I was so amazed I kept thinking it was fake. Spent the first night sitting in park in front of it waiting for it to light up. Overheard people say it was going to sparkle and we diet know what that meant we just thought lights would turn on and it would glow. At 10pm, it sparkled. Faro: Good lunch conversation about dessert. Post lunch, sailing tour. Kelli steered and did all the work while I lounged and took pictures. Learned sailing terms and how to tie knots. Don't worry we didn't see any pirates while we were out at sea. Seafood feast post-sailing. Lisbon: castles well actual I guess it was in Sintra. I wish I lived in a castle. Then everyone would be jealous of me.

have you met hank

Upon arrival at Amsterdam central station we went left out of the station past the floating chinese restaurant over the pedestrian bridge, past memo and onto the second dock to our hotel (boat hotel). This is where we met Hank. Due to the fact that Kelli talks really fast Hank misunderstood her name until he saw it on the check in list. He thought she said what the equivalent of coconut in Dutch. He then continued to explain how some Dutch words were similar to English words. He told us our room was clean and waiting for us and then asked if it was our first time in amsterdam. He showed us a map of the city. Telling us where we were on the map and the immediately began circling this for us to see. The first thing he highlighted were the shops, I am assume because we are girls and most girls travel to go shopping but as I am currently carrying everything on my back I have yet to shop. Don't worry I'll have a few new pairs of shoes before i fly home. Next he circled a few major squares and museums like the van gogh museum and the Anne frank house. Then he pointed to the red light district and said it was safe for us to go there at night. Then he told us it was okay to go into coffeeshops but to buy inside not outside. Then he asked us if we knew about space cakes. He told us to only have one even though we would want more because it takes about 45 minutes for things to happen. He said on guest had multiple ended up sleeping for 16 hours and missing his flight. That would not be me. Hank, what a guy. Next stop: Belgium Nicole

London bridge is not falling down

9 hour flight plus hour change in time zone equals Nicole not sleeping for two days and that's why coffee was invented. Saw London bridge today and it must have fallen down too many times in the past because it is not very spectacular. London tower on the other hand is magnificent. London is a good place to start this trip because the weather is similar to home (Aka rainy) and everyone specks English. Went on a tour yesterday and met 3 Americans and an Aussie. Spent the rest of the day touring with them. Well half time is over so I'm back to watching the footbal game.

Too much to do too little time

Back by popular demand (actually just one person), I've decided to blog again or at least attempt while I travel through Europe bike-less (unless it has a motor) this time.

I leave tomorrow and have just started packing. I'd say that's last minute but really my flight is not until 5pm tomorrow so last minute would be if I was packing tomorrow morning.

Gone April 23 - June 11 to visit 8 countries... more details to be decided.

Start out the trip by flying into London where I will catch the Tottenham Spurs vs Blackburn soccer game and Les Miserables as well as all the touristy stuff.

Feels like I am missing something, but oh well, that's what credit cards are for.

Post Ride Revelations

So apparently people actually read this blog, I am not just been writing to inform my parents. Who knew. I wonder if I can retitle this blog and continue writing...

Anyways, it has been almost 20 days since my last ride day and I have been home in Canada for almost 2 weeks. I have come up with a list of things that riding for 4.5 weeks in Europe have made me realize (in no particular order):

1. Not packing up my worldly possession on to my bike everyone morning and riding for a couple of hours each day gives you so much free time in the day. Now I just have nothing to fill my free time with. 

I feel so fast now riding without any weight.

2.Life is kind of boring when you are not sleeping in a different city/town every night or not even knowing where you will be sleeping.
3. Big groups make everything seem funnier.

4. My Fanta addiction is over, however I did have a craving for it after discussing possible Fanta marketing campaigns.

2 Liters of deliciousness

5. The places I slept in Europe were not much bigger than the area I occupy at home, actually my tent may have been bigger than my bedroom which is currently packed with a lot of junk.
6. Jet lag is horrible. 9 hours time difference and being awake for 30 hours straight of traveling does not bode well for the human body. And apparently when the airline says pick up all your checked baggage and manually transfer it to your next flight that includes you oversized luggae. Whoops. Luckily my bike made it to the right airport the next morning.

Picking up my bike box the day after I landed because I didn't pick it up in New York.

7. All my problems I left behind, just waiting for you to get back. Sad face. Unemployment not so much fun.
8. Not spending 24 hours a day 7 days a week with 16 other people all of a sudden makes you feel lonely.
9. It is hard to find fields of daisy fields to frolick in Cloverdale (all though I have not looked that hard).
10. The ability to eat ice cream multiple times in one day and not see any weight gain does not happen unless you are riding 100 km a day. Metabolism has definitely slowed down.

Delicious

11. I can no longer blame my bad hair on my helmet.

Outside a nunnery with a 9pm curfew.

12. I got progressively better at taking self portraits or at least I now smile in them.

Picture Recap

 Some pictures of the trip not in any particular order.

Pre-Ride Location of Game 7 at a ridiculously early hour in the morning

Hay Bail Break on the Way to Wittenberg

Windmill Scenery in Amsterdam

Somewhere in Amsterdam

Train Ride in Amsterdam (Pre-Ride)

Dutch Clogs

Canoe Ride in Utrecht (paddle is for show, didn't do much paddling)

Snack Break in Goslar, maybe...

Frolicking in Daisy Field

Budapest

Praha, maybe...

Dresden, host city of the world cup, but didn't get a chance to catch any games

On the road, but still time for photos

Astonomical Clock in Prague with strange man posing underneath

Lake break in Tabor before we even started riding for the day

Teepoo, yes not a spelling error, in Cernovice

One of many castles we passed by

Watermelon break

Life is a highway

Play time in Cesky Krumlov

View of Cesky Krumlov

Artsy shot on the way to St. Poelton, Austria

Debating on whether to trade my bike in for an elephant, probably will cost too much to feed it

Coffee and dessert time, don't worry they weren't all mine

Bratislava

Entering Hungry

Chain bridge in Budapest