Brussels--AMSTERDAM

I went to Amsterdam for Easter break, we're advised to leave Poland during this time because everything shuts down for the religious holiday.  I was planning on going with two girls from Olowek, but as we went to book our hostel realized that this most popular of weekends sent the "budget" hostels into skyrocketed prices.  I was able to couch surf because i had two friends from Chapman that I met up with, so off I went to brussels.  I got in really late and stayed in a horrible hostel... the next day I had some downtime to explore the city, get lost, and FINALLY use my french in an applicable situation.  People actually understood me... amazing.

5 hours and one crazy bad dutch film later and I'm in a land with the weirdest language I've ever heard, the most bicycles I've ever seen, and the most colorful clothing I've encountered since my last time in California.  This city is so incredibly beautiful.  Very clean and well organized.  Everyone really seems happy, riding their bikes by the scenic waterways, maybe indulging in the unique legal activities... this seems like a Utopia.

The first hour I'm there I convince myself that Dutch is a weird dialect of English and I can actually understand it.  It sounds like german/english/gibberish/swedish?  Maybe i just need to listen closer...

tulips, vondelpark, indonesian food, redlight, nice couch surfing host tess, joan of arc at the film museum set to trippy ass instrumentals, rave off overtoom, comings, goings, drunk guy giving me candy, and coffee shops... more coffee shops.

Back to brussels and the longest self reflection time I've had in an airport ever, great beer though!

most recent pet peeve: having the same conversation with someone in which they do not remember because they were too drunk at the time... and vice versa.