Wednesday evening Abi, Amy, Georgie, Clara, Emily and I booked our Megabus tickets (just 13 Euros per) and our hostel (20 Euros each) before heading downtown for the night.
Thursday morning we caught the bus at 11, and bid farewell to Amsterdam on a 3 hour long, trafficy, and sleepless voyage to Brussels. Upon arrival in the city, the bus dropped us off with absolutely no clue where we were nor how to get to where we needed to be. We instinctively headed toward an area swarming with people, and asked for directions at a hostel nearby.
This hostel was right downtown in the city centre, and as we curiously peered at the map on the door, the owner stepped out and asked if we needed help. We told him the name of the hostel we were actually staying at, and dismally he replied with "oh well that hostel is quite a ways out of the city, at least a 15 minute metro ride, it's too bad you've already booked." Thanks ass hole.
So we hiked up our backpacks, picked up our dignity, and headed for the metro station where we purchased 3-day metro passes and made our way to our new home. One thing I would like to mention here... a little off topic... but I have noticed during my time in the Netherlands so far that there aren't many Muslims in the area where we're staying. Even downtown in the melting pot of nationalities, we don't see hardly any burkhas or covered women at all for that matter. Now, imagine our surprise when we exit the metro to enter a crowd where every woman was clothed in this way. Every way we turned were Muslim women, children, and men, staring at our colorfully western wardrobe. During the 10 minute walk from the station to our hostel it seemed like we were in a different country completely, and I have to admit I was less than comfortable. Later we would read that our hostel was described as being smack dab in the middle of a thriving immigrant community..... Finally though, we found Generation Europe, our humble abode!
With being a group of 6 women, we got a dorm all to ourselves with 8 bunk beds and our own bathroom! It was clean, with a giant open window, and if nothing else at least we didn't have to pay for the sheets (which I hear is common in European youth hostels). We took an hour to clean up and then headed into town to explore and find some frites!
Clara, our German friend, was our guide for the weekend as she was uncannily amazing with a map (a talent I certainly don't have... I blame my mother for that one) and lead us to all the sites and stops we wanted to make. Our weekend was filled with famous frites with mayonaisse at the oldest fritterie in Belgium, the Magritte exhibit at an art museum, hundreds of breathtaking buildings, a bar famous for having over 200 beers on tap, and enough waffles and chocolate to put you in a month long food coma.
On the bus, excited for Belgium!
Famous frites from Antoine's
European Parliament Building
INCREDIBLE Catholic church we took a self lead tour around
Tower that was once a part of a wall that surrounded the city
The Mannequin Pis a famous statue that was a minor let down. Also please note the carrots....?
Belgian waffle with strawberries, whipped cream, and hot chocolate sauce. nom nom nom.
Pretty red mailbox I wanted my picture taken with.
Hostel livin'
All of us!
By Saturday afternoon we were all ready to nap on the bus ride home, and excited to get back to Uilenstede and our newly purchased bikes! This weekend in Brussels was one I will never ever forget, Brussels is one of, if not the most beautiful city I have ever seen and it was so much fun to share this experience with new friends!
When I got back to my flat, I was surprised with a package from home, just what I needed :) Emily and I went to bed early and found our new church this morning! Crossroads is the name of the church, and service is held in Amstelveen University, where the band stands in a circle in the middle of an auditorium-like space, with a large group of people who all just really want to be there, worshipping God. I took a well deserved nap after church and finished the day with a bike ride downtown which was probably the scariest/near death experienced hour of my life. But we found the I amsterdam sign!!
Classes start tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to getting into a routine again. I also plan to do my first load of laundry in a Dutch washing machine and join the gym to work off all those waffles! I only have one class tomorrow, Spanish, and I'm still awaiting word on whether or not the class will be instructed in Dutch. Prayers appreciated ;)
Well, have a great week everyone, and thanks for reading!
xoxoxo
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