The Netherlands

After spending the day in Antwerp we arrived in the Netherlands and headed straight to Utrecht to stay at the best hostel ever. From the moment I walked into the door I was amazed by the pully they had on the door from the reception area. Only 15 Euros a night each for a bed, a free kitchen, free bed sheets and free internet with a free computer. The people were amayingly nice and one of them, after discussing our trip, even disapeared out the room and came back with leaflets on hostels in Germany. And after 2 nights there we had to stay for a third.


We spent our first day there catching up on lost sleep, and planning on where to stay next. On our way to Rotterdam, in the station there was a man with tables and tables of tiramisu handing it out for free!! We had to stay and get our share, Richard gobbled his down but unfortunately for me I dropped mine on the floor. I was highly disappointed by this but it didn't matter because it shortly followed Richard being chatted up by an old man! Rotterdam turned out to be very unexciting and grey. It was however completly covered with sculptures. And after following them through a park we lost our way out and found our selves surrounded by ducks. This one duck waddled right up to us and at first I was amazed by how friendly it was, But then it bit me!

That evening we dossed around the hostel and met a Canadian, Simon. We spent all evening talking about our adventures and his. He bought me a hot chocolate, Richard a coffee and even gave me 2 Canadian dollors and an olympic 25c and we now have a place to stay if we ever visit Vancouver!


We spent all of yesterday walking around Amsterdam. The centre was full of 'coffee shops', bong shops and people. We settled in the square and watched a man from Ethiopia fit through a tennis racquet! A five minute walk out of the centre and it was transformed into canals and bikes. We went into the Anne Frank Haus had a coffee and arrived back at the hostel for another early night.

I'm a little disapointed by the little I have written for Amsterdam, essecially considering that it's the capital. I hope the rest of our trip is more excitng!