Three Countries in Three Days
With Tommy back at work after our whirlwind Paris weekend I’ve been left to my own devices once again. So I decided to do what I do best, keep myself busy. In just three days I managed to visit three countries, taking full advantage of my euro rail pass.
First up was Belgium. Tommy continued on the train to Amsterdam but I took my opportunity to jump off in Brussels and experience the city my sister ran off to all those years ago. I loved it. Especially after the crazy that was Paris. It felt quiet, walkable, and so very friendly. I took a “free” walking tour and it was fantastic. Funny and informative, I found a new appreciation for a country I honestly knew very little about. I also managed to find an amazingly friendly bartender that helped me find my favorite beer on my trip to date! I also took a chocolate tasting tour and had to use every ounce of will power not to buy ALL the chocolate (I still bought a lot). It was seriously good.
After a wonderful day I was on my way and headed up to Amsterdam. I spent the next day exploring this unique city and was completely delighted. It was touristy for sure but not in the overwhelming way Paris was. Everything blended together wonderfully and the people watching, especially the bike watching, was top notch. The bike culture is unparalleled. Every street has a separate lane for cars, bikes and people, and if anything is short changed it’s the side walks for walking. You can see every age, ethnicity, and gender on bikes. Pregnant women, fathers toting around up to three children, and business men in suits, all on bikes. And you learn quickly to stay out of their path, bikes are king in this town. I also found the most adorable wine bar on a quiet canal where I sat for hours just reading and soaking it all in.
My last stop on my three day whirlwind was Cologne, Germany. I knew I wanted to make it to Germany as I had never been. Originally I wanted to get to Hamburg but it was a five hour train each way which felt like a lot. But a German guy I had met on the Brussels walking tour suggested Cologne as a great option so I decided to give it a try!
When I first arrived I wasn’t sure what I had gotten myself into. I had booked another “free” walking tour and they gave directions to start in a very uninteresting rather bleak part of town. But the day ended up fantastic. The tour guide was once again phenomenal, making me laugh out loud and giving me all sorts of fun information about the city. It wasn’t the prettiest city as almost all of it was destroyed during WWII but I found the walk fascinating nonetheless. My favorite part was the diversity of people in the group. Of 22 people only five were American (this was the English tour mind you) and the vast majority were young Europeans on holiday. There was a Croatian living in Belgium, a Hungarian living in Paris, an Italian traveling solo through Europe and many, many others. It’s amazing how English is the language that brings them all together. Everyone was friendly and eager to hear each other’s stories. I’m so very glad I did it. It was also interesting hearing about the destruction of WWII from a German’s perspective. They experienced quite the devastation on their side too and yet there was never a hint of victimhood or bitterness. Only a deep understanding of the consequences of their terrible actions.
I also must brag a bit as I climbed to the top of the Cologne Cathedral, all 500+ steps. I’ve never earned my afternoon gelato more. Also, that thing is massive! I never managed to get the whole cathedral in frame for a decent picture.
Finally, at the risk of making this post way, way, way too long, I wanted to reassure my team that I am keeping a healthy diet while on my trip. While I have limited access to gold fish I have been able to consume a steady stream of waffles, fries, wine and beer, so don’t worry too much about my health 😁
Cheers!