Wonder.Food.Travel

Between the flowers and the celebration, i spent my time leisurely exploring the city and sometimes joining a queue. I'll say again- the city is walk-friendly, but it could be quite a walk between places. So if you plan to walk, have a good pair of walking shoes. I intended to rent a bicycle to cycle around (trying to be as local as possible); however, i was already cold and me in the wind by cycling was definitely a no-no. I was good on foot. And umbrella . Bring one. It rained sporadically and unexpectedly. It looked sunny in the morning and by noon, it drizzled. It stopped, then drizzled again. It actually hailed a few times. As a boy from a country that is warm or wet, watching the pellets fall onto my umbrella was an experience. Also, you wouldn't want to be standing in line, in the rain, in the cold. So, bring one. With my shoes on, a fold-able umbrella in bag and a thirst for adventure, i went to one of the best things free in Amsterdam- playfully capturing my mark ...

I made my way from Brussel Noord to Amsterdam Sloterdijk by FlixBus after a relaxing time in Brussels. This bus route was relatively scenic- i saw traditional wooden windmills in the fields and sheep grazing away along the way. I was told of the high energy the Amsterdam city contains by a hostel-mate and was excited to feel it for myself. Close shot of a tulip. I arrived at the Sloterdijk Station and it was cold. I printed my map to walk to my hostel (approximately a 50-minute walk which i thought was ok) but after factoring in the weather, the distance and my luggage, i changed my mind and boarded the train to Centraal Station . My hostel is located across the canal so i exited the station, identified the correct ferry and embarked on a 5-minute ride. When in Amsterdam, go on a canal, right? View of the Centraal Station from across the canal. I stayed at ClinkNoord Hostel  and honestly, it is one of the largest hostels i've stayed in. The lobby/living space is wide ...

My Journey posts are traditionally titled after one city or country over a travel period. However in my recent adventure, i covered two different cities and countries in a week and i didn't want to name it 'Euro' because that would be wide and unfair, so i decided to use the 'x' mark between them: Brussels (Belgium) and Amsterdam (Netherlands). With only three days of planning, i admit that i under-packed my belongings. I underestimated the weather and it was very cold during my stay. Six days for two cities may seem long for some but my travel style is to explore, learn and immerse myself in the place with its people. Six days was a good time to do that. I left Paris by FlixBus and i recommend its service. It was affordable, departure was timely and seats were comfortable enough for my four-hour journey. Along the way, i got to see more and more plains of flower fields. When i arrived at Brussel Noord station, i dubiously asked the driver for immigration chec...