moving to the city...

I'm back in Leiden, last day here. Most of my stuff is already sitting in my dorm room on Weesperstraat. The move wasn't too bad considering I've accumulated a bunch of stuff and Paul and I had to move it all on the train... but as I said not too painful... more on our trip later, for now must sleep.

of night time bike rides...

just got back from Scheveningen, rode out there with Paul and we made the ride back by flashlight illumination alone... in less than 2 hours no less.

The ride I speak of is about 20 km along the coastal dykes of Holland. 5 km to Katwijk, 1.5 across Katwijk, 13.5 to Scheveningen.

Further wild adventures are on the agenda, as tomorrow is Amsterdam day 1 for Paul.

--m

also, I'm picking up my photos from recent travels tomorrow.

paperocracy...

I hate paper work.
But after wasting two full days on running around collecting documents from the university it looks like I'm almost done all necessary paper work.

In amazing news Paul arrives tomorrow!!1 My little brother is flying in for 2 weeks to end the summer in Europe. Another trip to Paris is in order. I can't even express how excited I am by this.

more adventure in Scotland...

The remainder of our time in Scotland was far more comfortable. The next night we camped in what can only be described as the worlds most perfect spot; on a soft sandy beach beside the North Sea, with a small cluster of vegetation providing dry firewood and cover from the wind. It was breathtakingly scenic. The fringe festival was good, but the density of crowd that it generates makes me uneasy. there were some amazing street performers.

After Becca returned to Uncle Sam's territory I made way to Falkirk to meet with a friend of the family. I must extend my thanks to Frank and Grazunia for their incredible hospitality. I spent 2 days with them visiting some great out of the way attractions in Scotland including the Falkirk wheel and a small mining town nearby. It was a great rest from the intensity of traveling hobo-style. Got to play more than a handful of snooker and chess over more than a handful of port and scotch.

Finally the trip ended much as it began, with a 24 hour bus ride from Edinburgh to Den Haag. Pics to come in a later edit as they wont be developed until Friday.

camping flavoured adventure...

It was our second night in Scotland, Becca and I decide that we are going to camp that night in order to save money. So instead of the 16 quid hostel we bought 4.30 train tickets to the town of Longnidry which is right beside the North Sea. After what some might consider a few too many pints at a Polish pub called "Pivo", Becca convinces the barman to concoct an "Irish car bomb". (Half pint of Guinness with a whiskey/bailey's dropshot) We make it to the train and are off towards camping flavoured adventure. Of course, during that 25 minute train ride the weather shifted from a mild and refreshing drizzle to a torrential downpour. And I mean SERIOUS RAIN... we were soaked to the bone in a matter of seconds. But we pressed on. The idea was to find the ocean, luckily we did not. (the wind would have been too much) Instead, wandering through the darkness we turned left under a small bridge which granted us a few seconds relief from the rain and wind, and ended up on a gravel road running between two fields. Finally, I spot the optimal area up off the road under a tree in a bank of foliage between the gravel road and a farmers field. In less than 10 minutes flat, in the unyielding rain and complete darkness, I have the tent up. and we are sheltered. everything is drenched and it was a very cold night. the next morning we awoke at around 6 am and upon exiting the tent we found ourselves a few feet from a heard of MASSIVE cattle, who seemed as startled by us as we were by them.
We survived, and it made for quite the tale don't you think?

scottish breakfast...

2 runny eggs, blood pudding, haggis, 2 sausages, bacon, fried beans, hash browns, and bread...
i need a nap

The adventure continues...

I always feel better when traveling. There is something about it that centers me.
The trip so far has been a great success. After a few days in Holland Becca and I hit the road for Brugge, which is an amazing city, seemingly built entirely out of cobblestone and red brick. After an initial wander about Brugge we gave up on the idea of camping here in order to see the Brooklyn Funk Essentials play a free show in the town square. Armed with a 6 pack of Amstel and 2 bottles of Belgian Kriek, we lounged out on a bench to the funky beats. We spent two nights at the HI hostel Europa just out of Brugge centreville, which gets 5 stars in my opinion. It was clean, safe, well situated and very reasonably priced at only 15 Euro per night. The following day served up a sampling of Belgium beers the highlight of which was a Christmas ale. On an interesting note, the Belgians are adamant about their beers and rituals of their serving and consumption. Every beer, of which there are ALOT, are served exclusively in the corresponding glass. So even ordering a Christmas ale at the end of July, I was provided a glass of the appropriate volume, with the brewery's name and the specific name of the beer embossed on it... amazing!

After a very very lame day in Brussels, the kind where everything goes so wrong that one can't help to look at the day through a filter of bitter humour, we pressed on to Paris, where everything would be better.

Paris proved once again, that it is the best damn place on this planet. All it takes is one night of drinking red wine from the bottle, watching fire jugglers in front of Notre Dame at night, and you'll know what I mean. This city never ceases to amaze me with its beauty.

well, this will hajve to be the end of this post... need to finish packing my bag and get on the 23 hour bus ride to Edinburgh for the opening day fo the fringe Festival!

cheers,
--m