Eurotrip 2017: Flemish Fun (sorrrryyy French side)

I ADORE Belgium. Out of all the places I'm going in this trip, Belgium is the one I would have been least likely to go to of my own accord. Nothing against them, just wasn't a high priority before. WELL, let me tell you people--it's phenomenal. 

Day 2: Ghent

I arrived by bus into Ghent, Belgium mid-afternoon on Friday and was welcomed by Robin's smiling face! After a short moment of jumping out of excitement, we made our way to Robin's house and then out for an evening of sightseeing in Ghent. Ghent is a gorgeous little city that was a main city-state during the Middle Ages, and still has some beautiful medieval buildings in the city center to show for it. Plus, with a river running through it, it's hard to beat the views. It really was perhaps my favorite city in Belgium. Such a mix of a university town with the culture and nightlife, while still being easily accessible by public transport to major cities around the country and continent. And I am SUCH a sucker for old buildings and town squares that you can wander through at leisure. Loved it. And we ended the day with a giant rack of ribs at a restaurant called Amadeus. Genuinely perhaps the most I've ever eaten.

"Noses"a well loved Belgian sweet!

Day 3: Brugge/Bruges/The Little Venice 

According to Liza, "...if you've seen the film In Bruges---ignore it. The Real Bruges is better." And no, she tried to be in the film, but didn't make it as an extra. Fair enough, when everyone in town is vying for spots! Liza, another wonderful friend from Aussie-land, showed me around her hometown of Bruges all day and it was a GLORIOUS day. Again, nothing overly exciting to share, but a gorgeous (but cold) day of simply wandering streets finding pretty photo spots. Though I will leave you with this fun fact about Brugges: there is a beer pipeline under the city. Look it up. After that discovery, we made sure to have a Belgian Waffle, and ended our day with a Beer Museum chatting about life, love and becoming Belgian. 

Eating my first proper Belgian waffle (Brussels waffle)

Oh yeah, and thi group of people in Carnivale dress kinda hung out and just walked through the city posing. No idea why. So that was fun.

The world's largest bottle of wine. Okay, fine. It was just the beer menu. But still.

The most DELICIOUS part of the day was dinner. Robin had gotten everything we needed to make Vol-Au-venti and so after cooking up a storm (mostly Liza and Robin--I was taking pics). We had the best Belgian meal everrrr. Okay, I probably can't make that distinction. But, it was really really good. And I've promised them I'd make it at home and send them a picture of the results--ssoooo who's in?

Day 4: Brussels

The final day in Belgium was great because I got to spend it with not one but BOTH of my wonderful Belgian  tour guides! Since Robin actually works in Brussels, we made her lead most of our tour. But it was fun pretending to be a tourist with both of them in the city. I found Brussels to be surprisingly--meh. The historic portion of the city was absolutely stunning. But, beyond that--it was a very normal city. For me, the best portions of the day were eating various strange fried meats at a Frituur, laughing at the Mannaken Pis, a famous statue of a little boy peeing into a fountain. Brussels is a pretty serious city. 

Robin haggling for tea cups at an Antique Market (she CRUSHED it)

The Atomium

Couldn't get rid of these two paparazzi. Followed me all friggin day.

They take their waffles VERY seriously. And I did get the second (Liege) waffle. Don't worry.

Frituur lunch! NOMS.

Mannaken Pis

Making sure our waffles don't go to waste

Town Center/Town Hall

Finally, at the end of the day--the girls dropped me off at the train station. After some long goodbye hugs I made my way to Maastricht, where I'm currently sitting on a couch with Jessica, a friend I haven't seen in SEVEN years. Life is crazy. Tomorrow we're off to explore this fun little college town--so until then people!

Eurotrip 2017: An Icy Welcome

I MADE IT TO EUROPE YA'LL.  But seriously. Realizing I haven't properly been here since 2009 and I'd forgotten how much I love it. Okay, now on to what I've actually done.

Day 1: Iceland

After what I will say was a fairly arduous (though I've had worse) day of travel I made it to the cold, dark , icy insanity that is Iceland. Since we got there around 6am I wasn't able to do a whole lot. But I did get a chance to wander the empty streets until shops opened which was family magical. Given that it was around 19* outside, and I'd been wandering for about 1.5 hours, I JUMPED at the chance to sit and have a hot cup of tea in a small shop overlooking a town square and chat with a friendly Venezuelan woman who'd married a Swede and ended up in Iceland after 10 years in DC. And then,(because I'm apparently so much fun to talk to) they gave me another free cup of tea as I left to hold me over until I got to the Blue Lagoon! HOORAY ICELAND!

After a VERY long bus ride due to a 2 way road and a bad accident a few kilometers ahead of us--we made it to the Blue Lagoon. It's natural hot spring about 20 minutes away from the airport, and yes, it's hella touristy. But, after freezing all day, and a long day of travel before with close to no sleep---the hot springs was a BRILLIANT break. After braving the 1 minute it takes to walk between the building and the water,  just soaked it up. With the exception of my ears feeling like they were going to fall off due to the wind whipping over the water, it was so incredible. I think everyone should be able to jump into a natural spa right after a plane ride. Magical. 

NOTE: The sun was only up from like 10:30 am til 4pm, so I made it the airport just before dark again, but sadly no northern lights (unless we're counting the fake ones they had in the Icelandair planes)

After hopping back in he plane, I headed off to London. While it was a fairly quick flight, due to baggage problems, and traffic, I wasn't able to meet my friend Miia for dinner until about 9pm. Let it be known that up to this point I had a total of 3 hours of sleep in around 30 hours, and only eaten one muffin, a banana, and orange and some gummies (priorities, people). So I have never been so excited to eat in my life.

I'll add pics when I get a chance---but for now. There's an update. You're welcome.

New Year, New Adventure

Well everyone, here we are again; on the edge of adventure. Beginning the new year with a silent plea for the grand by diving headfirst into the past made present.

I cannot tell you how excited I am to be off again. To explore, to be cold and giggling like a child experiencing the first snow of the year. To wander streets I've never seen in cities where everyone speaks a language I can't understand. To feel utterly alone and yet know that I am not. After a year where I have often questioned what God is calling me to do--I am excited for this chance for a freezing fresh start.

In the past few days I have been thinking a lot about what it means to look at our problems through God as opposed to seeing God through our problems. And as I consider this upcoming adventure I am reminded of what I know will come. The feelings of possibility, of fresh chances, and most encouragingly, renewed mindsets. I am eager to once again come face to face with the reality that I can do anything, and that truly, the only thing holding me back is whether or not I believe that. And so I pray that as I land on foreign ground, that I am able to step back from the worries and frustrations I have of my future. That I see them through the new eyes. That I would be reminded that I serve a God of possibility. A God who calms storms but also a God who calls us both to them and through them. A God who can do IMMEASURABLY more than I can ever imagine.

This trip will be a whirlwind of the most glorious kind. Full of old friends, new places, strange foods, lovely languages, and the snowy quiet of Europe in Winter. Along the way I'll be seeing friends I met in Oz, Thailand, NZ and Germany. All of whom I've never seen in their "real" lives and some of which I haven't seen in almost 10 years.  I am SO pumped for every piece of this trip; but, getting to see people I haven't seen in ages to reminisce on the old while simultaneously taking in the new is utter perfection. And as I sit in my own state of general uncertainty, I am eager to experience the joys of life that come with communing with old friends in their present moments. The reminder that life marches forward and moving with it doesn't mean I'm leaving everything behind.

I will be off to Europe for about 3 weeks. Roughly here's what we're looking at:

US > Reykjavik >London
London >Ghent/Bruges/Brussels
Brussels >Maastricht/Amsterdam
Amsterdam >Prague
Prague > Vienna
Vienna > Munich
Munich > London
London > US


So I will attempt to update as I can, but may end up doing a little post-adventure blogging upon my return depending on time/computer access. Until then--

I don't know what this coming year holds. I don't know where I'll be or what I'll be doing. And yet I know that I have been granted passions for a reason. That God has given us gifts and talents and joys to be used in order to allow His love and glory to shine brighter wherever life may find us. So here's to this new year. To adventures the world over, to laughing with friends and loving people more deeply. To creating community wherever we are and seeing joy in small moments. But more than anything, here's to seeing our fears through the possibility that lies in God's omnipotence.

Love you all dearly! Cheers to this wonderful new year!

"I hereby command you: be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9