brutal luck

It's almost miraculous the bad luck streak we have had lately. Where to start? First: although Brugges was adorable, we did not enjoy searching for our hostel for two hours, on foot, and then realizing it was actually a thirty second walk from where we started- lierally. I don't exaggerate, thirty seconds. If that combined with the crazy sleep-walker I mentioned earlier, werent enough, the second night was just rediculous: Long story short, the hostel staff go home at the end of the night, leaving 50 or so guests to their own devices. In this case it was us, about thirty 20-year-old English choir members and a few randos. Around 2:30 a.m. the fire alarm goes off- for an hour. The street is empty.. no fire truck, no Politie. And of course nobody knows what to do. Finally someone hits it hard enough to shut it off. It turns out that the people responsible are 3 30-year-old, coked-out Spanish guys who, at this point could be found in their tighty whiteys harassing some girls with an aerosol can- lighter combination. Eventually, they passed out in the hallway and the cops were called. naturally, they didnt do anything about it.

After that, we checked into a hostel in Ghent, (so cool, but construction on every street corner, im afraid.) At midnight, an alarm went off in someones bag- which was locked- and it beeped for about 45 minutes. Then, we went to Amsterdam for round two. After following some really dodgey instructions all the way out of town; walking at least an hour and a half back in; and then finally being helped by a really nice Brit.. we found our hostel. It is easily the most sketchy one yet. I'm not even going to describe it, but for 15€ each per night, I guess you get what you pay for. Lets just say I would NEVER take my shoes off in that place. Or shower. Eugh.. So today after we finally make it to Bruxelles: It is impossible to find a train to Paris. This is the first time we have had any trouble with trains, but apparently this is the wost weekend to travel to Paris for some reason. When we finally caught a wifi signal, it turns out Bruxelles only has one hostel in the whole central area! How is that possible!? Please.. We finally found a place but got so lost that we had to take a cab, and the place turned out to be pretty far out of the way. All this, because we tried to go back to Paris. But its worth it.. So tomorrow we try our luck in Lille. Oh and our feet are absolutely covered in mosquito bites.

Here are some pics.. hopefully I don't have trouble downloading them tonight. Fingers crossed- maybe our luck has turned around.

xo

random pictures

I have heard recently that there are more people following the blog than I thought, (awe.) So I guess I have to keep everyones interest: Here are some pictures that I havent had a chance to upload. Computers have been particularly slow recently but today, I have some spare time and alot of paitence.

We are currently in Brugges, Belgium. Its adorable, and as per usual the food is decadent. Today we tried Belgian waffles with fruit (which they make fresh in little street corner shops,) and we had fries from a place that has been around since 1894! Yeah, it sounds like we are being little piggies, but I have yet to try any Belgian chocolate, save for a piece that was served with my afternoon espresso. Its much better than taking it with sugar.

I suspect our hostel has a bed bug problem, as I woke up with a huge swollen lip and several itchy bites on my shoulers, (not only that, but there was a man staying in our room who talked- alot and very loudly- in his sleep. And he walked in his sleep, and he wasnt much more pleasant in real life. Hes gone tonight though.. thankgod,) ahh and breakfast was a riiiip off.. for these reasons, this is easily the worst hostel ever.

Since the last post, we have been to Berlin, Frankfurt (again- long story as to why we returned.. but there was free pasta involved,) and now Brugges. We've met alot of really, really nice people along the way: a soccer player-cop duo from Leeds; a personal trainer ´kiwi couple; a couple Quebecers; and a cool Aussie who has been travelling for 2 and a half years..among others. Most hostels have been great- the Baxpax place in berlin was wicked, but we were stuck with bunks in a thirty bed dorm. Frankfurt Hostel (thats the name,) has free breakfast; cheap beer; and pasta party night on Saturdays- where they play rediculous Gypsie Kings tunes (Bang bang Maria from dels ring a bell ?) and serve penne with tomato sauce and fresh basil.

Right now we are staying at Le (Crap) Passages..which we are sharing with a choir group from england. Very interesting.. 5€ breakfast: rip off; so-called free beer: not-so-free; very little security; and opening a window is a bad idea as the natural light reveals even more flaws; not to mention the place took us at least two hours to find, (of course it was under our noses the whole time).. But still: I have a soft spot. Le Passages has that rare, old-world charm: The product of dust and elegance- like a Grand Old Dame among several young, glittery bleached blondes, who refuses to retire. With steep, creaky wooden staircases, faded oriental rugs, and black-and-white 1920s photographs in the salon, Le Passages represents old-school Belgium.

Tomorrow we will be going to Luxembourg to meet a friend, hopefully. If not- Antwerp. We will know when we get to the station. Apparently its landscape is like a typical fairytale: complete with castles and misty forests.

Here are some pics, (of Switzerland, a bunch of inukshucks sp?* and some other randos ) but nothing from adorable Brugges, I'm afriad.

xo k&l

ps: horto, we have not forgotten about you. In Hungary, it was our good fortune, ( or perhaps misfortune,) that we had a chance to try Polinka.. Im sure you know it. We also saw the town Goolash pot down by the lake, where locals go to party.. Hahah. You would have loved it. And Despite what everyone says, Budapest wasnt exactly our cup of tea.





Frankfurt Hostel