Back on Home Soil!

Alright so I know its sooner than I said but I'm home. Still went to all the places (crazy i know) but I wouldn't change my trip for the world! Some places I will most certainly return to in the future and many people I will never forget! It was definitely an eye opener for me and an incredible experience and all I want to do now is keep going! (But I ran out of money :P) so for now it's back to work for a bit, just to feed my travels fund now! lol Don't know where I will go next, but I've been invited to Scotland, Estonia, Poland, each side of Australia and would love to go to South East Asia and South America! So many places to go, lots of time! Hail to being 20 years old!

Italy was an interesting country. Never got the same kind of attitude twice. In Milan people were quite snobbish and rude. I got glared at for wearing a tank top and it seemed that the Canadian guy and I were crazy for wearing such tank tops and t-shirts when it was 22 degrees....crazy right?! In Rome I was greeted with a friendly and hot atmosphere. This is where I spent my birthday and was even treated to dinner by 3 lovely ladies who were staying in the same hostel as me. Made the day perfect :) Venice was different. I can honestly say that I didn't like it all that much. Way too many people for my liking on a floating city. ;) But it was a cool destination, with very large calzones. :)

I have to say that Austria was one of the most beautiful countries I saw while in Europe. From the farms and castles/fortresses in the countryside to the incredible and beautiful architecture in the heart of Vienna. Austria was definitely #1! Would love to go back there!

Prague was a very interesting city. Never knew so many movies were filmed there!! (Including Triple X with Vin Diesel ;) Hot I know) Prague is also the home of Europe's cheapest and best beer! This includes a Monastery where the Monks make their own beer!

Berlin was very cool. Literally too, I'm bummed that it rained the entire time I was there, but what can you do right? I did very much enjoy this city and it's unbelievable how much the city has bounced back these last 20 years (since the wall fell). The city is buzzing with life and construction. Although there are some remnants of older buildings, including the Reichstag, most of what was Berlin before the Cold War is gone, and a new Berlin is emerging. I can't wait to return here and see how far they will have progressed. This city, and country are also very pertinent about keeping Neo-Nazism down. They have strict laws and rightfully so. They are moving forward from an age of disaster and terror, all the while never forgetting and at the same time always remembering.

Just an update.

Hey everyone! Just thought I'd let you know that I'm safe and still having fun! These countries are beautiful! Especially the one I'm in right now. Really reminds me of Canada! (that's right, still not gonna tell you where I am hehe) but I must say that I am exhausted of both museums and churches! Can't believe there are so so many! And how many people there are here compared to our country. Immensely packed. Even the countrysides have niches of people around every mountain/hill. The trains between destinations are cool too. You get to see a lot of the landscape and meet people. Only downfall is the time and the tunnels. But anyways thought I'd give you an update while waiting for sleep to take me this fine warm evening! Good day to you all!

Guessing games

Alright everyone! For this next leg of my trip I will no longer give blog updates! I know, it's sad. But what I will be doing is posting a picture on Facebook every now and then and you will have to guess where I am! So my next blog update will come around may 9. Happy guessing everyone! I'm starting here in Nice btw. The beautiful mediterranean :) good luck.

D-Day, William the Conqueror and a Little Train.

Well its been a few days so i should let you all know where i am. Which is Rennes, a little town in Brittany. But the last few days have been amazing! i travelled to the town of Caen which is very close to and one of the towns liberated by Canadian forces on June 6, 1944. It was also home to William the Conqueror in 1066 and his castle/home still remains in the heart of the town! yesterday i visited Corseilles-Sur-Mer, or you may better know it as Juno Beach. They have an entire centre there dedicated to D-Day and memorial of the Canadians who fought to free it. The centre is amazing and they even teach you about Canada! They even sell Maple syrup there. lol. There is a shrine on the beach where the Canadian flag flies proudly (i do have a picture, i just can't upload it right now). After this amazing visit I went back to Caen where I took a "Little Train" tour which showed you the major sites, abbeys and castles of William the Conqueror. These are very big and very beautiful. One of the abbeys, called Abbey-Des-Hommes, is now town hall, and what a wonderfully majestic place that is! I very much enjoyed this town and was sad to leave it, but I will definitely return here one day! Now, i sit with a gracious and lovely host by the name of Marrianick here in Rennes. I will be here till Sunday then will move on to Amboise for the night and then to Nice!!! I have lots of travels ahead, and i am ahead of schedule (if you keep an eye on that calender of mine) but all is well. Much to do, love and miss you all! A Bientot!! :)

Paris.

Well. Paris. It is gorgeous here. I can't even put it into words. From the opera to the Louvre to sacre couer and notre dame, just beautiful. This city is also diverse and has some of the most fashionable kids I've ever seen! Designer jeans on a 2 year old; not lying. The weather has been mostly nice....could definitely be a lot better! Another thing that seems to be cool in this city is smoking. It is everywhere! I can't escape it. And parents will smoke beside their children and what not. And the way the food is here! How is it that people in France are far healthier than north Americans?! They must have some ancient secret of keeping healthy. Anywho thought I'd give you a little taste if this city. I will write more after I leave :) ciao for now!

Belgian beer and the like.

My first night in brussels was great! Met some really cool people and went put and got drunk on Belgian beer! After having a Belgian waffle of course! Saw quite a lot yesterday as well. Walked everywhere! Saw the royal palace, european union parliament, mannekin pis and a lot of other cool buildings and parks. So today I have travelled to Paris! Was quite disoriented by all the people and not knowing where I was goin to stay! But thankfully I found a place and tomorrow I will start exploring! Eiffel tower anyone?

Anne Frank house and the Red Light District

Today I endured an hour long line up for what has become one of the best experiences of my life. The Anne Frank house. While in line, I began to get annoyed with the cold and the waiting. But the moment I walked through the doors and into the annex where Anne and 7 other people spent nearly 3 years in, that anger quickly changed. I fear that many people who were there today felt as emotional as I did. That they didn't understand the gravity of the situation these people lived in. To see the space, to see the walls, the blacked out windows; to read her words off of the original pages, was just incredible. I had to choke back tears as I thought of Anne sitting in her room, writing about her hopes and fears. I felt connected to her as I read her words. She was a beautiful shimmering light in her dark scary world.

Yes, there are ladies in the windows! Although I didn't see many, they were there. Taunting and eyeing every man that walked by. And I've never seen so many sex shops in a row in my life. I thought of counting them, but I think that that would just be unnecessary. :p just the items they had on display in the windows are taboo in most countries. I could tell you more but I'll leave that one to your imagination.

So today was good for what I saw. It was the weather that has me down right now. You know I left Vancouver Island to get away from the rain, but it followed me here! 4 hours in the rain= wet and cold Aleida. I've been in dry clothes and in bed for over 30 mins and still feel chilled to the bone. Somebody get me a coffee! :(

Well that's all for now folks! Stick around to here of Belgium in a few days time!