Greetings!
I apologize for the hiatus. Then again, I am no Julie Powell from Julie and Julia and I am sure I have approximately 6 readers. Regardless, I actually miss writing as it is quite therapeutic. Hopefully, you are equally entertained!
I was fortunate to be able to go on a 4 day journey to Belgium (Brussels and Bruges) and the Netherlands (Amsterdam)! This was a great way to see SO much in so little time; however, it was also kind of a tease. We spent only a few hours in Brussels and Bruges, and they were both BEAUTIFUL cities. The facades in the squares had gorgeous architecture with rich hues of maroon and emerald. We dedicated our time to eating Belgium waffles and drinking refreshing fruit "bier"! I made a HUMONGOUS sacrifice: I decided to skip the rich cream, ruby strawberries, and drizzled Belgium dark chocolate so that I could get the real taste of the caramelized waffle. It was worth it! I am usually not a beer person, especially after my friend equated a beer to a sandwich (calorie-wise). Prior to this comparison, I simply did not like the bitter taste. This peach beer was so fruity that it masked the bitterness. A Belgium visit would not be complete without some croquettes. FYI: If you go to Belgium anytime soon, keep in mind that shrimp is more expensive than lobster at the moment. I will keep that in mind (now that I've left!). I couldn't resist an oozing croquette filled with baby crevettes. Before leaving, our tour guide told us to rub a statue of a lady lying down. Obediently, we rubbed the famous figure. He then informed us that we would get pregnant within the next year. Fabulous.
Amsterdam, oh Amsterdam. What a sight. I apologize for my blunt delivery...I felt like I was in the land of the hedonists. I don't mean to disrespect the people who live there and proudly call it home. It is rich in history and culture and I would never downplay that. Yet, coming from such a conservative background and growing up in a Catholic grammar school and high school, it is difficult to adjust to such a lax environment. I must commend Amsterdam for it's audacity and spirit. AND the people there were extremely kind and warm! I can definitely say it was a city to remember! In regards to the architecture, it was a little mismatched...but the juxtaposition gave the sin city much charm. It was comical when I was in search of a church (preferably English-speaking) on Easter morning. I had to go through the Red Light District to find one. Does the end justify the means? :) I had the opportunity to see the NEMO Science and Innovation Museum. I am SO happy that I went....it was certainly a day of exploration and discovery! The best thing about the museum is it catered to all ages (although it was mainly geared for children). This place brought back memories of the Franklin Institute in Philly, which I have yet to revisit since the Girl Scout sleepover (circa 2001)! I found out what I will look like when I am a senior citizen (I am pretty sure my hubby will ditch me for some young gal when I'm 85)....because I don't look good in the future! I also found out how many molecules I consist of and how many genes I have. I powered an elevator solely with the strength of my muscles! I also saw Siamese monkeys conjoined, a deer fetus, and a human fetus from 3 months to 9 months. I was content by the end of the day, as I FOUND NEMO! Due to the long lines and the diminishing amount of muh-lah in my pockets, I had to miss out on Anne Frank, the Heineken museum, the Van Gogh museum, and Keukenhof (fields and fields of flowers!). Thankfully, I did not miss out on the (included) day trip to Zaanse Schaan, which is a windmill village in Holland. I got so nostalgic because it reminded me of a puzzle from my childhood, with the beautiful greenery, picture-perfect windmills, and bright yellow flowers!
Food-wise, Amsterdam offers a plethora of international cuisine. We decided to have Argentine steak...great choice! I absolutely relished my rib-eye with Chimichurri sauce! I couldn't help but think of my father, who is the KING of steak. No one can make a meaner steak than he. I would have to edit this post if my daddy found out I revealed his secret ingredients, but I will give you a hint: Guyuanan and British blend...with some fish sauce. I digress; what I meant to say is that I asked the waiter for some sour cream and tabasco in memory of my dad. HEAVEN ON EARTH. Amsterdam is most notably known for its Indonesian food. Indian food is to England as Indonesian food is to Amsterdam. I am sad to say that I never got the chance to taste that cuisine. I guess that I will have to trek back to the 'Dam...NOT on a Easter Sunday, though! The last night I ate "poffertjes," which are literally mini Dutch pancakes with real Dutch butter and powdered sugar. YUMMY IN MY TUMMY.
Just to add in, throughout the journey, I quickly became notorious for SNORING the loudest. Thanks, tonsils and adenoids (or lack thereof)! You con artists did nothing for me! Our last stop was Bruges...which was less tourist-y than Brussels. Bruges became more significant after seeing In Bruges, with Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes (I met him in the NYC's Meatpacking District!)....this was on the bus ride BACK from Bruges, unfortunately.
As this is quite the lengthy post....I will discuss the Royal Wedding at a later time! Off to Barcelona tomorrow for Spring Break! ("we we we so excited"- Rebecca Black)
Congrats, Mr. and Mrs. Windsor! I wish you all the happiness in the world!
I apologize for the hiatus. Then again, I am no Julie Powell from Julie and Julia and I am sure I have approximately 6 readers. Regardless, I actually miss writing as it is quite therapeutic. Hopefully, you are equally entertained!
I was fortunate to be able to go on a 4 day journey to Belgium (Brussels and Bruges) and the Netherlands (Amsterdam)! This was a great way to see SO much in so little time; however, it was also kind of a tease. We spent only a few hours in Brussels and Bruges, and they were both BEAUTIFUL cities. The facades in the squares had gorgeous architecture with rich hues of maroon and emerald. We dedicated our time to eating Belgium waffles and drinking refreshing fruit "bier"! I made a HUMONGOUS sacrifice: I decided to skip the rich cream, ruby strawberries, and drizzled Belgium dark chocolate so that I could get the real taste of the caramelized waffle. It was worth it! I am usually not a beer person, especially after my friend equated a beer to a sandwich (calorie-wise). Prior to this comparison, I simply did not like the bitter taste. This peach beer was so fruity that it masked the bitterness. A Belgium visit would not be complete without some croquettes. FYI: If you go to Belgium anytime soon, keep in mind that shrimp is more expensive than lobster at the moment. I will keep that in mind (now that I've left!). I couldn't resist an oozing croquette filled with baby crevettes. Before leaving, our tour guide told us to rub a statue of a lady lying down. Obediently, we rubbed the famous figure. He then informed us that we would get pregnant within the next year. Fabulous.
Amsterdam, oh Amsterdam. What a sight. I apologize for my blunt delivery...I felt like I was in the land of the hedonists. I don't mean to disrespect the people who live there and proudly call it home. It is rich in history and culture and I would never downplay that. Yet, coming from such a conservative background and growing up in a Catholic grammar school and high school, it is difficult to adjust to such a lax environment. I must commend Amsterdam for it's audacity and spirit. AND the people there were extremely kind and warm! I can definitely say it was a city to remember! In regards to the architecture, it was a little mismatched...but the juxtaposition gave the sin city much charm. It was comical when I was in search of a church (preferably English-speaking) on Easter morning. I had to go through the Red Light District to find one. Does the end justify the means? :) I had the opportunity to see the NEMO Science and Innovation Museum. I am SO happy that I went....it was certainly a day of exploration and discovery! The best thing about the museum is it catered to all ages (although it was mainly geared for children). This place brought back memories of the Franklin Institute in Philly, which I have yet to revisit since the Girl Scout sleepover (circa 2001)! I found out what I will look like when I am a senior citizen (I am pretty sure my hubby will ditch me for some young gal when I'm 85)....because I don't look good in the future! I also found out how many molecules I consist of and how many genes I have. I powered an elevator solely with the strength of my muscles! I also saw Siamese monkeys conjoined, a deer fetus, and a human fetus from 3 months to 9 months. I was content by the end of the day, as I FOUND NEMO! Due to the long lines and the diminishing amount of muh-lah in my pockets, I had to miss out on Anne Frank, the Heineken museum, the Van Gogh museum, and Keukenhof (fields and fields of flowers!). Thankfully, I did not miss out on the (included) day trip to Zaanse Schaan, which is a windmill village in Holland. I got so nostalgic because it reminded me of a puzzle from my childhood, with the beautiful greenery, picture-perfect windmills, and bright yellow flowers!
Food-wise, Amsterdam offers a plethora of international cuisine. We decided to have Argentine steak...great choice! I absolutely relished my rib-eye with Chimichurri sauce! I couldn't help but think of my father, who is the KING of steak. No one can make a meaner steak than he. I would have to edit this post if my daddy found out I revealed his secret ingredients, but I will give you a hint: Guyuanan and British blend...with some fish sauce. I digress; what I meant to say is that I asked the waiter for some sour cream and tabasco in memory of my dad. HEAVEN ON EARTH. Amsterdam is most notably known for its Indonesian food. Indian food is to England as Indonesian food is to Amsterdam. I am sad to say that I never got the chance to taste that cuisine. I guess that I will have to trek back to the 'Dam...NOT on a Easter Sunday, though! The last night I ate "poffertjes," which are literally mini Dutch pancakes with real Dutch butter and powdered sugar. YUMMY IN MY TUMMY.
Just to add in, throughout the journey, I quickly became notorious for SNORING the loudest. Thanks, tonsils and adenoids (or lack thereof)! You con artists did nothing for me! Our last stop was Bruges...which was less tourist-y than Brussels. Bruges became more significant after seeing In Bruges, with Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes (I met him in the NYC's Meatpacking District!)....this was on the bus ride BACK from Bruges, unfortunately.
As this is quite the lengthy post....I will discuss the Royal Wedding at a later time! Off to Barcelona tomorrow for Spring Break! ("we we we so excited"- Rebecca Black)
Congrats, Mr. and Mrs. Windsor! I wish you all the happiness in the world!
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