Bruges and Amsterdam

I haven't been able to post in a few days for several reasons. The computers at the hostel in Bruges were too crappy to upload any pictures but good enough that I still didn't want to go to an interney cafe. I've been in Amsterdam for two days now but have been quite ill and so didn't have the energy to do anything.

Bruges

I think Colin Farrell said it best in In Bruges: "If I had grown up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me. But I didn't, so it doesn't."

There were a few bars in Bruges that did not disappoint: 't Brugs Beertje Pub with a relaxed scene and 300 Belgian beers, and Cambrinus with 400. Other than that I regret having stayed for so long. Bruges would be a great place to visit for one day, or maybe two if you're there for the romance, but not for four!

Amazing pork rillettes in Ghent, famous for bread

I spent Thursday in the nearby city of Ghent, which was really where I should have been the whole time. It's a young university town with tons of culture, like a miniature Melbourne or SF (maybe  Bruges is more like Carmel). I was there on the first day of the festival of lights, which caught me by surprise. At 6 one of the many church towers started chiming and smoking and was lit up like it was on fire. The side of one of the other churches had a movie playing on the side of it, which although I couldn't understand looked really cool. At some point while I was there it dropped below freezing where it was stayed pretty much since.

One of 5 enormous churches in a row

Friday was more walking around Bruges, trying to find the little bits of culture that make it fun. I had "the best pancakes in Belgium" (pancakes = crepes), and sat in a 500 year old pub to read. Friday night was the biggest party I've seen yet, with some people from Siberia who tolerance for alcohol put mine to shame.

Amsterdam

A big step up from the shit Hostel in Bruges

Dutch is a hilarious language

Even though I've been here a couple days I don't really have much to report. There is a lot to take in here, with endless streets of bikes and coffee shops and, yes, prostitutes. I did go to the Van Gogh museum which was pretty impressive, although expensive ($20). I think today I'll see Anne Frank's house, but mostly will continue to lay low until I don't feel so crappy. I'm having dinner with Saskia - who taught me how to play Yaneev in Australia - but I hope she doesn't want to have a big night..

Can't take any pictures inside

Obligatory bikes and a canal picture

I was really happy to be staying in an amazing hotel for the last two nights while I've been sick, but today I'm switching to a hostel. Wednesday I leave for Copenhagen!