The cycling culture is unparalleled to any place I've visited both in the States and in Europe (although I'm going to Copenhagen in a few weeks and they're also supposed to have an extensive cycling network). The organization involved in their bike lanes and the ease with which people rode was intimidating and inspiring. I have also lost touch with the art of cycling and was definitely a noticeable tourist. A lot of the time people cycled with a person just sitting side saddle on the bike rack. Or there was the impressive parent/adult cycling with two children sitting in a front loading cargo basket and another child side saddle on the back bike rack. Now that is some serious cycling.
Amsterdam was nothing short of fantastic, beautiful, inspiring- pretty much all the positive words. It truly felt like all the people I met, or even just walked by, were happier than the rest of the world. It was simultaneously baffling and endearing and enchanting enough to make me want to move there for at least a few years. Despite Amsterdam's reputation for being a haven for drugs and prostitution, there was hardly anything distinctly noticeable or seedy. I even got lost for about an hour at night and even though I felt a tad unsafe, no one bothered me and I made it to the hostel unharmed.
The cycling culture is unparalleled to any place I've visited both in the States and in Europe (although I'm going to Copenhagen in a few weeks and they're also supposed to have an extensive cycling network). The organization involved in their bike lanes and the ease with which people rode was intimidating and inspiring. I have also lost touch with the art of cycling and was definitely a noticeable tourist. A lot of the time people cycled with a person just sitting side saddle on the bike rack. Or there was the impressive parent/adult cycling with two children sitting in a front loading cargo basket and another child side saddle on the back bike rack. Now that is some serious cycling.
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I'm currently on the train heading to the airport for a two week stint around Europe. It's both sad and happy. A few weeks ago I wrote about my mixed feelings on leaving the UK and now it's for real real. I can't postpone the reality of packing, cleaning, and the goodbyes.
There's only four weeks left and two of those are being spent on a pretty special trip. I can't complain about that. But as I'm sitting on this train going past the running path and the fields, it's becoming more and more difficult to pretend that there is no end to this grand adventure. I won't be running the river path much longer. Or seeing the endless green fields. Or the sky's with their gorgeous clouds. I won't be lounging or laughing or cooking with the people whom I've bonded with the most. That's going to be the worst and most difficult and is certainly what makes my two week Euro trip such a mix of happy and sad. I've never been so melancholy on the day of a trip, which I know sounds spoiled rotten. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity for not just this Europe trip, but my entire 6 month stay. I'm happy and excited to see Justin and to spend two weeks exploring. But it's also tinged with the knowledge that I'm speeding towards home. Happy and unhappy feelings are fighting it out inside my old noggin. Might have some radio silence while I'm on this trip, but I'll try to update. Your Broad Abroad, Dacy Slide film has been returned to me, so here are the remaining pictures from my trip to Brussels and Bruges. It's quite a pleasure to see my photos in slide format as opposed to negatives.
Just got back from a wonderful trip to Amsterdam. I knew it was going to be beautiful and amazing, but it was beyond any expectations. I took a lot of pictures, so there will be a more extensive post very soon.
But now that I'm back, I get to prepare for all sorts of things including figuring out how to pack my room back up into a suitcase while also packing stuff for a 16 day Europe trip and packing for Glastonbury! It's all starting to happen really fast and soon I really will have to leave. There's a lot of emotions involved in this- sad to leave, happy to see fam and friends, excited to do all the things I've planned before I leave, anxious knowing that doing all these things means it really DOES have to end. Justin comes for a three week visit at the end of May. We'll be traveling for nearly the entire three weeks, which will be my longest trip ever (at least longest that doesn't include staying with someone I know). It'll be a wild trip- 5 countries in 16 days! It'll be exhausting, and tiring, and exciting. Throughout our nearly 6 years together this will be our first real vacation together, which obviously will be a great adventure. It'll also be really nice to have someone to travel with (see: Traveling Alone). Our travels will take us to Barcelona, Syracuse, Budapest, Prague, and Copenhagen. There will be lots of walking and eating and hopefully sunny beach days in Barcelona and Syracuse. Budapest has been on my list of places to see and I'm really excited to experience their bath spas. I don't know much about Prague just yet, but everyone says it's a beautiful place, definitely worth visiting. Copenhagen is supposed to be one of the happiest places in the world and also has a huge cycling culture. Originally we were all booked in hostels, but I'm quickly changing plans to stay in airbnb's. It'll be my first time staying in one, but I've only heard good things and look forward to staying in an actual apartment/studio/flat instead of a hotel/hostel. No pics this time. There will be plenty soon, promise. Your Broad Abroad, Dacy |
DacyLimFrom Long Beach, CA to Canterbury, England and back. Archives
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