[absinthe makes the heart grow fonder: every which way but here]

Our first travel break was insane to say the least.

Here's what happened.

Netherlands >> Paris

After a wonderful 8 hours bus ride which actually went pretty fast and somewhat made me miss home (we drove through a very Jersey rest area), we made it to Paris. I don't remember the order of when stuff happened, but we visited the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and a few other museums. It was a pretty good time except that we didn't get to do a lot during the day because the school was dragging us around from when we woke up until about 6 pm. We also saw Linden!! Yay! Sunday the school cut us loose so we could start our week off, so me and Ashley went to the train station to book tickets for Bordeaux. Well, no trains leave from that station for Bordeaux, EVER and the one that was leaving from another station was already totally booked. So we called Linden and we got a homecooked meal and a place to stay for the night. The next morning we woke up around 5 and made it to our 6:15 am train to Bordeaux.

Paris >> Bordeaux

We made it to Bordeaux and took a taxi from the station to our hostel. When we got to our hostel, they told us they rebooked our rooms because we were late getting there. So, yet again, we were without a place to stay for the night. We walked around and finally found a hotel and it was cheaper than what we had booked so we stayed there for a night. Bordeaux was a wonderfully relaxing venture because we walked around, ate, and relaxed. And Bordeaux has some fantastic shopping. Two hours in H&M? Psh.

Bordeaux >> Barcelona

So we boarded our train to Barcelona around 5 pm, after which we'd have to switch trains and take our overnight one to Barcelona. So we're on our way to a station called Irun when the train stops and police come on, scream in some other language, and kick everyone off. The train was filled with people who's first and pretty much only language was English. So we followed everyone to a small tram and got on, taking it to a stop called Irun...something. So we got off and walked up the stairs only to find ourselves in the middle of a city. Everyone was confused, so we again followed the crowd around the corner and down a street. Luckily, Irun station was the destiantion of everyone.

We get to the station and ask where our train is, only to be directed to track 3. There upon lies two little train cars and an engine. Flabberghasted, me and Ashley go to the information desk and ask again, only to be told once more track 3. We get on and instead of beds we're shown to a small cabin with 3 chairs on each side. Thankfully no one else came into our cabin so we were able to stretch across the three chairs all night.

When we got to Barcelona, we went to our hostel, which had little to no hot water and a cockroach infestation. HOT. But the hostel was awesome and we met three girls who go to school in Philly, but who were studying abroad in London. They also had a week off. Our time in Barcelona was awesome.

Barcelona >> Cerberes

So after fun times for a few days in Barcelona, we headed home, but we had to transfer trains a few times. The first stop was a place in France called Cerberes or something like that and all was well and good until I looked in the bathroom. There were urinals, sure, but no toilets. Oh no. Instead there were tile basins and a hole in the floor. That's some quality bathroomage.

Cerberes >> Paris

Eventally we got on our overnight train in which we had beds (yes!), but a man who's snore was offensive to the human race slept under me. It even penetrated the ear plugs I had in. Not much sleep was had that night.

Paris >> Amsterdam

By now we'd been on trains for a while and we had a three hour trip to Amsterdam. That was a blast.

Amsterdam >> Nijmegen

Two hours from Amsterdam to Nijmegen. Met up with Duy and Betsy.

Nijmegen >> Well

A little over an hour and we were back in Well.

Well Bus Stop >> Kasteel Well

Longest walk when one is tired.

So yeah. Great week.

Holler.
xoxo