Amsterdam

Thursday, March 19, 2009 
So I was picked up by George and her dad at bout 11am... and we headed to the airport.
We arrived in Amsterdam about 3pm and caught the train into the city.
Settled into our hotel and went to check out Dam Square.
By the time we got out of the hotel it was about 6pm so we went for a walk up to the hash museum - which had a massive growing room which could get you high from the fumes!
We then found a grill place for dinner - they were playing music and trying to get us to dance!
Even made us stay for another drink and 20% off our meal!
We then walked to the red light district - had a drink - and wandered around. It wasn't as seedy as i had imagined and most (not all) of the girls were pretty hot!
We headed back to the hotel by 11pm and crashed out for the night.


Friday, March 20, 2009 

So Friday we were up early and out the door by 9am!

We stopped off to get a on the go muffin and coffee then headed to Anne Franks House.
We bet the queues as we had purchased our tickets online!!
We spent about an hour wandering around the place where Anne and her family spent their days hiding from the Nazi's during the war! It was emotional walking through there. Knowing that they actually lived there for that long!!
From there we walked down to the Markets and wandered along to the Heiniken Museum.
Where we spent another couple hours learning how the beer was brewed and watching all the ads from over the years and best of all tasting the beer ! Georgina didnt like it - so i drank hers!
Was good fun - probably my highlight of the trip cos there was so much to see and do in this museum!
Next on the list was lunch and the Amsterdam sign - it was by pure fluke we found the sign but glad we did cos it made for great pics!
We then paid €15 to get into the Van Gogh Museum - which was nothing too special. Im not a big arty person but was still good to go and check it out! Been there .. done that!
Afterwards we went and did a canal cruise which was definatley what we needed by this point - Our feet were killing us. The canal cruise was really nice - was such a good way to see all of the city!
Think the canal took 45 mins but was sure worth it!
We then deicded to go to a coffee shop by dam square - Abraxus - where we shared a joint and had a laugh - and then walked up Dam Rak - laughing our heads off cos we were so high!
We stopped off at the sex museum which was ... um ... interesting but kinda gross!
One place where i didnt take many photos! Just didnt seem right to take pics of photos of people having sex in so many different places and ways!!
We went back to the hotel and got changed and went out for dinner - we didnt go too far jus to a local resturant - about 5 mins from the hotel.. we were still kinda stoned and couldnt be bothered going too far! We were the only customers in the restuarant, but that didnt matter we had the muchies so ate our dinner pretty quickly!!
The day was exhuasting! The weather was great!! Sunny but the wind was cold!






Saturday, March 21, 2009
So today we got up early again and caught the train out to the little village of Zaan Schan in the neighbourhood town of ZaandaamIn the village was the clog making factory and cheese making factory as well as all the windmills!
Was a really strange little village kind of creepy cos it was so quiet but was interesting to see all the windmills etc.
There was a random duck or goose thing when we went to walk into one of the house thingys and every time we tried to side step it, the bloody thing would move in front of us!
We spent all of the morning out there - then caught a train back into Amsterdam
We headed to the pancake bakery to have giant pancakes for lunch!
Was yummy! George had a sweet one - choc sauce and ice cream and i had a savoury one - cheese and ham! Mmmmmm
We then decided it would be a good idea to go and have a space brownie for desert - at homegrown - a little coffee shop down the road from our hotel.
We had way too much weed and got way to stoned and ended up laughing then going back to the hotel to trip out and sleep.
We woke up bout 10pm and i went for a walk to get some food. Waffles and lemonade!

 

  

Sunday, March 22, 2009
So today we had a sleep in - after some very strange dreams!!
We packed up and head out.
we caught the tram down to Vondel Park then George decided we should try walking somewhere without the map and follow our instincs so i let her lead the way - and we almost got lost! haha.
We went and had some food then went back up to dam square
And went to Madame Tussads - which was awesome - the wax figures looked  so incredibley real!!
We spent ages in there and took loads of pictures!!
I think George Clooney looked the most real!
We then went and browsed through the big mall - Bijenkorft - it was like the harrods of Amsterdam - all the expensive stuff - Gucci, Dior etc! I wish!!
We wandered around Dam Square - there were so many people out and about today - the busiest day I think!
We did some tourist shopping and i bought the girls some hash pops and other bits and pieces!
Then went and had a drink in the hotel bar which was super expensive!
Then headed back slowly to the airport!
Was a rather quiet day - but it was good just to chill out and take it slow for the last day!
Think I got home about 12 midnight!

Athens

Thursday, February 26, 2009 
Thursday 26th of Feb.
This afternoon Kelly, Vaughan Josh and I flew to Athens. Josh didnt sleep all day so that made for an interesting 3 hour flight.
We stayed in an apartment a short walk to the main shopping area of Athens.
The thing that suprised me about Athens, was
1. the taxi drivers who were absolutley mental and drove so fast all the time.Then they would slam on the brakes to stop!
2. How dirty the city was. there were stray dogs everywhere, rubbish and general dirt!
3. Parking - the cars would park next to each other in the street and block each other in. and only 1 car could fit down a road (which should fit 2 cars!)












The Acropolis CLOSED cos of strikes!!




Friday, February 27, 2009 
Today we went out for breakfast just to a local cafe, was strange smoking in doors, kinda gross too!!
We caught a taxi to the Acropolis only to discover that it was closed due to a protest. So instead we went to the Agora which was the ancient Greek market place. Walking around it was easy to imagine how it once was. We also went into the museum and checked out the artefacts
  Later we went and had a platter lunch and walked around the Old Plaka district and walked past the Roman Forum and Tower of Winds also where I bought a fake Prada handbag for €15.
Was funny to bargain with the african guys who sell all that stuff cos as soon as they see the police coming they will sell it and run!
We walked back to the apartment stopping at the temple of Zeus and the Kallimarmaro (Olympic) Stadium.
For dinner we went local and walked down to one of the restaurants near our apartment 




(Temple of Zeus)

(Map reading  "how do we get back)

(olympic Stadium) 




















Saturday, February 28, 2009 
So this morning we got up and went to the same little place for breakfast coffee!
Our apartment was quite noisy and they cleared the bins every morning at about 4.30am so none of us got much sleep!
We went into the centre of Modern Athens and watched the changing of the guards. Then we went and walked around the shops until the boys got bored - so we went and got some lunch then walked through the big markets -the fish ones were smelly!! And Vaughan reminded me to watch my bag!!
We then headed towards Lykavittos Hill - where we walked up hills and stairs and then reached the gondola which took us the rest of the way up! Had an awesome view from the top and there was a cute little (old) church at the top. Was definately tiring and hard work!! Thank god we took the Gondola i dont think i could have walked all that way - Josh had it easy - he slept the whole time!!
Saturday night we went out into Plaka area for dinner. We shared a variety of stuff and then tried shots of ouzo! Which were disgusting - the shots were about twice the size of normal shots and were so hard to drink. I think Vaughan was the only one who finished his!

We also went for a walk and took photos of the Acropolis at night - was such a beautiful site at night! Took us a while to find the perfect place for the shot. At least it wasnt cold.
The weather was really nice today too - think it got up to 16'

Sunday, March 1, 2009
So today we went BACK to the Acropolis and it was open!! YAY! We spent the morning there checking out all the ancient Greek monuments. Seen the Temple of Athena (the goddess of victory)
The Parthenon which is probably the most recognisable monument out of all of them, also went and seen the 2 theatres which held festivals, competitions etc.
Its crazy to think that many of the buildings were built 6th millennium BC!
Sunday afternoon we walked through the national gardens then caught a train down to the coastal harbour of Piraeus. Where we went for a walk along the waterfront and seen all the different cafes and restaurants where on one side of the street there was the kitchen and bar area then on the water front the actual seating area was. Very different!
Sunday evening we walked and got a little lost but we eventually found the restaurant we had walked past on the way home. we had to ask the police for directions!