haydenandtrish

[haydenandtrish]

Welcome to Paris, the grandest city in the world.

Remember everything that you have ever heard, now forget it all. Because the city we are about to tell you about is far greater than you will ever expect and more incredible than what anyone can ever describe. It has history. It has monument after monument. It has beauty and detail. It is the city of love. It is the city of lights. It is Paris.

Yes, it can be dirty, but it’s not from neglect. Yes, it’s a city proud to be French and yes, some may hate this, but a Parisians arrogance comes from a place of deep love and pride for their heritage. However, If you try, they will too.

All I can recommend for you to do is to allow yourself to get lost with an open mind and an appreciation for all things. We did. And what we discovered was incredible. Here, let us show you.

Montmartre

For accommodation, we stayed at the Le Mont Clair, a hostel in the 18th Arrondissement of Paris. This area is also known as the village of Montmartre, made famous by artists such and Vincent Van Gogh and Picasso, who both called it home at one point in time. Originally it was farmland for the peasants who were kicked out of the newly renovated Paris in the 1870’s - after a 17-year facelift. The redesign was commissioned by the then Emporer Napoleon III who declared Paris to be too small, too dirty, too overcrowded and too smelly. An already accomplished man of his time by the name of Barron Haussman was who the emperor tasked with the mammoth job. I will not get into the controversy that still surrounds the decision to completely change the city, but in my opinion, it was a necessary decision that helped stop the spread of diseases and added a new level of elegance that we now get to admire. An addition that set this renovation apart was the sewer system that was put in place then and is still used to this day. For a more in-depth description read here, it’s incredibly interesting how it all works.

The (not so) funny thing is, the people who were banished were the bodies who did the physical labour that transformed the city. Unfortunately, with over 20,000 buildings torn down, roads widened and a completely new sewage system put in place, there was no room left for them. So the rich stayed put and the poor were exiled to the lands just outside the main area. However, the city continued to grow and the space became a necessary area for more housing during an era where exponential growth was experienced. Now it is a beautiful addition on the outer skirts of Paris with much to see and do.

We explored Montmartre during our second day. what captivates us about this area - and all of Paris really - is that every single street is so innately beautiful with their detailed stone buildings and wrought iron balconies. Look up, you will not be disappointed.

I was also surprised at how up and down the cobblestone terrain was – so be prepared for that. From our hostel we walked directly up to a cafe called La Maison Rose - a walk filled with fantastic views along the way. We continued down some of the prettiest streets we had ever seen, all pink, green and white with vines covering the houses.

It seemed only fitting to stop into one of the many cafes and try the local cuisine in this eclectic part of town. We were seated and served and all we ordered was 6 garlic snails, a plate of fries, a beer and champagne. Like I’ve said before, we’re backpacking… so money mindfulness is necessary, but we still want to experience things. The verdict? To me they tasted like a garlicky oyster, Hayden agreed and says “I would only eat an oyster Kilpatrick and I would only eat a snail with garlic butter”. Fair enough.

We walked past many art galleries, and one artist we want to mention is Andre Martins De Barros. If we were not travelling for so long, I am positive we would have bought something. Being unable to take pictures of the artwork directly, we elected to take one of the artist’s website. So please feel free to check it out if you have the time, or better yet, if you are in the area visit the gallery. Here are two websites to check out his art: https://www.artmajeur.com/amartinsdebarros

http://amdbartiste.free.fr/  

Our walk led us to the Sacre – Coeur Basilica, a beautiful sanctuary sitting atop the hillock of Montmartre. We walked the 222 steps to the bottom and unfortunately, we didn’t escape unscathed. Hayden was haggled into spending 3 Euro on some cotton bracelet. Admittedly, it was pretty cool because the man used three pieces of string and made the bracelet right then and there. But the hagglers are a little full on and it was a waste of money – he’s still wearing it though.

The bottom of the steps led to a number of little side streets full of restaurants, shops and chocolate stores. We got a bargain on a Lindt chocolate bunny as it was just after Easter. We would highly recommend exploring this area, it’s simply a nice little touristy part of town.

Later that night we ventured out of the Montmartre area and visited the Eiffel Tower. The experience was so special to me, I want to leave that story for another time. All I will say here is every part of it was incredible and so worth my lifetime wait.

The Moulin Rouge is also located in this area. We will not give any spoilers away, instead, here’s the website, splurge on an activity and get prepared for the most tasteful, artistic, dreamy burlesque show you will ever see. I mean, you can’t really be surprised, it is the birthplace of burlesque after all. There are cheaper options around and although I haven’t seen them for myself, I cannot imagine them living up to the extravagance that is Moulin Rouge. We cannot recommend it enough.

There are so many things to see on this side of town so if you are up for it then most definitely make the hike to the 18th ARR, either on your own or with a tour guide. The tour company we went with during our last day also does one of the Montmartre area and if it’s anything like the one we experienced, I’m sure it will be worth the Euros. I will leave their details further down. For now, we’ll continue on to another area.

Champs Elysees

We were told by a lovely fellow traveller that on the 1stSunday of every month theChamps Elysees avenue is open only to pedestrians. Luckily enough, it happened to fall on the Sunday we were in town. Just like that, our plans were sorted. We headed off in the general direction of that avenue, with stops along the way of course.

The avenue its self is beautiful. Wide sidewalks path the way for a window shoppers dream. Glass lines the buildings, gold adorns the entrances and bellmen are ready to greet you at the front.

If you can ball then Avenue Montaigne may be the place for you. Every designer shop is somewhere down there. But just walking down it and appreciating the wealth was enough for us.

A few monuments we came across included: Palais Garnier (Le’Opera House) Just go see it, it is such an incredible building. And if you get to see a show there, I’m already jealous.

Arc de Triumph An arc that was commissioned at the beginning of the 1800’s and completed in 1836 is dedicated to the celebrations of Napoleon I great army. After each victory they would march into the city and straight under the arc, all the way to the kings palace (which is now the Louvre).

Luxor Obelisk An ancient Egyptian obelisk that is placed in the centre of Place de la Concorde - one of the most famous traffic circles in the world. The triangular shaped needle is said to date back 3,300 years and is one of the oldest monuments within Paris. 

We will note that on this day the main destination we had in the back of our minds was the Pantheon. Unfortunately, we never did make it there during our stay, we just kept getting sidetracked. The furthest we got was the Louvre, but I’ll address that further down because we visited it again during our tour. I cannot stress enough how huge Paris is and how much there is to see and learn about. There is so much much I know we still need to see, and I am positive Paris is a city we will always come and visit, so we have time to explore more in the future. For now, we will leave you with our last day. 

Sandeman’s New Europe: Free walking tour (tip based).

Here we are, our last day in Paris. We woke up, packed our bags and checked out. We left the big backpacks in storage at the hostel and set off for one last exploration. We were finally able to do our free walking tour and before we go any further please do this on the first day. You learn so much about the city - the best spots to see, the cheapest places to eat, you glimpse some of the best monuments to visit and if you are lucky, you’ll have a guide as incredible as ours.

His name was Dawie and I could sing his praises all day. He was the funniest, most informative tour guide I have ever come across and because of him, we have so much new knowledge about the history of Paris, from its small tribe beginnings to the grand city it is now, from the different monarchs to the different monuments. For three hours he kept us engaged and wanting more. He held little back while speaking about gruesome topics and painted an incredible picture in our minds of what Paris and it’s people have been through. A few things I cannot go without mentioning, please, do your research before proposing to your beloved at the Eiffel tower, if you know the history of its surrounding land then it isn’t the most romantic spot in the city. The lock bridge is no longer there, and it was only ever made famous from sex and the city. Just trust that you and your love will be together forever – a lock isn’t a necessity. It’s still the city of pickpockets so never let your guard down.

Now, where were we?

Ahhh the tour. We were able to see monuments such as the Notre Dame, the first pedestrian bridge ever built in the city, the original jail and courthouse plus so much more - all with a vivid description from our amazing guide. Finally, we finished at the Louvre.

Let me just say, it is not just a glass pyramid if that's what you are thinking. No, the Louvre is an art museum that has lived many different lives. It was first created to be a fortress for war in 1190. It was then reconstructed in the 16th century and became the Royal Palace. This explains its grand beauty. Each monarch believed that they were far greater than the last and could do everything better, so they would add their own touch. If you don’t know anything yourself, do a tour and have someone point out the distinguishing differences of each monarch, it’s awesome to see that every single detail has a back story. It was only made into an art museum in 1793 (18th century) with only 537 pieces of art. Now, centuries on, there are over 330, 000 pieces. If you want to see them all, all you have to do is visit the museum every single day for 100 days and view each piece for 30 seconds. Too easy.

Outside is just as beautiful. Of course, you are instantly drawn to the huge glass pyramid in the middle of the square. It’s one over the top front door that’s for sure. But like our tour guide told us, just get that damn tourist picture! Don’t snidely look at others who look ridiculous in person trying to get that famous tourist shot and not get amongst it yourself. You will look back in your Paris photo album and notice that photo of you pinching the top of the pyramid in the Louvre is missing. And you’ll be sorry for it. I am so glad we did ours, I laugh every time I look at it because it’s a classic, and it could be one of my personal favs in our collection.

So, my advice to you (in the Louvre and in life) is this, don’t stand on the outside feeling too cool to do it but secretly wishing you were. Maybe Nike’s on to something because…JUST DO IT. Get in there, get that photo, talk to that stranger, dance in that circle, smile at that person making eye contact with you. Stop shouldering life away because you’ll find yourself watching others living theirs instead of being immersed in your own. You hear it all the time but until you lower your ego and let yourself be free, are you truly experiencing everything that comes your way? I was once that person who stood on the sidelines and judged, now this is my mantra every day and I’m so happy because of it. I have that photo, I danced in that circle, I made friends with that stranger and I’m living my best damn life every single day.

Anyway, inspirational rant over.

Here’s our tip for taking the perfect illusion shot: Hold your arm straight and at an angle. Move the camera, not your arm! Life will be a whole lot easier. You’re welcome.

After you get your picture, wander through the incredible Tuileries Gardens (located in between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde). It seems like the perfect park to enjoy a bottle of seasonal wine, cheese and a baguette. Walk through the hedge mazes, admire the countless statues, see the artists painting their own vision. It is all so breathtaking.

So go visit and fall in love, with the city, with its monuments, with its history and with its art. If it’s a once in a lifetime trip then give yourself a week. Otherwise, be sure to revisit it. We will, maybe we’ll even see you there one day.

The rest of our day will be in our next blog, where we tell you about our first ever overnight journey… or should we say first two? So, for now, this is goodbye.

Always with love,  Trish.

[haydenandtrish]

A tour of Brussels

From historic to hipster. Timeless beauty to rundown surroundings. Nestled within a country that was once a battlefield for World Wars, revolutions and rebellions – it has seen its fair share of bloodshed and misery. The French, Dutch, German, Austrians and British have all staked their claim to the lands at one point in time. They have rebuilt their city from the ruins of war and have created their own culture within Europe. Now an independent multicultural city flourishing with pride for their craftsmanship, food, craft beers, art galleries and more. Welcome to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the unofficial capital of the European Union, we can’t wait to show you around. 

All right, let's go. We begin in Koekelberg, north of Brussels. The outskirts of the city are more residential – just like anywhere. It is far cheaper to stay here and we were able to gain a greater appreciation and understanding for the city by being immersed in a more authentic area where few spoke English and fewer tourists were in sight. The area was more run down than the city, the cleanliness was subpar but renovations were happening down streets and we got a bargain breakfast of pastries for only 2 Euros, we can’t complain.

Anyway, back on track. Getting around. Our choice of transport in this city was the Metro. The stations are denoted on street level by a sign with a white M on a blue background. One thing to mention is that the Metro system in every city is exceptional – so far. Our Guide to the tram system. Admittedly it’s a little confusing at first, but the routes are displayed in straight coloured lines with dot points indicating each stop. So, as long as you know the destination you want, don’t freak out, take your time and read the lines until you see your stop. Which platform to be on is easy too because they will put one sign at two separate entrances and your particular stop will only be on one of them.  A little tip: Google Maps is a literal lifesaver. It tells you step by step where to go and it will list your suggested stops. 

All tickets purchased are valid for all public transport within Brussels including the tram, local city buses and Metro.

Ticket Price:

A single fare ticket is 2.10 Euros and valid for one hour from activation.

A full day is 7.50 Euros. Be careful with this one though as it is literally one day, it stops at midnight on the day of purchase.

If you are in town for a few days then a travel card may be of more interest to you. It is 5 Euros to purchase but you can top it up as needed. You can buy these form most Metro stations and you save up to 1 Euro per trip.

If you haven’t guessed already, Hayden and I elect to walk nearly everywhere we can. Yes, because it’s free, but also because this environment is completely new to us and we want to see every little bit. Walking gives us the freedom to make our own route, to stop where ever we want and admire every nook and cranny – and its Europe, so there’s many of those. Brussels is also a smaller city so the monuments, museums and galleries are all quite close to one another. 

Food. A perk of staying outside of the main city is that it is cheaper than central. Le Familial is where we got our cheap pastries from. We ventured out for dinner on our first night at 5:45pm only to learn that most kitchens do not open until 6:30pm. Like I said in our last blog post, Europeans love their late starts and later finishes so definitely keep that in mind for your travels. We chose a restaurant/bar and ordered a couple of drinks to wait it out. Le Scenarios could also be slash night club because behind a makeshift wall was a small club with confetti all over the floor and tiny platforms for dancers. It turns out a lot of places replicate this same design so you are not short for options on a night out. For dinner we enjoyed some pasta dishes with a glass of red and a crepe covered in chocolate for dessert

We also had the best kebab shop down the road from our accommodation too. If you are a potato lover like me, you’ll die over the fact they put fries on them. But that’s not surprising considering that the potato frites (fried potatoes) originated in Belgium. We cannot remember our exact shop, but similar ones are everywhere. On that subject, you cannot miss tasting the fries, there will be a huge line, yes, but they are worth it. Thick chips with a perfectly crusted outer layer that crunches and exposes a fluffy inside. I learned that it’s because they deep fry the fries twice. They are perfect. 

What to see.

Our walk started off at one of the higher points in the city and we worked our way down. We caught the Metro to Louise where we saw Palais de Justice or the Law Courts of Brussels. It was under construction when we visited but the mammoth craftsmanship was evident even behind the piles of scaffolding. We then walked over to the Infantry Memorial which was beautiful and daunting in its own right. Behind it was an incredible view of the city which also had an elevator to get down into the streets.  

L’atelier en ville This place is a funky café that we thought was worth mentioning. It is a café, art gallery, clothes shop and wooden bench top store all in one. We later figured out this was the ‘hipster’ side to Brussels. So if you want a little more modern, less touristy, more artsy and more party, then this is the side of Brussels you want.

Mannekin Pis This little guy is one of the best-known landmarks in Belgium. The fun thing about the mannequin boy is that he is dressed in costume to commemorate each major celebration, event or festival. You can view all of his costumes displayed at the Museum of the City of Brussels. There are actually three little statues. One of a boy peeing, one of a girl (Jeanneke pis) and one of a dog (Zenneke).  And a lot like Pokemon – you gotta catch them all, so keep your eyes peeled because they are not very big and can be around any corner. 

Brussels Park There are many parks in Brussels, but this is the one we escaped into when the parade for the150 years of the tram in the city got a little too overwhelming. Its entrance is directly across from the Belgium House of Parliament too. The park is pictured below and it is incredibly busy due to the parade but it was still a nice park to be in. 

Belgium Chocolate Village For 6 Euros per person, you are able to explore the Belgium Chocolate Museum. We found this self-guided tour extremely informative and delicious. We learnt about the history and process of gathering the cocoa beans, how chocolate is made, and where nearly every different style of chocolate originated from. We were able to stand in a class where the chef showed us how to create ganache chocolate, and yes, there was a taste test too. Some of our favourite moments was seeing the sculptures made out of chocolate, they were huge and the smell of cocoa was euphoric. It’s no wonder we finished our tour in the café upstairs to subdue the cravings. Hot chocolate that was made with frothed milk and chunks of dark chocolate was my poison, whereas Hayden stuck to a chocolate milkshake. However, if you are not interested in the museum and tour, that’s fine. There is a chocolate shop on nearly every block anyways. Plenty of opportunities to treat yourself. 

There is plenty more to discover in Brussels, but what we were not prepared for was stumbling across a fun little parade. Just our luck. Labour Day and 150 years of the tram parade. 

We continued on our walk with one destination in the back of our mind – Grand Place. It was almost humorous because I was asking Hayden to get photos of some trees because the branches were mended to create fences – honestly, I just thought they were cool. We walked alongside the tree fence around to the front and saw the most incredible looking building. I said ‘This has to be Grand place, or Kings Palace just look at the detail’. We tried to pinpoint where we were on the map to no avail. But alas, I spotted a young boy in a blue vest which symbolised he could help with information. We found out that no, this was definitely not Grand Place, instead it was Notre Dame du Sablon (Chuch of Our Blessed Lady of Sablon). A gothic-style Catholic church from the 15th century. 

He went on to explain that we were standing in Rue de la Regence. The significance of this little street? It was lined with hundreds of trams. Why? Because the city was celebrating 150 years since the tram was introduced. There was every single model of tram that had ever been driven in Brussels laid out in order of year. 

There was also going to be a parade beginning at 1400 hours. The trams were to be driven through the centre of the city. We walked past crowds of people, past a makeshift grandstand and behind it was at least 12 different food stalls. We got mojitos and fries and sat down to enjoy what was around us. By now we had been out for hours, and although I enjoy public things, I absolutely despise being in crowds, they just tire me out. I was ready to go home. I was a little disappointed we hadn’t seen Grand Place, but our day had been filled with so much excitement I was content. 

We headed back down to Brussels Central Station ready to catch the Metro back home when we spotted an exceptionally busy street, so of course something had to be down that way. We garnered up the energy and made our way down. We stepped around the happy buskers, we admired the street markets and then we were left completely and utterly speechless... We had finally found Grand Place. And it is most definitely its namesake. 

It’s incredible. A huge square that leaves you feeling minuscule. Gilded buildings that leave you feeling, well, poor. It is comprised of the Hotel de Ville (Brussels town hall) and Maison du Roi (Museum of the City of Brussels) famously facing one another and the Guild Houses completing the rest of the shape. There is detail in every little thing from the post lamps to the pillars, from the carved stonework to the gold decoration. Each building is so innately different but perfectly matching the grandness of their home. We literally spent an hour there, in that square, taking in each building, taking a million photos, looking up at the incredibleness of the Grandest place I’ve ever seen – so far ;). Being labour day, it was incredibly busy. Hundreds of people were in that square at the same time, but we never felt overcrowded. Now it was finally time to go. We had come to see what we had wanted to see. We walked back to the Metro and headed back to our beautiful Airbnb on the outer skirts of the town.

Always with love  Trish

[haydenandtrish]

Tour de Tulips: From Amsterdam to Lisse

Hayden and I quickly acquainted ourselves with life on two wheels in the Netherlands when we decided to ride from Amsterdam to Lisse – an 80 kilometre round trip. 

Why on earth would we do that though? To see the Tulips of course!

Every year, particularly in the month of April, the tulips bloom and the thick green carpet transforms into a velvet rainbow. Thousands of little flowers open their petals and let their colour shine. We couldn’t miss it. But we’re back packing, so we looked for cheaper options. We read online that there are approximately 20 kilometres of tulip fields stretching from Haarlem to Lisse. So instead of travelling down to Keukenhof Gardens by train and then having to pay to see the Tulips, we rented a couple of bicycles for 30 Euros and began our first big Dutch adventure. Our blue rentals were rickety old things that rattled, and when it’s over bumpy cobblestone roads, it’s every body’s business. They had seen better days for sure. But these old faithfuls got us places, and by the end of the trip, we had melded right into them.

Now. We ride.

First destination? Haarlem. Leaving Amsterdam behind and heading out to explore the Dutch countryside, you couldn't tell we were on the outskirts of a city with an airport on one side and an industrial estate on the other – it was still an abundance of green. 

Following the bike path, we veered away from the road and turned a corner, and we exclaimed something you start to say a lot on the road … Wow.  We quickly realised that the beauty of The Netherlands is inescapable. We were up on a hill, a glistening lake to the right, dense forest to the left and the distant view was full of windmills lining the horizon. With smiles on our faces, we rode on. 

Magic is everywhere.

Within the first hour of our journey, we had come across cute little towns made up of dark timber houses and farmland in the front yard. Sheep were kept, roosters could be heard and veggies were growing in neat boxes. With smiles on our faces, we rode on. We crossed dainty wooden bridges whose paths disappeared into what felt like enchanted woods, we milled in wonder as purple leaves rained lightly on us, and we laughed, true joyous laughs because everywhere we happened upon we had to stop and take in our surroundings. And then we would look at one another, and with smiles on our faces, we rode on. Through picture perfect Dutch towns, beside woods full of magic, past houses covered by vines and trees, along immaculately kept canals and over old cobblestone roads. We were left completely mesmerized. It was beautiful, to say the least, but there are some treasures we want you to experience for yourself, so we’ll leave it up to you to explore. We had no specific route and this was another little unplanned journey where we didn't know what to expect along the way. We have found experiencing somewhere with no expectations and no worry of whether or not you’re on the exact right path leaves a whole lot of room for unsuspecting wonder. 

Google Maps became our best friend as we navigated our way down. We continued past stone built houses that were detailed with white trimmings. They were roofed in no particular shape – all obscured and quirky but following a similar colour scheme of black, orange or brown.

The canals flowed just as lovely as in Amsterdam and the people greeted you with a smile wherever you went. We had arrived in Haarlem. Our stay was short as we rode directly through the middle and out into more suburbs. We soon realised we were supposed to be on the other side of a particular canal, we needn’t worry though, because to our luck, Hayden spotted a lady standing on the side of the canal gazing out to the other side. Following her line of sight, there was a white barge transporting pedestrians to and fro. We saddled up beside her and waited for our ride. After a quick chat and a few points in the right direction we were back on our way. 

Aaaahh the tulips.

We lulled lazily through unfamiliar streets noticing an increase in large oak trees, and the ladies earlier mention of a forest rang like bells in our minds when we came face first into an opening – with bike paths guiding the way of course. In our research before we had even left our Airbnb, we were told to follow the Leidesvaart Canal passing through towns Heemestede and Hillegom in order to find the Tulips. This is exactly what we did. We rode along the canal for some time and it eventually bent all the way right around a bend onto a dirt road, under a bridge, and then bam, on our left was a beautiful sea of red, yellow, white and pink. 

After four hours of an incredibly flat but never dull ride, we had finally arrived at the Tulips. It was just as beautiful as I could have imagined. We ran around excitedly, getting closer to the flowers, smelling the sweetness, feeling the silkiness, celebrating that we had finally arrived. However, it was a little bittersweet as we looked around and realised that we were about one to two weeks too late to witness the fields in full bloom. Many had already been picked. We witnessed workers walking up and down the aisles and handpicking only the most perfect tulips. Once we had finished admiring the first destination we rode a little further up. 

The place we came across was a quaint little set of houses along the canal we had been following. The yards were kept tidy, with tulips growing all around. We sat on one of the boat docks and had some snacks. We were quiet beside one another as we silently marvelled at what we had just gotten to do. We couldn’t believe the indescribable beauty of the Netherland’s. It’s just that, even as I type this I cannot for the life of me find the right words to perfectly describe how enchanting everywhere we went was. We just appreciated exactly where we were – in the middle of the Netherland’s, along some unknown canal, out front of pretty Dutch houses and looking out to bare green fields where Tulips usually lay. It was a dream come true.

We almost turned around there and headed home, but we decided to go just a little further. We are glad we did, because we ended up stumbling across more Tulip fields. There was literally fields and fields of tulips. This particular location had to have been laid by Willy Wonka himself as it was nearly completely purple. A church stood tall in the background surrounded by yet another town making it the perfect backdrop. 

We decided to keep riding down to the Keukenhof Gardens, go around them and head back up the other side from which we came. Although we didn’t go in, we’ve heard they are beautiful, so if you want to see the tulips in a more artistic way then this is the place for you.

It was around the time we stopped in a lovely little café in Lisse that sat beside some train tracks that we realised we had been riding down for over six hours now - making it close to 4pm. We were meant to have the bikes back in Amsterdam by 7pm. A quick look at Google Maps told us we would be there in 7 hours on foot.

OOOooooohhhh how we rode like the wind back to Amsterdam.

We hammered our legs with no joyous stops along the way, we battled the wind coming down against us the entire way back, we cut through towns and parks and with barely 10 minutes to spare, we made the journey back up within 3 hours. All the while thanking the Netherland’s for being so flat. 

Our advice


- Enjoy the trip from Amsterdam to Haarlem 
- Follow the Leidesvaart Canal passing through towns Heemestede and Hillegom - If you want to see our full route, click here.

- See the tulips late May early April if you want to see them in full bloom 

- Oh my god wear sunscreen! We didn’t and man our faces were sunburnt. They didn't look red but they were so sore to touch. 

- If there looks to be wind about, wear a scarf! I luckily had mine on and could cover my face. Hayden unfortunately copped it all which would have worsened the dryness from the sunburn. 

- Leave yourself plenty of time – we left at 9:30am so admittedly we could have left much earlier. We’re just enjoying that European time clock of late starts later finishes – it's marvellous.

- Even if you don’t get to see the Tulips we really recommend completing the ride if you have a day to spare.

It wasn’t just seeing the Tulips that made this trip special. It was being able to see real Dutch living in its most authentic state, and it’s breath taking ❤️

Always with Love,  Trish

[haydenandtrish]

Hoi Amsterdam

The Netherlands is quite literally a breath of fresh air. Everywhere you look, nature is thriving. The grass is a thick green carpet with patches of flowers growing here and there. Better yet, they are beautiful wild things. Deeply rooted tree trunks emerge strong and proud from the rich black soil. Many are used to line pathways and roadways, their branches overhang and the leaves provide the perfect coverage of shade - light just peaks through. Friendly vines snake their way up the old trees adding another dimension of wonder to what already is. But it isn’t just the wild that’s beautiful. The Dutch people take a lot of pride in creating gardens. Most will have flowers and trees growing in their little front yards or at least have a couple of pots filled and lining their window sills. If that’s not enough, we found some homes hidden beneath the trees and vines, you just have to be looking, or you might miss it completely. The Dutch have created a way of living that appreciates nature and merges with it. Things are built around the earth to eventually grow with it. It is no wonder people allow themselves to be a little closer to nature, not shut off and simply getting from Point A to Point B. Because here, the journey is just as incredible as the destination. 

Many people drive with their windows down, or by scooter, but the most popular mode of transport is most definitely by bicycle. It’s an easy way of getting around, while you are still able to enjoy the air and explore the streets. The best part, the Netherland’s have only aided in making travel by bicycle easier. The bike lanes are wide and never-ending. Once you get a little further out of the cities the roads become thinner, and to our amazement, they are lined specifically with bike lanes as a priority, motorists simply stick to their side of the road. The roads have been created with bicycles in mind, not as an afterthought. The paths are full of cyclists breezing past and effortlessly whizzing in and out. Now, it can be a little nerve racking when you first make your way on to the bike lanes, because damn it’s another world out there. But if I can tell you one thing that you remember, it’s that bicycles and pedestrians have the right of way. Nearly always. So don’t be a stumbling fool in the middle of the road jerking to stop unsure whether to go or not. Unless the car is coming full speed at you, you go. 

Amsterdam – Our Way

Accommodation

We stayed in an AirBnb in Nord Amsterdam. This location was perfect for us as it was a short walk up to the NDSM werf and a free 12-minute ferry ride into Centraal. The loft was beautiful and located in a cute suburb where the street names are themed after the planets. There’s a park across the road and an excellent supermarket a short scenic walk in the same direction. Check out the listing here.

How to get around

Amsterdam was incredible because you could quite literally walk everywhere! With the free ferries, two feet each and a heartbeat, we saved a whole lot of money in our travel budget allowance by not having to catch public transport to get around. We also spent 30 Euros (15 Euro pp) on our bicycle rental for 24 hours. We did not, however, go for a canal ride, but if it’s in your budget then why not! 

Food

When we are staying longer than a day or two Hayden and I have decided to instantly do a grocery shop. On the day we arrived we went to the supermarket and completed a grocery shop that was 40 Euros, this converts to $64 AUD. Not bad for 4 days of breakfast, lunch, snacks and 1 dinner. We occasionally ate out but generally tried to keep to the already made meals we had prepared. The pricing on eating out is average, not too expensive but not too cheap. However, some places do not display prices so just be weary to make sure you’re not being overcharged for a simple croissant. 

What to see

We were lucky enough to be there on Kings Day and decided to ride 80 km’s to see the tulips on another day, you can read all about it here! Both recommendations are seasonal so if you are there at the right time of the year then they are both not to be missed. However, if you can only visit Amsterdam during the rest of the year, there is still so much to do and see. We admittedly were a bit short for time only having 5 days so we would definitely recommend a little longer if you have the luxury – you will not be short on activities to do. 

If you are staying in Centraal then catch the ferry from Amsterdam Centraal over to NDSM Werf. There’s generally quite a lot of activities being held there and if you love street art then it’s somewhere you would want to walk around. 

Back on the other side of the canal, Amsterdam is rich with museums, history, and art. The parks are beautifully kept and perfect after a coffee shop visit. We cannot give you a full rundown itinerary because we just walked around, but we will be updating Our Map in our blog with all of our favourite starred places. If you are planning on checking out Amsterdam and want some advice, then be sure to keep your eyes peeled and head over there.

Coming up, we were lucky enough to stumble upon a parade celebrating the 150 years since trams transformed transportation within the next city we explored. Not only that, but it was also their public holiday for Labour day. Can you guess where? Always with Love, Trish

[haydenandtrish]

The Beginning of Our Story: King’s Day 2019

Hi. Hello? Aaaaaah damn that's right. Hoi. Hallo Dag. Bonjour. Hola. Welcome to our very first blog post, man are we excited to get this baby up and running. We already have so many experiences and adventures to share and so many more in store. But we’ll start from the beginning.

Hayden and I had just landed on the other side of the world and we had absolutely no idea what the heck was going on. Scary? Beautiful? Overwhelming? Find out how we are doing settling into life on a continent where English is a second language and home is a different city every few days. We look forward to sharing our experiences with you and hope you enjoy our journey aaaalmost just as much as we are

Kings Day (formally Queen’s Day) was our first introduction into Europe. And did that make for one hell of a culture shock for me. Knowing full well I needed to learn some words, I had attempted to learn the basic greetings, numbers and manners. However, I could not have prepared myself for the confronting fact that unless I was directly speaking to someone, I had absolutely no clue what was being said around me. What. So. Ever. I walked into the streets and was overwhelmed by not only the number of people but mainly the fact that I could not hear any English. Anywhere. It finally dawned on me that we were 20, 000 miles away from home and this was our new way of life. Completely and utterly alone, but ready to face it together.

The first initial moments were a little bizarre and scary, to say the least. But as I settled into watching the mannerisms and tones in which they spoke, the sound was quite delightful. And when in Amsterdam, the native tongue is Dutch, which has this little high pitched tinge to it. It was a cheerful, overly joyful sound that I fell in love with.

Once I settled into our new environment, I began to take in the surroundings. And boy were they beautiful. I was awestruck by the beauty of the of the streets, littered with flowers and bicycles, by the quirkiness of the buildings, all iron balconies and sloping from hundreds of years since construction, by the age noticeable in the trees and flora, and especially by the cheerful Dutch people who were out in the thousands celebrating their heritage for King’s Day. The usual peaceful Amsterdam streets became a sea of orange as happy festival-goers donned themselves in anything and everything that showcased the colour of the monarchy. Orange – for the Dutch Royal family that bare's the house name ‘Oranje’. It has since become the National colour of the Netherlands and is also recognised as the global colour for Harmony. A special colour for a special day.

As we braved the crowded streets we found ourselves wandering deeper into a maze of buildings that were similar but so different. It was dizzying but amazing. We were herded by the direction of everyone else around us as we moved like salmon upstream. Shoulders and arms tight against the strangers nearest. The touch was almost a welcome contact, with the weather hitting a high of 13 degrees that day. But the Dutch feared not and partied on.

The footpaths were covered with tables and chairs. Makeshift beer stalls were everywhere, of course, you could also go indoors anywhere, as nearly everywhere was open. Ready to serve the close to a million people who descend on the Bicycle City each year. Celebrations are happening all over the Netherlands for this public holiday, but Amsterdam is most definitely the party hub.

The Dutch were boisterous and happy as they milled about completely content to be exactly where they were, whether that be amongst hundreds of others attempting to slide past or inside a crowded shop snacking on all the delicious food on offer. Man did those smells hit our noses. There was quite literally nearly every pastry and bread imaginable throughout the city, dishes from all cultures, hundreds of street vendors lining the squares and even makeshift cocktail stalls. Most stalls had their own speakers blasting their favourite tunes. It is an adult’s playground, with street parties on every corner. People walk past with a wiggle in their hip and a drink in their hand. The flow of the people grooves with one another as they make their way to the next location. But the parties not just on land. Nope. It’s everywhere your eyes can see. Hundreds take to boats and party down the canals. They are packed with young and old just having an absolute blast. But don’t forget to look up too! Because locals open up their windows and balconies throwing parties overlooking the craziness below. Your eyes will tire from wanting to look everywhere. But when it gets too much, no need to go home yet. Just simply escape into one of the many Coffee Shops for a more relaxed atmosphere. Taste some of the local delicacies and enjoy a hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. Take some time get your bearings again before you once again tackle the raging party outside.

Another special fact about King’s Day is that is the one day of the year that the public can set up stalls without a trading license. So be prepared for the literally thousands of locals all over the country ready to sell their no longer needed goods to a new home. Children are selling their beloved toys and books ready to upgrade and the parents are happily milling about with a watchful eye. Chatter and music become a familiar sound throughout the day.

I must admit I laughed when I saw my first public urinal. A red, plastic, four-person outdoor toilet smack bang in the middle of a crowded footpath. And it most definitely got used. So gentlemen, if you’re feeling brave there you go. And to my ladies, get ready to pay up. Because public toilets cost a pretty penny (50 cents to be exact) over here, no free relief I’m afraid.

I can’t say how wild the night gets, because once we came back to earth, we realized we had been wandering around happily lost in the city streets for hours. It was time for us to leave Amsterdam for the day and head Nord, back to the other side of town where there was still Dj’s, food stalls and parties, but it was just a little quieter. A little more our pace after such an eventful day. Our favourite thing about this location was the street artists the city had set up with spray paint and shipping containers to adorn however they saw fit. They were so incredibly talented it blew us away. True street art on show and not covered away.

All in all, King’s Day, or should I say Koningsdag, is a complete celebration of human togetherness. We are all there to enjoy one another and the atmosphere. The parties are many, the drinks are never-ending and the community is uplifting. It is an event I would love to experience again. And we’ll leave it for you to see for yourself because unfortunately we were so mesmerized by everything around us we completely forgot to take pictures to really complete this retelling. But hey, we had to leave a little bit for you to discover yourself.

There’s something special about Amsterdam, and it isn’t their Coffee Shops. Five Days truly isn’t enough. You want to lose yourself wandering mindlessly around admiring everything you see because it is beyond your wildest imagination.  

Stay tuned for our next update to come. We tell you about experiencing the Netherlands the true Dutch way, from a Bicycle. We rode 80 km’s in one day to see some pretty famous fields and we have never seen a country so accommodating to bikes everywhere you go.