The area in and around Belgium and the Netherlands is truly unique. It seems almost unchanged by time and technology. Walking through these old canal towns makes you feel as though you have gone back in time. Life seems much more simple and relaxed in Amsterdam and Bruges. The people are friendly and there is no real sense of urgency. This was a nice atmosphere to take in for my last week in Europe. I honestly didn't do a whole lot in this final week. I made as much effort as possible to relax and take in the beautiful surroundings. I highly recommend Amsterdam in Bruges to anyone traveling to Europe. I was not a fan of Brussels but I was really only there to fly out.
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I made it back home on Sunday night after about a 20 hour day of travel. It is surreal to be home after such a long time and after experiencing so much of Europe. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I will never forget it. There isn't a doubt in my mind that I will return there at least a dozen more times in my life. Everyone should take the time and experience what Europe has to offer. Where else can you travel just a few hours in any direction and be immersed in a different language and culture? There is so much diversity in such a small area and it is so easy for anyone to access.
I have to say that staying in hostels truly made this trip as amazing as it was. I made tons of new friends from all around the world. Backpackers make up a great collection of people from different countries and different backgrounds yet we all have a defining similarity. Behind each of us is a desire to know more about our world and the individual people that make it up. We are not the typical tourist and we don't want to be. The experience of meeting and getting to know locals and other travelers from different countries is something that wouldn't have been possible without taking a trip like this. And as skeptical as many people have been about my traveling alone, I would not have done it any other way. Being alone opens you up to diving into new experiences and forces you to meet new people and initiate conversations. Without this I would have had an entirely different and much less rewarding experience.
I suppose it is time to return to the real world. I have come to enjoy not having a cell phone, a car or any sense of time or date. I have been home 2 days now and my phone is still off, it's kind of peaceful. I return to work on Friday and am very excited to see everyone. Thank you to the friends and family that kept up with this blog during my trip. It made it so worthwhile knowing that you guys were a part of my experience, if only in a small way.
Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen, Zbohem, Tot Ziens, Goodbye.
A canal in Amsterdam near my hostel.
There are more bikes than people in Amsterdam and they find about 20,000 bikes a year in the canal.
A large courtyard in Amsterdam with a very old church and several residences.
Inside the Heineken Brewery Experience in Amsterdam.
Near my hostel in Bruges.
The Bruges Museum in Berg Square.
One of the three windmills in Bruges.
The river that flows from Bruges through the nearby village of Damme and to the ocean. (I rented a bike and followed this beautiful path along the river to Damme.)
The windmill in Damme.
An old post near a tiny canal bride.
Another windmill in Bruges.
View of Bruges from the roof of the De Halve Maan (Half Moon) Brewery.
Beguine Convent in Bruges.
Michelangelo's Madonna and Child in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges. One of the only Michelangelo sculptures to ever leave Italy.
The Manneken Pis in Brussels.
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