Dutch space cakes, Belgian Waffles and Parisian Crepes - 11 Days

Tripoto
25th Feb 2016

The trip was a 11 day long affair. Just enough to get tired and want to go back to the cubicle :-) 


Amsterdam - Rotterdam - Kinderdijk - Amsterdam 

Amsterdam - Brussels by OUI bus (cheapest possible but 3 hours long) 

Brussels - Bruges - Brussels 

Brussels - Paris by Thalys (€41 one way)

Paris - Disney - Paris ( we had Versailles on the agenda but couldn't make it because one of us fell ill) 
We landed in Amsterdam, check into one of the most happening party hostels. Flying Pig Uptown - highly recommended, there is a lovely pub in the ground floor - eat, drink, party and go back to your dorm hassle free. Be aware that there are lots of young and free people around. We spent a good 3 days at this hostel, the pub converts into a lovely breakfast place in the mornings - breakfast included in the stay ( I must mention delightful staff)
Photo of The Flying Pig Uptown Hostel, Vossiusstraat, Amsterdam, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of The Flying Pig Uptown Hostel, Vossiusstraat, Amsterdam, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of The Flying Pig Uptown Hostel, Vossiusstraat, Amsterdam, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
This was a day trip from Amsterdam, we took the train - about €30 for return - between Amsterdam and Rotterdam on a weekend. Our final destination wasn't Rotterdam we here here to visit Kinderdijk it's a lovely windmill place as you will notice in the next destination.
Photo of Rotterdam Centraal, Centrum, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Rotterdam Centraal, Centrum, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Rotterdam Centraal, Centrum, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
We had to take two buses from Rotterdam Central to reach this place. About €10 ( since this is outside the city of Rotterdam, buying a day pass at Rotterdam will not be of any help) We were here on a chilly, windy day hence very few people, it was beautiful despite the weather.
Photo of Kinderdijk, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Kinderdijk, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Kinderdijk, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Kinderdijk, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Kinderdijk, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Kinderdijk, Netherlands by Harita Vinnakota
When in Amsterdam - this is a must visit place. Most of us wouldn't have ever seen anything like this before - so be prepared to be amused and surprised :) Beautiful women standing in skimpy clothes in Windows, like an exhibit. You can see these in many of the lanes around this area. If you are lucky you will catch a negotiation or two happening. €50 for 15 min No photography allowed :)
If you haven't been amused by the pissing girl and the pissing boy in Brussels, you haven't seen Brussels. Despite all the hype it's a small statue each. But just go, take a look, take a selfie. Also visit the musuem and look at the different avatars of the pissing boy from all over the world specially amusing are the Maharaja Avatar, Parsi Avatar, Russian ( spaceman) and Hawai boy :-) he is pissing through all of them...
Photo of Rue de France, Saint-Gilles, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Rue de France, Saint-Gilles, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Rue de France, Saint-Gilles, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Rue de France, Saint-Gilles, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Another "if you went to Brussels and didn't go here...." Place ... Deletion is buzzing with people and lots of beer :-) Must get high here and then go back where you came from - if you can, we were staying at the heart of the city walkable from everywhere so it was a piece of cake for us... Cake reminds me of Netherlands again :( We were put up at an Airbnb just behind La Bourse
Photo of Délirium Café, Impasse de la Fidélité, Brussels, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
And there is the little girl pissing :-)
Photo of Jeanneke-Pis, Impasse de la Fidélité, Brussels, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Jeanneke-Pis, Impasse de la Fidélité, Brussels, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
We spent half a day walking around the quaint town of Bruges. Canals, Buildings and Chocolates. Visit the chocolate musuem - a little boring though :P
Photo of Bruges, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Bruges, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Bruges, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Bruges, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Bruges, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Bruges, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Bruges, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Bruges, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Bruges, Belgium by Harita Vinnakota
On the last day of the vacation - we saw people running half marathon on a sunny sunny day. We stayed at Le Marais for 4 days and it was a lovely location although you may not find something spacious if you are looking for cheap accommodation in the heart of the city. It's manageable - the place tightly accommodated 3 of us - Airbnb again
Photo of Le Marais, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Le Marais, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
My first trip to Disney - I can't explain the excitement in words Do Meet and Greet Mickey Watch the morning Carnival Loop - Indiana Jones roller coaster U ride - which has a vertical fall Lots of shopping
Photo of Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France by Harita Vinnakota
For the sake of completion do visit the Louvre Museum and try to figure out why why why is Mona Lisa such a big deal after all. Stare at the beautiful building the houses the museum - the ceiling a, the stairways.
Photo of Louvre Museum, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Louvre Museum, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Louvre Museum, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Louvre Museum, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Louvre Museum, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Eiffel Tower, Avenue Anatole France, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Eiffel Tower, Avenue Anatole France, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Eiffel Tower, Avenue Anatole France, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Eiffel Tower, Avenue Anatole France, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Eiffel Tower, Avenue Anatole France, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Sacré-Cœur, Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Go on as many of the bridges as possible. Walk around Paris, along the Seine - it's beautiful
Photo of Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota
Photo of Paris, France by Harita Vinnakota