Russell's mussels

First arrive in Brussels, excellent directions to hotel. Room is huge and very comfortable. Neighbourhood a bit dodgy maybe (noisy etc)

Did sandemans tour, found mussels and frites for dinner.

Certainly not as clean as Amsterdam, but more character I think. Also had a savoury waffle for lunch. Like an extra tasty toasted sandwich.

Today went to Bruges. Super pretty city

Should have stayed there and visited Brussels.

Went to the requisite gallery too and had hot chocolate and Belgian strawberry pancake for lunch.

Back to Brussels and went for the stomp for dinner. So that is three things off my Belgian bucket list of food.

Denhaagenhaarlemeenzondvoortaanzee

Went to Den Haag yesterday, the royal town seat of Netherlands Government and the location of the international court of justice.  

There is also a wishing tree out the front where you hang your wish for the world. I wished for kindness and truth

After that I went to Mauritshuss where there are many amazing paintings including this one

It really is very impressive close up

Went to the beach at Zandvoort aan Zee today. Went for a paddle, it was cold but not as cold as the Tassie beach I reckon.

Went to Haarlem on the way back

Finally found some haring brood to try, then went to Corrine Ten Boom huis, but the queue was too long. Got some strop waffle when back in Amsterdam and am determined to try some Dutch Pea soup at dinner time. Then my eating bucket list for Netherlands will be done.

Van Dam

I did see a van today, tiny little one person thing. Motor bike with a hood really.

There is a large skylight in my room with no curtain or blocker, I guess I will be up at 5.00 am every morning.  On the up side (few and far between with this hotel so far), they make their own croissants and they are fantastic.

Went on a Sandemans walking tour this morning. Very interesting and entertaining as they always are.

There is the crew. With crooked houses in the background.

This is outside a church in the red light district. And the tour guide said "fuck".

Finished outside Anne Frank house

And had the bitterballen with beer for lunch.

Making my way through typical Dutch foods

Dam

Arrived yesterday at 6.30 am.

Couldn't get in to hotel room until after 2.00 pm.

Nothing to do but wander and yawn

Did manage to get to the Amsterdam royal palace that used to be the council chambers.

Nice bedroom for visitors

When I got back it was banana and muesli bar for dinner before an early night, but I did have to try one of their famous waffles

Arrivederci Roma

Dad would be proud of me, I had a double gelati today, with whipped cream.

What do you do in Rome when your plane leaves at 22:00 hours?  Well, from my point of view – you start by having your fill of the free breakfgast at the hotel.  Then you go and get a bigliette regionale for 4 euro, this allows travel on all trains trams and buses all day, that way the eternal city is your oyster.

Beautiful, just there between two fairly ordinary buildings

I first went to St peter’s just for a look before the crowds got there, and then back to the Hotel for a shower and pack.  After that, bus to Palazzo Venezia to look at the art, mind you, the building was spectacular.  Then bus back to the Hotel to pick up my hat as the rain had stopped and the sun was out.

From Palazzo Venezzia, Madonna with her boob out.  You don't see many of those.

Lunch time by then and no excuse for not having pizza, then off to the  Villa Medici, via Piazza Barberini and Spagna.  You can only get in to the garden, and then only on a tour, and the next English tour was tomorrow, so I missed out again.  Had a nice walk though and the double gelati I was talking about.  From there back to Termini along via Nationale and off to Piazza Vittorio Emanuelle because I hadn’t been there before.  A nice ruin and there was a festival on, expressing pride in the European Union.  At least that is what I thought, and you can understand why with big signs saying ‘European Pride’ on the gates.  After a quick exit I ducked down to San Maria de Maggiore for a hello then back up to Termini via another quick hello to another Maria (delgeti Angeli or whatever it is).  Early dinner of gnocchi in four cheese sauce at my favourite Bar Viminale then back to the hotel for the luggage.

Crapping myself the Amalfi way

I looked for a day trip from Rome, and eventually settled on the Amalfi coast.  What a good choice even if I do say so myself.  Beautiful, a bit like Lake Como but with sea and you can swim.  3 hour train to Salerno, then a half hour on the ferry to Amalfi.  Glorious scenery and a perfect day.

Caught the ferry there and a bus back to Salerno in the afternoon.  Not sure if that was a good idea.  The road hugs the cliffs, sometimes hundreds of meters above the water.  Returning to Salerno, driving on the right hand side is always on the 'drop' side and I was sitting right on the relevant window.

                                          Loved this sign on the Amalfi ferry, it was how it worked too


Goodness it is beautiful though.  And a lovely swim, not quite as warm as Tel-Aviv, but you need a bit of coolness to be refreshed.  I am amazed how much Europeans sunbake without water.  Obviously the Italians at Amalfi have water but the central Europeans seem to sunbake everywhere there is grass to lie on.  I guess they don't see that much sun.

The ferry ride was great, the views were stunning and there are also lots of sea caves to imagine pirate treasure in.  On the ferry was some kind of celebrity couple, I don't know who, not Italian, and she was the bigger celebrity.  A photo crew kept taking photos of them in different poses, and were still with them later in Amalfi.  I didn't see them near this fountain though, which has an interesting alternative to the common motif of cherub boy peeing.

Lovely cathedral at Amalfi with a museum of treasures and the Basillica of Saint Andrew the apostle (or disciple I can't remember which).  Lots of little alleys and lots and lots and lots and lots of steps.
I went for a swim at the beach, ate a bag of fresh cherries and discovered another nice food, arancini, rice balls with cheese and ham or whatever, covered in breadcrumbs and fried.  The further up the alley you go the cheaper they get.

Scary bus ride back to Salerno and hot train ride back to Rome.  Yes folks its hot here.  Did I say I went swimming?  Did I mention mid twenties Celsius?

'Appy on the Appian Way

You can't beat Rome, you really can't.  Despite the crowds and the dirt.  You can get a bus to Trastevere in the evening, discover ancient city gates you had never seen and go past the Colosseum all lit up on the way back.  You can hop on a train and a bus in the morning and be on the Appian Way.  The queen of the long roads in its day,  now a peaceful rural road in the midst of Rome, with ancient villa ruins and newer (medieval and on, but not post 1900) villas still inhabited.  Plus the tourist sites.  Many people, both local and tourist, were on bikes or jogging.  I bet the bikes were uncomfortable over those paving stones.  Would rattle more than your bones I reckon.

I went to the Saint Callista catacombs.  Amazing.  Layer upon layer of dead Christians.  Some buried in family crypts, some in single graves.  Some famous like 16 popes and numerous assorted saints.  There are levels and passage ways and little places where the ancient Christians could pray.  You get to see a couple of remaining bodies.  There is another set down the road at Saint Sebastian, where there is a church.  I didn't see a church at St Callista.   - this may be because it dates from the time before Christians could worship openly, or it could be I just missed it.  I don't know who St Callista was or what was done in the name of St Callista to deserve sainthood.  I do know that the toilets were free, - that in itself is a miracle in Rome.

                                          View of St Peter's from the battlements of Castel San Angelo

Went from there to Castel San Angelo.  It was good.  Started raining just after I got in.  You have to wait until enough people had left before you get in.  There was a really old building, some furnished rooms, frescoes, some great paintings, stories of intrigue and plotting, and great views.  Just my thing.

Went back to the hotel after that.  They do try bless them, but they really have no idea.  It is run by a couple of young blokes.  The little touches are definitely missing, like a third coat hanger, or a light switch you can reach from the bed.  It rained constantly from then on until I decided to brave it and go to Trastevere anyway.  Rain stopped shortly after I'd gone out and got meself wet.

                                       Square Trastevere, more crowded than it looks I swear


Found a lovely little Restaurant with a cheap tourist menu and sat down.  Fantastic spinach and cheese ravioli with a butter and sage sauce.  Tripe Romano didn't taste, look or feel like tripe to me (more like meat).  They took it back and gave me a plate of veges.  Then panacotta for desert.  Delicious!  Never had it before but will be having it again.