.spread.your.wings.and.soar.
Better late than never right? I realised I started typing this blog on Wed 5th December, which is over TWO MONTHS ago. although it actually occurred 7 months ago .. i'm sorry. Here is my blog outlining my arrival in London and then my week there and my week in Amsterdam. I would continue onto my moving into a house then going to Italy but it can be saved for the next entry which I should do this weekend.
"Welcome to Heathrow, London" announced the air hostess as we arrived on July 10th. I wasn't really too sure what to expect once getting off the plane however I was excited, very excited. Peter (the American) and I ran off that plane and up to the passport patrol area. After waiting in a long line, I was next and as I had my visa etc, I was let straight into the UK. Peter on the other hand was questioned then taken away for roughly 45 minutes. The customs officer told me that Peter will be in for questioning and since him and I were not traveling together, that it's best I continue my journey without him. Peter was going off to Manchester whilst I was off to London town.
Confused and scared I found myself trying to navigate around Heathrow Airport in hopes to find the train which would take me to where I needed to be. For the first time in a VERRYYY long, long time I actually felt so small and lost. After asking directions, getting lost, confused and scared I finally made it onto the right train and some British lad also helped me carry my luggage up and down the stairwells at some stations. We had a bit of a chat, all I remember was that he was a rower, of course.
When I arrived at the place I was staying, I was less than impressed. I had never stayed at a 'hostel before'. I was shown a room with a couple of single beds - I hadn't slept on one of those in years! Long story short, worst sleep ever. So noisy, having randoms in and out of the place. bleehhh.
The next few days were quite unsettling. I was here in this strange place (Putney) on my own with no idea where to go or how to get there but I was determined to explore. I remember checking myself in somewhere on facebook (probably Starbucks, knowing me) when this random Joel dude decided to inbox me. Joel is this guy from Melbourne, I met once when he was at Anthony's place. I honestly didn't think i'd ever have a conversation with him again, ever again. Anyway he messaged me that he was also in London, bla bla bla. The next day he picked me up and took me around London and to dinner in Covent Garden. I seen all the typical sites which was so... umm.. surreal and empowering to see. Joel was great and from then on we started catching up regularly and exploring London town. So Joel got me out and about on the town. Taking me to meet some lovely people. I'm actually so, so thankful he has come into my life, it's almost like a friendship angel that I was completely not expecting. His so confident and positive to be around.
The first week went by really fast. Now it was time to catch up with Cam. Cam and I were friends from Minus18 when we were like 15 and I had been chatting to him, we planned to go to Amsterdam, from London on a bus. Cameron and I actually got on like a house on fire and I felt extremely comfortable being myself around him. We, on the bus got to this point at the bottom of the UK called Dover. It's almost like an airport but for ferrys/boats and leaving the England. At the docks we were quite bored and restless of the bus trip so I turned and started chatting to this British lad. We were chatting for a while as we were both waiting to leave the country. We ended up swapping names and chatting about traveling - where I was from, where he was from etc I was going to Amsterdam and he was going to California USA with his family. His name was Paddy, or Patrick. I can't believe I actually did this AND.. I probably shouldn't repeat it in this blog but I actually said "hey I know I just met you, and this is crazy. But here's my number. Call or text me maybe?" Thinking back to it, it makes me cringe at myself. But yes... I got a text.
Cam and I were finally back on the road from France- Amsterdam. An amazingly long trip. We pretty much slept, watched burlesque and ate Pringles the whole way.
Finally arriving in Amsterdam, I was soooo pumped for an exciting week. We went to the 'Van Gogh Hostel' in the central area. It was nice. There were like 8 beds in the room but only one other person in there at the time. It was some weird chinese chick who said she likes walking everywhere. We didn't spend much time there and it was off to the bars. There were literally 30 shots for 27 Euro. Which is basically 30 AUD. So 1 shot for $1. FAARRRKKKEEDDDD. By the end of the week we went through 150 shots between us. One of the days Cam and i went to one of the coffee *cough* shops. I had a few space cakes and Cam had a few smokes. Roughly 7pm when we went back to the hostel to rest, Cam was out like a light and I was wide awake, so I got in contact with my friend Brad from Perth who I knew was in Amsterdam aswell. We went to the pub for a few sneaky drinks. Not sure how, but I was a mess and Brad said he had a spare bed at his hotel, which was 5 stars and NOT a hostel. So I messaged Cam.. and dot dot dot.
The next few days were chilled out, eating ribs, visiting dirty Anne Frank, exploring the city, boat peddle rides, the dungeons, seeing the redlight district, museums etc etc. Amsterdam is now, MY FAVOURITE PLACE EVER. oh and I didn't mention that in the hostel there were these other men staying there, 3 british guys and two Americans. I felt like I was in a Calvin Klein photoshoot. 
We had this big crazy night... I don't remember too much of what happened but I met some German escort man and I felt so sorry for him that I gave him one of my denim shirts so he could keep warm when walking home. Anyway Cam and I ended up at all these different bars, waking up the next day .. OMG. we were a trainwreck. We made 'the hangover movie' look like Bananas in Pajamas. There was food all over our hostel room, randoms leaving dot dot dot..... and then the worst part. The evidence. my camera. There were photo's off ass', big sling things, randoms, clowns... i can't even explain it. I made a few friend OHHH NEFROPDGKGG!!! How did I forget? We bought these Britney Spears and Victoria Beckham masks and we were taking photo's of eachother when tourists were screaming 'BRITNEY IS COMING' and taking photos of us, LAWL. It was soo funny, we started posing. 
We did a few more historic events in Amsterdam, it truly is a beautiful place, then it got time to go back to London which was another 10 hour bus ride............. it's safe to say, I was AMSTERDAMNED!
