Amsterdam-nit the trip is just about over

Well folks, this is our second time in Amsterdam and it has not been disappointing. This is a lovely place and definitely a good choice as our last stop on this massive trip of ours. Amsterdam is beautiful and full of fun stuff to do. Shopping here is great as well, and since we finally don't have to worry about carrying a bunch of stuff with us, we did a lot of it and bought an extra duffle bag to take the stuff home in. We have had 4 nights here and met some really cool locals as well.

It is quite funny to think that tomorrow will be the 87th day of our travels and although we are looking forward to our United Global First Class flight home, neither of us are sick of travelling. This trip has truly been amazing and I really urge anyone thinking of taking extended time to travel to just do it. It will change your perspective on many things and you'll get a wonderful feel for what the world's different cultures are like. We chose to spend more nights in most places than I think others would do, and even if you get to a point of exhausting the tourist items, its very nice to just try and act like you are living there and have a normal day where you know where to go and how to get there and look forward to your favorite café, bakery, restaurant, bar or club!

Canal view from our room

So many good munchies

Our crazy hotel with its maze of hallways

Some classic views and buildings

Waffles here are really just the best anywhere (Metropolitan Bakery)

 

 

 

 



Stockholm Highlights

Our time in Stockholm is coming to an end and we've had a very good time in this unique place, but unfortunately we didn't get to see it in full swing as we unknowingly hit their biggest holiday "Midsommar" and thus most things were closed and lots of locals were not even here. We still met some great local people though.

Tomorrow we move on to our final destination on this 87 day journey, Amsterdam. One last place, and we picked one of the most fun at that. Then on June 28th we will be flying home.

Here are some Stockholm pictures for you to enjoy.

The big food hall and market at Ostermalm

Second biggest one at Hotorgshallen

Santa Clara Kyrka

The Maypole celebration from Skansen

Pretty gates to a park on Djurgarden island

on Djurgarden

Original Royal Palace

The floating restaurant and bar Malarpaviljongen - This place was spectacular and fun

 

Stockholm - Night 1

If there was a night here... really its about 4 hours of semi-darkness before the sun comes back up at 3AM (after it set at about 11PM). So far this place is very incredible. Its clean, beautiful, orderly, full of pleasant people, and has a culture that has embraced doing things right and technologically beneficial.  And I know we've said this now twice, but this takes the cake for expensive. First we had Australia, then Zurich, and now here.

Here are some shots from our 3AM walk back to the hotel after going out.



Paris - the annoyingly pretty and fun city

Well what more can you really say. It is tourist hell here, but it is pretty as hell also. Its fun, if you find the right food, its amazing, and the night life is quite impressive. Paris is a cultural and artistic icon, and as with all things "show", its quite dysfunctional (just like Apple products as an example). We have had 6 days and nights here, and we were shocked that we might actually not be able to cover our picks for sightseeing just do to the logistics involved with all the damn fat Americans here trying to see them as well. Anyway... there is not really much more to say. We've seen the important stuff and have had a blast at dinners and out at night. We've met really cool people and aside from being annoyed trying to do some things, we've had a great time. We also stayed in a quintessential French apartment in the Latin Quarter, which definitely added to the experience. We've ate our selves sick of foie gras and macaroons  (and to our surprise the best macaroons we had in France were at Versailles in the Palace).  But please don't tell anyone here, the best we had hands down on this trip were at a little place in Barcelona next to a Puma store... go figure...

Our charming apartment

 

Church with first abstract stained glass artwork

Markets

Luxembourg Gardens

 

Ponts de Arts

This frenchy bulldog won't move

 

Saint Chapelle

Notre Dame

Versailles Gardens