A Copy-Paste Update from Amsterdam to the Cote d'Azur....

So, I have officially failed, for many months now, at executing my executive decision from February 8th, 2013.  Boo on me.  Various reasons, but with the same end result - a severe lack of of blogposts! In a hurried attempt to rectify this, here are my copy-pasted FB updates for Amsterdam, Berlin and Menton....

Highlights of the first day exploring Amsterdam : meeting up with another CSer and taking the ferry to the north part of Amsterdam to discover a former shipbuilding warehouse that's been converted into an indoor skate park and artist workshops. So cool! Also the Xmas market and walking along the canals at night with Xmas lights everywhere and finding 2 outdoor ice rinks! 'Ti's the season!! Love it!! 

Highlights of Day 2 : 1.) Remembered (JUST in the knick of time!!!) that Amsterdam has a Sandeman's Tour too, and joined for an entertaining 3 hour walking tour, 2.) SUNSHIIIIIIIINE on the walking tour 3.) Van Gogh museum - super interesting, and fabulous displays of nearly 300 of his paintings to see his progression as a painter, 4.) Anne Frank house - the secret annex where they hid for 2 years. Such a powerful, moving experience, there are not enough words.

Highlights of Day 3: 1.) GLORIOUS BIKE RIDING in Waterland (it's really called that!!!) and visiting 5 quaint little rural villages scattered around the vast expanse of fields and canals. Rode for about 7 hours (including LOTS of photo stops and walking around the villages to try to warm my feet back up!) 2.) SUNSHIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!!!! I feel so incredibly lucky!! NO RAIN and some sun for most of my ride! On December 3rd - who'd a thunk??!! 3.) Delightful dinner at a gourmet style Dutch restaurant with a leek and Dutch shrimp soup and a Hotchpotch with kale and sausage. YUM! 4.) Another night walking around the canals of Amsterdam, but this time with a better understanding of how the city developed - so stinkin' cool!!!!

Highlights for Berlin, 8 days in a nutshell with 8 highlights 1.) Seeing my German friend Nora from Ireland again!!! 2.) Christmas Markets and Gluhwein! Yummmm! 3.) Running through the Tiergarten 4.) Learning more in depth about the history of Berlin, especially post WWI and being able to visit sites of historical importance. Fascinating and powerful. 5.) All of the museums!! Especially the Pergamom! WOW!! 6.) A fantastic walking tour with Brewer's 7.) Visiting Sanssouci Palace and Garden from the Prussian Empire - not too shabby. Hello Rococo!! 8.) Discovering Dr. Pong's (a bar with 1 ping pong table and a game played with as many people as can fit, walking around the table, to elimination. Very amusing!) The difficulties of Berlin: 1.) Weather was utter crap. Dark, oppressive, misty/rain 7 out of 8 days. Ugh. 2.) Majority of my interactions with people were really negative. Boo. I was ready to go by the end. That's rare.

Brief recap of Menton, on the Cote d'Azur : Went for a run this morning and after 17 minutes, I was running in Italy!! LOVE that! I had a SPECTACULAR 6 days in Menton, with prime highlights being 1.) Meeting a whole bunch of awesome people through CS, 2.) Hiking in the Alpes-Maritime....absolutely tremendous!! 3.) Brilliant blue sky and sunshiiiiiine EVERY day (I was abundantly, absurdly lucky with weather - the sheer opposite of my luck with Berlin weather and 4.) A lovely coastal walk to Monaco. The fact that one can walk through 3 different countries within about 3 hours vastly amuses me! I love love love Menton!!!