Okay, just in case there is the remote chance that anyone is interested, here is the rest of my journal entries during my trip to Europe in summer 2006. A full six months later, but better (too) late than never. they are retroactively dated:

Switzerland:

Arrived in Bern at 8:20 and met Bettina, one of my hosts from CouchSurfing who was waiting at the station as agreed. We went to their apartment and I met with the rest of the flat mates: Nils, Simmy and Andrea (3 siblings). They were a really cool and hospitable bunch… read more

I was just thinking how much I hate long flights and how I don’t mind excruciatingly long train rides (especially in Europe). Rail travel in Europe is a pleasure. 10 hours of good scenery, a good book, my music and plenty of time to think about anything and everything. On a plane you’re just curled up in the fetal position for 5 hours with crying babies surround sound and @$$holes who hog the elbow rest… (read more)

First rule of budget travel: make advance hostel bookings in the high seasons to avoid unnecessary hassles as exemplified below…(read more)

Spent the day wandering the streets of Brussels. Well at least Central brussels. The Grand’ Place-Grote Markt area is awesome. The architectural attention to detail in the Gothic buildings is mind-blowing. You can just stand there and stare for 20 minutes. Checkout the pictures…(read more)

Second rule of budget travel: If you intend to extend your stay, pay for your hostel bed in advance the night before. I got kicked out of the hostel in Amsterdam (the following day because, unbeknown to me, you can’t extend your stay in the morning during the high season. I hauled my backpack and walked to the tourist office in the train station…(read more)

After checking out a little more of Amsterdam, I went to the train station 90 minutes early. I met two American girls who seemed to be hopelessly lost, had the backpacker conversation and showed them where to validate their rail passes. On the train I sat next to a friendly Dutch guy who was on his way to Hamburg to see one of the World Cup games with his firnds. He talked non-stop for the duration of the train ride to Berlin…(read more)

I had breakfast with Marc and Angela and decided to go down to the Fan Mile stretching the length between the Brandenburger Tor to the Victory Pillar. The weather was great. The games of the day wre Britain vs. Portugal and Brazil Vs. France. The place was packed. or at least I thought so until later Marc told me there was close to one million people here yesterday during Germany’s game. I walked around, took some pictures and watched parts of the games…(read more)