AMSTERDAM

4th September, first stop Amsterdam. Jet2 flight was an hour delayed (standard), so we got in at 9pm. We took the train to Central Station, and a tram to the area of our hostel... then we got lost and spent an hour walking in circles, passing the hostel several times. Eventually we found it, and were pleased to find we'd been moved to a private double room (we were booked in to an 8 bed dorm). Our room is the tiniest room ever, I can reach both walls by standing with my arms outstretched. It has a bunk bed, and I get the top bunk =D

The room next door was occupied by about 20 teenage boys last night, who were up until 4am shouting and playing, Josh shouted abuse at them at one point, they were so annoying.

We got up at 9am, and went for coffee, then walked through Amsterdam getting our bearings. It is a beautiful city, and I love the little thin houses and the water. I can't believe how many bikes there are - everyone cycles everywhere.

The red light district was insane! So weird and funny. The blue light district was something else.... Josh hated that.

In the afternoon we went to a few coffee shops, and had a slice of pizza for lunch. We had Italian food for dinner. I have managed to avoid being run over by a tram today. Tomorrow I may not be so lucky. We have a six hour train journey to Berlin tomorrow, so have stocked up and bread and cheese for the journey. So so tired now, and it's only 10pm. Must be all the walking.

It's getting closer...

DAYS LEFT UNTIL WE LEAVE: 20

I still have so much to do!! I must get my third hepatitis B jab, buy my malaria tablets, sort out insurance, and build up some body strength as I am too physically weak to even lift my backpack. Which could lead in Josh having to lug around 2 backpacks, oops.

I finish work on August 27th, which will be a sad day at Shopmobility! Our leaving party is in 5 days, and I really need to find something to wear. Upon sorting out my bedroom, I accidentally donated the majority of my clothing to charity, forgetting that I would still need to get dressed for another month or so, resulting in me wearing pretty much the same outfits over and over. I have NO money whatsoever to spend on new outfits though, but luckily I have a ten pound gift voucher, which I intend to spend wisely.... watch this space.

I have decided that some of the random things I will miss the most are slippers and my comfortable dressing gown, my cats and dogs, having a well stocked cupboard and food to eat at any time, and TV. I am realllllly looking forward to trying all the new food, seeing all the amazing sights, and chilling out on beautiful beaches, not worrying about mobility scooters / walking the dogs / British winter.

Must go now, got Florios for dinner!

xxx

8th June 2011

87 days left until we leave.... I am EXCITED!!!

So me and Josh left uni in June 2010, and since then have been working like crazy, trying to save up enough money for an epic trip around the world! Well, Europe, south-east Asia and Australia. Now, it seems our departure date is sooo close!

We now have our flights from Leeds to Amsterdam booked for 4th September, along with the first hostel booked and paid for. It is a hostel in the main part of Amsterdam, and was the cheapest one we could find (we will be sharing a dorm with 6 other people =/ ). We also have our flights from Paris to Malaysia, for 7th October, and our Australian year long working holiday visas sorted.

Next we need to buy our interrail tickets, which we can't buy until Josh's passport is renewed, as we need his new passport number. Also, I'll need to adjust our flight information with his new passport number... I hopefully won't forget to do this.

I'm glad we managed to get our backpacks quite cheap, they were on sale in Mountain Warehouse, plus we had a 10% off voucher. They are 60 litre packs with 20 litre attachment bags. When I first got it home, I filled it with toilet rolls to test it out. Unfortunately, when I first put it on, the weight (yes of the toilet rolls) was too much for me and I fell over backwards. So it may seem I need to build up a bit of body strength or something? Goddamit that means exercise, which I try really hard to avoid. We also have our money belts, flight cushion (I must have one!!!), travel towels and all our clothing.

We went for our jabs at the doctors last night. Josh was terrified, although he was trying to play cool. We had one in each arm; Hep A and Hep B. I need to go back for my final two Hep B jabs, and my typhoid, and I need to organise our malaria tablets. Which I imagine is going to be expensive. Ohhhh and I need to get our insurance sorted before I forget! Ooops. More expense.

Fortunately, after a year of working 2 jobs, having pretty much no social life, and shopping at Aldi, we have saved efficiently, and should have enough money for everything, including spending money etc. We're planning on doing some couch surfing in Europe, to keep the cost down, and meet lots of (hopefully) lovely, non-murder type people.

Every day that passes now, I get more and more excited to leave! I seriously can't wait, I've had enough of Scarborough for a lifetime!!!

Just 87 days to get though....