I arrived in Antwerp two Mondays ago, after three days in Paris. We had our hotel booked for the night we were supposed to have arrived, but not the night before, the night that dummies arrive. We ended up getting a really expensive room at this bizarre, not-that-good Comfort Inn in Montmarte. It was on the top floor and had a terracey thing on the roof. If I sat on the roof with my laptop, I managed to detect 2 wireless signals, both with no passwords. I was wireless for the first time since leaving Belgium.
Paris was rainy, dreary, and cold. It was a bit of shock after having been in the south of Europe for so long, enjoying brilliant weather and getting sunburned. The Parisians seemed to think it wasn’t too cold, while I had a sweatshirt, jacket and scarf on, and shivered into my hot, strong coffees taken standing at the counter because it was at least twice the price if you sat down on the terrace.
I saw the Eiffel Tower. I didn’t go up to the top, as the weather was making me grumpy and tired, and getting used to prices of food after Spain have left me constantly annoyed. However, I did eat yummy food and delicious croissants. We were going to see the Louvre on the Sunday, but the lines were stupid. Never go to museums on a Sunday in Paris, because everything is shut so there really isn’t anything else to do. We ended up going on the next morning, and it really wasn’t crowded at all, except around the Mona Lisa, which was stupidly ridiculous. However, the Louvre is the best museum I’ve ever been to. You could go there for a few days and not see everything. We saw Sacre Coeur which is really an amazingly beautiful church, even after seeing a bajillion churches throughout Europe. You weren’t allowed to take photos, but I am a ninja and managed to take one anyway.
Three days of Parisian fun and we were back in Antwerp. It almost felt like being home, which is strange considering I don’t even speak Dutch, bar the occasional alstublieft, dank u, and tot ziens. We stayed with P’s grandaunt for a few more days while he sorted his things out for Manchester. She really is a lovely person, as is P’s whole family. I really can’t wait to go back to Antwerp.
So now here I am in Manchester, sitting on the couch of some old friends from high school in New Zealand. P and I have found a great place which is right across the road from my friends’ place. We’re almost F·R·I·E·N·D·S, but not quite. It’s on the top floor and has two little balconies and a great bay window/dome thing. We move in on Monday. I also bought a great Sony Ericsson T610, so here are some crappy phone pics of our new place.
I can’t wait to move in! Now, time to get a J.O.B!
ani your new place rocks@! congrats!!
Have a great new life in Manchester Annie, best regards.
Your place is tres cool! I am so jealous. Yay for you mofo.
wow, ani. your new place rawks! i’ve been following your site over the years and it’s so wonderful to see how well you’ve been doing. i envy you! good luck with the job hunt and have a great life!