Another hectic outing...

Football is EVERYWHERE!! For most of you, like me, who really could care less about soccer/football...it's still hard not to get swept into the party atmostphere over here during the European Cup. I really don't need an excuse to party, but I'll use it anyway. Switzerland and Austria are co-host countries and the streets are a rockin' with fans from all over Europe. There are definitely good 'sights' for everyone!

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Just when I think I'm mastering this damn blog, I lose two cool pictures. I think I hate this blog more than I hate my camera. Don't mind me...enjoy!

Football is larger than life over here (see photo above) and a complete obsession. Every night there is a football match, tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of party'ers are cruising the streets of various European cities. To give you an example...the Fan Zone in Berlin was large enough to allow 500,000 people to watch the game. That didn't count the people at the stadium, or the people watching from home or at the bars. The Fan Zone in Vienna held almost 10% of it's entire population. Can you say obsessive complusive? Wow...I guess I can.

Enough about football.

After being burnt out from my last adventure, my brain was a little slow so I decided to do another one. This adventure took me through Luxembourg City, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Hamburg and back to Zurich...all in about 11 days. Are you getting tired yet? I know I am!

The pictures go from Zurich train station, one shot of Luxembourg City, three of Cologne, three of Dusseldorf and four of Amsterdam. I think Copenhagen deserves it's own posting...more to come on it.

Sorry for that short break, I had to go out and get some beer for myself. Much better now...thanks for asking!

The one very cool thing about this latest adventure is that I met up with some new friends which I had met earlier in other countries on my trip. Valentina met up with me in Cologne for dinner and a few drinks which was pretty cool. However, I'm not too sure if it was a compliment when she called me 'uber mature'. I read that as OLD...which I'm sad too say is very true. Since my birthday earlier this month...I seem to have more grey hair, a much sorer back and not as much energy. Someone please put me out of my misery. Bring the pillow!

Cologne was a OK city with some great pedestrian walks, great views along the Rhine and the most kick-ass cathedral I've ever seen. The picture certainly doesn't do it any justice. But compared to others...it was just a city.

Now Dusseldorf...I don't know why...but I really loved this city. And not just because it claims to have the longest bar in Europe. In reality, it's just a bunch of bars along the waterfront, but who am I to judge. It just seemed to have a cool vibe and a great night life even on a Wednesday night. The harbour area is also lined with some of the strangest looking buildings I've ever seen. I guess they've all won awards, but the practicality of them still seems lost to me.

Dusselfdorf also put me into an interesting position. I had a chance to make a difference in this world and gain some recognition. Tell me what you would have done.

I found myself walking the streets alone about 3:00am on an early Thursday morning after partaking in some local night life when something interesting happened.

About a block and a half ahead of me, I saw a teenager of about 15-16 running full tilt down the street towards me. I thought this was odd, but soon realized things were even more interesting since he had two police officers chasing him. I had plenty of time to run through my options on how to trip him up or at least slow him down to 'save the day'. Once again...what would you have done?

Since I've had a few 'good deeds' go awry in the past...I'm sure Zwartman remembers us trying to help a girl flee a 'coke head'...I decided to move out of the way and let the kid run past me about three feet away from where I was standing with the police hot on his trail. Knowing my luck, I would have tripped up the cops instead and found myself in jail...not the kid. To make things even more interesting, I found myself in front of the police station and 6 cops came charging out of the station...almost running into me...to join the pursuit. What if this kid was on Europe's top Most Wanted List? I could have been a hero. They might have had a parade in my honour and erected a statue. Now I'll never know!

After all that excitement...I figured I needed some place to chill...so where better to chill than Amsterdam. This was my fourth time in Amsterdam according to my friend Steve and my third time in Amsterdam according to me...one of us must be wrong. However, I do know it was the first time that I actually took a picture of the city. Things I do for my readers.

It was also great to meet up with Darryn. I started off this trip hooking up with Darryn in Dubai, so it was only fitting to party with him in Amsterdam as well. I think this is Darryn's second home so I was in good hands.

I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but since Darryn is...I let him take me to a few coffee shops which Amsterdam is famous for as we explored the city. I soon found that most coffee shops sell alcohol as well as some great chocolate so I was happy enough. I would recommend 'Lost in Amsterdam' if anyone is looking for some cool atmosphere.

The Bulldog was also one of my favourites.

The red light district, the cool pedestrian streets and the extensive canal networks are a must see and you soon find yourself never wanting to leave as the vibe in Amsterdam sucks you in. In case you have noticed...I love Amsterdam!

Since I had a 12 hour train ride ahead of me on Saturday morning to Copenhagen and Darryn was relocating to Stockholm the next day, we both decided to have an early Friday night. However, that is easier said than done in Amsterdam. Just when we were about to leave the bar, the owner buys us all a round since Turkey wins their football match. Who can say NO to free beer? And then our good Canadian manners kick in as a girl in a wheelchair enters the bar and we give up our table to her and her friends...well the owner sees this and more alcohol finds it's way into our hands before we can get out the door. Did I mention I love Amsterdam?

I survived my 12 hour travel experience to Copenhagen, Denmark the following day, but just barely. More to come in the next posting.

To my police friends...did I do the right thing in Dusseldorf? Damn...I really wanted a parade!