Crab of the Cruise....

I can't believe my time in Europe with my family has come and gone...but god, was it fun. I am so homesick and lonely now that they left. I stayed in the hotel for an extra couple of hours and tried to sleep, but I was too sad.
After their trip to Bruge, the kids went out for some beer and durum in Brussels. On Tuedsday, we woke up and took the train to Amsterdam. We were in such a rush, but it was pretty cool. After a long trek to our hotel (which wasn't the Renaissance from my previous trip) with a cab driver on crack, we went and got some great Italian food. Afterwards, we went to a coffeeshop and tried miserably to roll joints. We failed...and ended up buying some pre-rolled ones, lol. But I had a great time sitting in this little, gay coffeeshop in Amsterdam with Mike and Nick. That is not something I will forget.
After a nap, we met up with the moms and Dana and went walking around the city. We got a great dinner at an Asian noodles place, and then went back to the hotel. The youngin's took a walk through the canals and smoked another joint. We watched City of God, and then Mike and I smoked our last joint together in front of the hotel, really late at night. Love you Miguelito...Your front is like a car and your back is like a truck ;)
On Wednesday, Dana and I got up at the crack of dawn and took a four hour train to Paris. We dropped our stuff off and got crepes before the other guys got to the hotel. I was Julien, the tour guide, and I took them to Montmarte and Sacre Couer. We had so much good coffee and crepes. We did some shopping and went to the Moulin Rouge. Being in Paris with my mom was a dream come true. She loves it there....Mike and Nick didn't, but my mom really really did.
That night, we went to the Latin Quarter and had an amazing dinner. Really good duck and my favorite wine from the Vincenntian Heritage Tour, Cote Du Rhone.
On Thanksgiving day, we got up and went to Concord Square, Place Vendome (where my Mom stayed on her honeymoon), Rivolie, and the Louvre. I got to see the Venus statue this time! After a fake drill went off in the museum, we left and headed for La Tour Eiffel. We took some great pictures for Christmas cards and then headed back to the hotel. We went to a place called L'Entrecote, where they just serve you this amazing steak and fries. Dana had a shitty Thanksgiving dinner...but we all got drunk and had a great time. Watching my mom and Mrs. Elliott butcher French was too funny..."SPLEEET". I am absolutely taking Steve to this joint.
Dana and I went out on Thursday, and although we couldn't get into the club on the Champs-Elysees, we met these girls from London and Mexico and went back to their place. It was really fun hanging out with them, even though we put my mom through the grind. Yeesh...
On Friday, we went shopping on Rivoli and Les Halles. I got a coat, so my mom can sleep again. We had some small snacks and then headed back to Brussels. I really impressed myself in France. My French was pretty good, and I was able to get us all around the city. Hell yeah!
I said goodbye to them this morning... :(
Matthew comes tomorrow, so that will be great. And I can't wait for my time in Paris with Steve. I am so so so excited. It's going to be magical.
I am going to go try to get a haircut...