Holland has been great. Staying with locals always makes it special and Leiden has been absolutely beautiful. Its canals rival anywhere else in Europe (although filthy - think male football fans relieving themselves after the game), and are incredibly picturesque - whether on the water, or having a coffee beside it.

We also made a day trip to Amsterdam to visit the Van Gogh Museum and check out the scene. While the Dutch often don't like what is really a massive version of Kings Cross, it's got a vibe like nowhere else and is filled with mushroom vendors, sneaker shops, women in windows and american tourists! Despite this, once we got off the beaten path the combination of architecture and funky little design/food/homeware shops makes it one of our favourite cities.

The best thing has been to hang out with Maarten and Ruth, eat 'yummy' food and drink wine... all while watching endless world cup matches. Thanks guys - we will miss you!