Advertisement
Published: August 15th 2006
Edit Blog Post
There are slugs crawling on my sleeping bag early in the morning in Den Haag and I pull some kind of bugs out of my hair. This sleep in the woods is no different from any of the other dozen or so times through England and Wales. On this day I decide to make the trip to Lelystad and attempt to find a relative on my other side of the family. This is pending that I actually spend the money and take a train. I take the long walk downtown and to the central train station. The staggering amount of bikes almost takes the breath away. Estimating I can guess in the thousands and its due to the fact that people have two bikes. One bike to drive to the train station and another one waiting at your destination.
If one has never been inside a busy train station or even taken a train before then it can be a little confusing. I buy a ticket to Lelystad via Schipol and I waste no time in trying to dechipor the system. A man explains to me a little better of how it works and assures me there is no need to freak out because I didn't leave at the time the ticket says. Making my way to the correct terminal I see a Spanish looking guy in an outdated suit and briefcase. Upon giving him the "engel spratten?" line he apologizes for not speaking dutch in perfect english. Relieved he explains things a little better and tells me he's from Spain and despite living here for 3 years speaks not a word of dutch. Inside the train he stares in amazement as I eat gropious amounts of apples and pastries. My account of my last two weeks also astounds him and he offers that I stay at his place in Amsterdam when he returns from London. He is a ballet dancer who travles the world and contrary to North American assumptions his orientation is as straight as any. Juan bids me farewell at schipol and I continue to Lelystad alone, just having the closest thing to a conversation in the last two weeks.
Lelystad turns out to be one of nicest towns I have seen in a while and not even the police yelling at me not to walk near the roads can ruin its impression. I'm looking for my Opa's brother and its easily found through some footpaths. Nervously I knock on the door but once again noone answers and I am left to ponder my options. Using my limited french I decide that bibliotheek is close enough to biblioteque to be the library and I waste a few hours reading guitar books. The new guitar I promised myself if I stay the 40 days is looking even more enticing.
I make several trips back and forth throughout the day but it is clear that they are not home. Anticipating sleeping in a bed, but not actually getting to do so is depressing and cruel. A small tree'd area in the rural part of town is my spot of choice and with great care I prepare a good spot. Within a few minutes I hear the wretched sound of mosquitos and in great numbers. Hours trying to find ways to protect myself produce nothing and I eventually pack my things and give up.
Going back to town gets away from the mosquitos but my head is swimming and it feels like being trapped without any way out. Near the city center I spot a dumpster with a very large cardboard box inside of it. With no other options I decide to take it back to the forest to possibly sleep in. Carrying a huge box through town on my head would be hilarious if anyone was with me, but I fail to see the humour of the situation. After getting lost several times I set up the box in my original sleeping spot. I crawl as far inside as I can but keep having mental images of being stabbed by a crazed lunatic while asleep. A rule of thumb I keep is to not stay in a place after proclaiming 'I'm going to be killed tonight". Kicking the box in frustration I leave the small forest and once again go back to town. After a little deliberation I try to sleep once again by pulling my jacket over my head. Eventually I fall asleep in the bushes only a few feet away from the walking path.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.201s; Tpl: 0.021s; cc: 9; qc: 48; dbt: 0.072s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb