Blogs from Netherlands, Europe - page 320

Hier even een kaartje dat laat zien waar we naar toe gaan (even van Jaspers site gestolen hihi bedaaaankt!) Er kan in en uigezoomd worden! http://www.travelblog.org/gmaps/map_3wC.html... read more

After another long day in the congress, and the very attractive safari get-up and koala promotions, the much anticipated Gala Dinner at the very exclusive Grand Kranapolsky Hotel’s Winter Garden. Again, being completely spoilt, I was in one of the beautiful buildings, enjoying a very civilized 18 piece band a delightful 3 course meal.. All until the deserts were served and the lights dimmed.. I saw a brand new side of my Congress colleagues and the talked about behavior of the Doctors & Nurses when they’re let loose on the town! Many bottles of wine later, and the oldies giving it there best on the dance floor, even the guitarist got excited and jumped up on the table as the trumbones mingled amongst the crowds! We stayed for the 3rd and final encore, where Mum ... read more

This weekend Jess, Miles, Josh, and I went to Amsterdam. We took a rideculously long busride from Prague, I think it was about 17 hours there (we hit traffic) and 16 hours on the way back, so we pretty much spent the same amount of time in Amsterdam as we did on the bus, but it was totally worth it. I think Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its a pretty strong competitor even against Portland (Oregon). The whole city is built on canals and people ride their boats down them like they're just strolling along through a park and the whole city is run by the bike community. It's relaxing to wander through the streets and enjoy the beautiful views of the canals and of course, the weather could ... read more

And I'm stuck inside watching excruciatingly painful esoteric artsy films. These films (which I watch in one of my film classes) literally drain me. They are abstract to the point of being mind numbing. The diologue is unnatural, the scnenes are jumpy, there's no plot, and the acting style is an accquired taste. I start the day off refreshed and ready to conquer the world and by the time I'm through with this class I need a bottle of asprin and a nap. Not only is it mentally draining but physically draining as well. The camera is usually handheld and the image is grainy so it puts a real strain on my eyes to watch two hour of unfocused film. Bleh. And its painful knowing that outside is ridiculously gorgous. Rumor has it that over the ... read more

10c, fine 22c, warm The last stop of the 'Matt road show' was Amsterdam. The mere mention of this city instantly conjures up sordid images of coffee shops, 'window shopping' and... windmills (okay that's not sordid.. but you get the idea). It's all true, you'll find whatever it is you're looking for in Amsterdam. I'd liken the parts of the city to a theme park - in your face, loud and noisy. Most people go to experience 'the atmosphere' (not the rides.. pardon the pun!) and not surprisingly nearly 95% of people in the red light district are tourists. This is not Holland but I never expected it to be. The first sight of a scantly clad teenager wearing lingerie behind a window was a bit a bit 'in your face', especially in broad daylight. ... read more