Advertisement
Published: December 4th 2008
Edit Blog Post
Semi-Back from the Dead and I've had an amazing two days. Don't ever let stoner college kids paint a cliche expectation of Amsterdam for you. It's a real beautiful place with a ton of cool history and everyone should come here at least once. It seriously looks like a level out of Call of Duty.
Who has two thumbs and enjoys Jupiler? You got it- this guy. I'm real excited I experienced this true Pilsner without going to Brussels. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to trying to beat this cheap ass boss in King of Fighters. Yes, our hostel has PS2.
Music: On the plane ride here I listened to Owls. I was in a complete daze from being sick and it totally got me through the flight. The clutch part was getting to Holy Fucking Ghost and having Tim Kinsella say "I'm sick again..." Today we took a free tour of the city and listened to the latest Between the Buried and Me when the guide would tell the stories. Nothing like listening to Metal and History simultaneously.
As Scott mentioned, forget the Hollywood caricatures, ignore
the university kids stricken with tunnel vision and throw away all of your preconcieved notions of this (regrettably) notorious city. Allow me to apologize if I come off as pretentious and iconoclastic, but two days in and I have enjoyed myself for every reason but the most obvious for your typical guy in the 18-25 demographic, this city offers so much for a visitor that unfortunately have a habit of being overlooked.
It may be too early in the trip to declare a favorite but Amsterdam has definitely set the bar at a stratospheric height. From the moment we disembarked and hit the cobblestone streets I was in love. The city exudes charm and simply radiates history and culture. Ancient churches and mansions adorn the landscape, canals and rivers bisect the busy roads (which are dominated by cyclists that battle for pole position with motorists and pedestrians) and houses with foundations reclaimed by nature lean to and fro with lazy indifference.
By far one of the most visually impressive parts of Amsterdam is the open and airy Dam Square. This historic town square serves as a natural meeting ground for tourists and friends as several major roads terminate
at its edges. Madame Tussaud, Royal Palace and Nieuwe Kerk (Literally translated into New Church, I had to look the spelling of that one up) loom impressively on the west end of the town square while directly opposite of them stands the World War II memorial, the National Monument, which was erected in memory of all those who fell during the second great war. Its hard not to feel at ease while walking around the breezy square, snapping photos chatting with friends and generally just appreciating the laid back atmosphere of Amsterdam.
With only 24 hours left before we leave for Berlin, I look forward to spending one more day walking around the amsterdam streets, carefree and aimless.
Oh, baby Amsterdam makes me feel like a kid in a highly illegal yet wonderfully playful candy store. When we arrived the dreary weather didn't keep our spirits down. Hostels, casinos, and sex shops line the sides of Damtraak. We made our way to the hostel where we met the mohawked/tattooed manager Mark who will be my future rock husband even though he is married and lives here.
While not on three hour tours (insert
Gilligan joke here) I find myself sitting at the window that is next to my bed. It looks out over our small side street. Even though it is pretty cold outside the crisp air helps my mind wander and think about this amazing city. I can't get over how much people ride their bikes here! Instead of cars everyone has one of these colorful machines. Sometimes while sitting at my window I think about my friends and I living here and riding our bikes to the university or a cafe to enjoy eachother's company. We would laugh over coffees and discuss how Melissa's bike was thrown into the canal by a drunk guy, how Natsha was propositoned for sex, how Nixza had to explain it to her, how Vinny was giving another tour of the city, how Gina got a cute new dress, how Marissa was out at the disco with her chicas, and so on and so forth... Yes i-magic-nation it is.
As per the other windows in the area and their famous inhabitants they are interesting. While walking down a small alley full of red lit windows the girls start to lightly tap on their glass panes.
Soon the taps were slaps and slaps became banging. I couldn't help but glance quickly and then scurry ahead of the pack! It was scary yet magical!
Amsterdam is definitely magic and according to Cliff "every couch is magical!"
We waited in an abandoned terminal for what seemed like an eternity (although probably not even close) at London Hethrow. 25 was our number, yet there were both A and B; the denizens of which had no idea which was the terminal for the flight to Amsterdamn. We waited it out. It was 25A. Patience rules over all. Finally, we boarded our floating steal boat. It glided lazily over the open Dutch sees. We passed over fields upon fields of windmill farms. The seeds of which were planted in the ocean by the industrius Hollanders. They seemed still, and only moved as our plane passed near them. Powered perhaps by the weight of our depening mental images as we came close and closer to this newest of foreign lands.
Arrival: cold and rainy, dark and dreary. The cobblestones seemed dirty. The architechture bleak. The people soulless. The night brings snow. Seemingly washing away all that was wrong with the world. Dawn approaches. The golden bands of sunlight slowly warming the seemingly desolate cold of the granite clad buildings and roadways. The black water gleamed with flecks of bronze and silver, and the air itself seemed to open my mind. I couldn't haev imagined such a city. If you added electricity to the simplest and yet most beautiful medievil town imaginable, you would have Amsterdam. A place of such beauty, I even risked shoving my laptop out of a 3rd story window just to show Meg where I was in the world.
My thoughts were saturated by these images and imaginings. Until that is, I partook. A whole other world opened up around me. All things possible, all things comical. All things, slowly, moving forward. The term one man's trash is another man's treasure has never been more adequitely used. I bought garbage according to the locals, but I saw and felt only gold. From my magic cough I sat and envisioned the rest of the trip. Wondering all the while if the best was behind me. The tour we took was interesting mostly for the fact that Amsterdam has had such interaction with the world over the last 7 centuries. During this tour, we learned of the Amsterdam Miracle. which was of bread that would not burn because it was the Eucharist. I had my own Amsterdam miracle. It was when Scott realized that he didn't leave his balls at home. They were actually just at the bottom of his bag. Upon finding them, we embarked on a journey that took us far and wide, yet no where at all. Derek gaggled with glee for the entire trip, and it was all well worth the while.
I could go on about all of this, but I have spoken enough. I bought a sweet hat, and found Marlboro Menthol lights. It has been a good couple of days. Also, AIM video chat is a godsend.
On that note folks, enjoy your day, and excuse me while I kiss the sky.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.14s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 6; qc: 43; dbt: 0.0907s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Melissa Panty
non-member comment
sexy times 2
yet another spec-tac-u-lar blog post fellas... i am totally living vicariously through your travels and loving it.. and D- i would definitely be the one in Amsterdam to get my bike thrown into a canal by a drunkard. Based on this post, I am applying for my Visa to work there (in the windows or not) and live there for an extended period of time..... Enjoy your travels tomorrow!! <3