Chicken Ducks

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Amsterdam is a ridiculously walkable city. Jacqueline (travel buddy) and I walked from the east end of Amsterdam to the west end in about thirty minutes. Well, we could have walked in thirty minutes, but because we had to stop every two minutes to take a picture and get all giddy and squealy about how amazingly cute it all was, the walk took closer to an hour. The cuteness factor is unreal...with all these amazingly quaint houses, cozy cafes, and flea markets. We're starting to figure our way around the city. We're using the Centraal Station, the Waag, and the Amsterdam square to orient ourselves and it seems to be working. We're finding our way around the city without consulting the map too much.

So we woke up around 7 this morning and had a yummy (free) breakfast around 8. Then we headed to our housing center so Jacqueline could figure out where she was going to be staying. Her dorm is in a lovely area. I don't think I'v ever used the word lovely before, but its the perfect way to describe the place. There are cobblestone streets, potted flowers hanging off balconies, wild parrots apparently, and little gardens and town squares. Her dorm itself is kindof a ramshackle old building overlooking the canal. It has lots of character. On the way over to my dorm we walked through the Waterloopien flea market which I'll have to check out later and had some coffee at the Bagel and Bean. My dorm was a twenty minute walk in the opposite direction and is in the Jewish district. My dorm is nice, but had more of a manufactured and less of a homey feel. Still, my own personal kitchen is enough to make up for lack of character.

After we checked out our dorms we had amazing amazing amazing giant sweet pancakes before heading back to our hostel for a qucik nap. After we woke up we met some other participants from our program and had a nice dinner. If the people we met were an accurate representation of the rest of the CIEE group, I know I'll have an amazing time.

Pictures to come later. This is my last night using a hostel computer. Sorry again for the poor grammar and less than brilliant writing. Tired.

PS: There are chicken ducks here which my family should appreciate.

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Photos

not quite chicken ducks
but still cool

Comments

[Mom]

Everyday on my way home, while passing the chicken ducks, I think of you. Glad you're enjoying the sights, but do get some sleep. I like your blog, rather coherent for someone whose been up for 24hrs. We'll see how long the coldish, overcast weather suits you. Miss ya. Love Mom

[Judith (cousin)]

Eat all of those wonderful pastries and fries that you want. They are too delectable to passby. Besides you'll be walking or biking alot, so you'll keep the pounds off. Hope you have a chance to go to the Anne Frank house. Worth the time and trip. Enjoy!