6.17 &18.2006 :: the eternal day // Amsterdam

:: 6.17.2006 :: 3.30pm :: leaving for the airport with my backpack, the Hornet

















:: 6.18.2006 :: 9.05am :: The story of the two postcards
Arrive at airport and pick up the Hornet.

Get plenty of $$ out of MAC machine.

Attempt to use cash to buy train ticket, only to realize ticket machines accept coins only. Form new strategy: buy two postcards with the goal of obtaining change.

Get ripped off on postcards while being told “we don’t provide change.”

Wait in a very long line at international ticket counter along with everyone else who doesn't have the right change. Somebody seriously needs to do something about those ornery coins-only machines.

Buy train tickets. Board train. Finally.

Write two postcards, one to a friend about how many cows I saw while landing in Amsterdam. The other to myself about how not to get ripped off buying postcards of a country i haven't yet visited.

::

1pm :: tapas dining. the manager started talking with us in Dutch, and when i replied in English, he looked shocked and said, "but you look Dutch!" ...he then looked at adam and remarked, "and you look like George Bush." . . . here you see adam doing the "W"and me wondering what i've gotten myself into . . .

2.30pm :: Bicycling along the canals

7.00pm :: strolling the streets followed by dinner at a street cafe. notice the orange balloons. everything here is decorated with orange balloons in support of the Dutch football team's participation in the World Cup.

::

See that green cargo boat half way down the pier? Looks like your run of the mill green cargo

boat, doesn’t it?

Don’t be deceived. This is no ordinary green cargo boat. In fact, this green cargo boat has been transformed into none other than one of the best-priced hostels in Amsterdam.

And so the green cargo boat initiated me to the European backpacking culture. I’d say being

woken up in the middle of the night only to wonder why the world is swirling and tilting around me is a good initiation to the backpacker’s life, wouldn’t you?

This was my Amsterdam, complete with swirling and tilting, and I didn’t even have to smoke anything.

Also pictured above: a Russian U-boat, three old Dutch marine ships, a minesweeper and the Sirius, which is owned by Greenpeace and is taken around the world saving wildlife at sea.

:: tiny me on a bit boat (click to view larger)

:: concluding observations

did you know Amsterdam has open-ceiling green metal cylinders atop bridges where men can go to pee straight into the river?!?! That's gross.

did you also know the Red Light District is in the center of town? and kids play half a block down?? Even grosser.

and finally, did you know that the wifebeater is a staple item in a Dutch man's wardrobe? the Grossest of All.

it's like the grunge era never left here. good music. bad hygiene. ...probably not the first place i'd come back to visit.