Leidseplein, Albertheign and Boom

I know, right?  They have the weirdest words here.  And to make it even more confusing, the way they are pronounced sometimes sounds nothing like the words look. 

Public transportation is so cool. It's really a shame we don't have it in the U.S. like they do here.  I am amazed at how easy it is to get around and find things.  I hope all of the cities I visit are this easy to navigate.

After the market and coffee shop today, I took the tram to Central Station where there is a grocery store called Albertheign (no idea on the pronounciation of that one).  I picked up a few foreign snacks, and a bottle of soda which was MUCH cheaper than the $3 (2 euro) I've been paying per can.  I got some interesting things, and will take pictures of them soon.  It was fun because I could not read anything, so I didn't really know what I was buying, except for what I could guess from the pictures.  It was raining outside, and my feet and the bottom of my pants were wet, and I started getting cold (yeah, really) so I decided to head home for the night. My tram stop (for the hostel) is called Leidseplein (Liiiii-djus-plon) and it's a neat little area.  When the tram pulled into Leidseplein, I saw this comedy club called "Boom." I decided to check and see what time the show started rather than going back home.  Coincidently the show was starting in about a half hour, and there was a girl standing out front giving out 1/2 price coupons, since they just recently opened.  It was 10e to get in.  I decided to go.

I found a table and ordered a drink (Strongbow again), and a few minutes later another single woman  by herself came and sat next to me.  Her name was Nadia.  We started talking and then a few minutes after that, yet another woman all by herself came in and sat with us also.  We chatted and watched the show together.  Nadia even bought me a drink.  She refused when I tried to reciprocate, but she said I have inspired her to start travelling again.  Apparently she used to travel by herself and has since become a bit scared of travelling alone.  She said she is going to do it; I hope she does!!!  It's funny that everyone (I mean seriously, everyone) here speaks English.  It is the one language that everyone has in common.  I have not met a single person yet who does not speak it. 

Anyway, the three of us enjoyed the comedy show (half scripted and half improv.  All of the kids in the comedy group were from "the states" as they say here.  It was really fun.

(This was last night's post but the intrnet kept cutting out in my room, so I am just posting it now.)

Eccentric Elephants

There are these elephants like this one all over the city.  Each is painted differently.

Coffee & Waterloopein Market

I just finished browsing the Street Market, where I purchased a pair of much too expensive, yet super cute Doc Martin shoes.  I didn't find anything for James, so I need to find a toystore today.  I am now at a very comfortable coffeeshop.  I just finished a piece of cheesecake, which surprisingly was not as good as it looked.  I guess cheescake is more of a New York thing.  It was good though.  I am having a cup of Starbucks tasting coffee, and enjoying using the coffee shop's Wifi.  They offer free WiFi to customers, and print the access code for it on your receipt. 

I am feeling good today which surprises me after all the walking I did yesterday.  I even chose to walk the 6 blocks from the tram station to the Market rather than hopping on the Metro.  Speaking of the metro, iPhone users may be interested to know that I found what has got to be one of the most useful iPhone apps for travelling.  It's called "metro" and here is how it works:  You pick the city you are in from a HUGE list of available cities.  You put in the street you are currently on, and the street or landmark you want to go to, and it gives you step-by-step directions on which subway/tram/train to take to get there.  It's great! 

I've decided to stay the night in Amsterdam and leave for Belgium first thing in the morning.  I have already paid for the night here, and arriving in Brussels at night might be difficult since I haven't picked a hostel for my stay there yet.  Also, since there is not much I want to see there, I could possibly arrive in Brussels in the morning, look around for the day, and take a nighttime train to Paris.

Oh, did I mention there is a casino a few blocks from the hostel?  I might check that out tonight.

That's all for now.  Be sure to laugh today!!

Good morning Day 2!!!

I woke up bright and early at 9 am (which is 3 am to you US folks) and
went downstairs for the free breakfast, which consisted of bread,
croissants, unidentifiable cereal (I not only learned was chocolate
smurf something-or-other but also got the prize!!) and stuff to put on
the bread which I identified by smell as peanut butter and something
like neutella. The bread was very fresh; it was fine for free
breakfast at $25 a night digs.

Now I am on my bunk being quiet and debating whether to disturb my 4
sleeping roomates to get my day going or be polite and wait until they
are all up. Being that one of them came in so loudly and abruptly last
night that I woke up and screamed, and since they are all 15-ish years
my juniors and can handle loosing a little sleep, I probably will get
going in a bit.

I think that I may head to Brussels later on today. After the
Waterloopien market where I hope to find a gift for James, I will be
over Holland.

Sent from my iPhone

Hostel hosts

Very nice kids who serve me drinks and make my room key work.

Common room at the hostel

My view from the bar. (if I turn my head slightly to the left. )

Well it didn't really last :(

After my nap in the comfy hostel room I tried to go out and check out
the night sceen but was in too much pain so am back at the hostel
chugging "strongbow" (hard cider). Maybe that will help.

Tomorrow I head for the street markets.

Sent from my iPhone

Day 1 - And a streak of good luck!

Aside from the dreary, drizzly weather, which I really didn't mind since at least it was cool, the day has gone great.  First, I am navigating the city very easily!  It is now 6:04 p.m. and I just got to my bed in the Hostel.  I have been out in the city all day, and only the last hour was bordering excruciating.  I found that if I rest for just a few minutes every once in a while, and take pain pills every 4 hours, I can walk quite a bit.  I must have walked miles today!  And I did a lot more than I thought I would on day one. 

The city is super cool looking. 

These are things I ate today:

a boring looking but surprisingly delicious apple thingy

a herring sandwich.  It is apparently a very popular food here.  I was fairly sure I wouldn't like it, but had to try it.  the pigeons were glad.  It's raw and very slimy.  Yuck.

a much more delicious mozzzarella pesto sandwich.  much better than herring.

I saw the Anne Frank house and the Van Gogh museum (both were awesome.)  I walked around the streets a lot, looking in shops and taking in the atmosphere. 

I am at the hostel now, ready to take a nap and then go out again tonight.

bye for now.

I got the first stamp on my passport!

I'm in Amsterdam.  Just walked around for an hour looking for the hostel.  Finally found it but have to hand around for a hour before check in time.  I am right around the corner from the Van Gogh museum, which I will visit as soon as I get checked in and lock up my luggage.  What I've seen so far looks very interesting, but nothing opens until after 10.  I guess all the pot smoking makes everyone sleep late.  Off to explore... will post more later.

Not far now, my little smurf

Surely getting down to the wire now... Just one more work day, then I have the weekend to do my final packing and planning, then I leave on Monday.  I've taken a break from trying to figure out which cities to visit.  It was overwhelming.  I'll just wait and see what I feel like doing when I get there.  My Mom would say "I have to watch and see what I do."  I did, however, book a hostel for the first night in Amsterdam.  I picked it by ratings online - it got very high marks, and is not in the Red Light District (I will surely visit, but don't want to stay there).  I am fairly confident that it will be acceptable accomodations, and unlike some of the horror-story hostels that you hear about. 

I'm enjoying the company of my precious grandson tonight. He is sleeping over for the first time. I am going to miss him, and have promised to bring him a toy from every place I visit. I'm sure he'll grow a foot while I'm gone. As I write this, I just watched him roll over. It's the first time I've witnessed that feat. It was quite impressive.

I am considering renting a car for a few days while in Italy, and just driving around, rather than taking the train from city to city.  That way I would get to see countryside, small towns, and such.  Who knows, maybe I would run across a little village with women stomping grapes like Lucy and Ethel.  How cool would that be if they let me stomp along!  I have very wide feet, and could be quite productive.  I actually have some rather distant cousins in southern Italy, and had contemplated visiting them, but probably won't because where they live is pretty far south, and also they don't speak English, or know me, and may wonder about the strange American knocking on their door saying "fam-a-lee... fam-a-leee".

That's it for now... I have to put the little pumpkin down for the night and stare at him for a while.  Check back, though... I promise this blog will get less boring once I'm in Europe. 

Hug someone today!  Right now even!  Seriously.... get up and hug someone.  It will feel good.  I promise.