amsterdam, finally
Clearly excited about finally reaching Amsterdam, the entire purpose of catching up and travelling together in the first case, Robin and I arrived at Antwerp station in time to get the 9am train! The train itself was packed and after eventually finding a seat, we were quietly relieved when the carriage began to thin out at the next stop. We unpacked our lunch and settled down to enjoy the ride. Well we planned to until the last person in the carriage kindly informed us that we needed to change trains at that station. Doh!! And so, juggling our things and racing up the platform, we eventually got onto the next rain, just as it was about to take off. All we could do was laugh at ourselves and finally relax.
The driving rain on arrival to Amsterdam meant any chance of walking to the hostel was out. After successfully negotiating the public transport system (known as the “silent killers”) we arrived at our very clean hostel, high 5’s all around for finally making to Amsterdam. We then sat down to form a vague plan of attack.
Amsterdam, famous for coffee shops (that sell more than coffee), museums, bikes and canals quickly revealed another asset…shoe stores!! It seemed that every second shop was a shoe store, and as Robin searched for a pair of boots, it certainly felt like we went into everyone!! Thankfully, due to the overwhelming number of shoe stores, Robin was not short and choice and eventually found a pair she liked.
Our initial plan of hiring bikes and doing the full Dutch thing was hampered by the weather. All we could do for the first couple of days was seek refuge inside shops and museums. All commuting we ended up doing was on foot and it quickly became apparent that transport rules were similar to paper, rock and scissors. Car beat bikes, bikes beat pedestrians and pedestrians beat cars. The only other rule was that trams beat everything! Ten tonnes of metal tends to beat most things in that respect, however the problem with the trams is that they are so quiet and hence very dangerous. In fact they want to make them even more quiet!! Clearly the Dutch have found an answer to their population problems.
Never an attentive student in art history classes during school had left me somewhat deficient in the intricacies of art appreciation, a fact I have been trying to change. Consequently, the hours spent wandering the amazing Van Gogh museum were thoroughly enjoyable. With the large variety of art displayed, and clear explanations of style and technique, it was simple to fill some of those holes in my art history knowledge. Oh my god, I can understand some art!!
Unfortunately the architecture museum was closed. After looking at the architecture of the building in which it is suggested that the museum might have actually been fairly crap! The photography museum, however, was awesome, even if I some of the artistic photography was a little bit too weird. The archival footage reaffirmed techniques I’ve been practising whilst away and therefore just as much a learning experience as a time to enjoy yet another museum.
Our one night out led us to the Grass-hopper, a large bar with only female bar staff. The place felt like you were stepping into the film Coyote Ugly from the way the staff looked and behaved. The music was crap however however the slow amble home meant a good night had by all.
No trip to Amsterdam is complete without a stroll through the red-light district. Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands. They have their own unions and pay taxes. Under strong red, neon lights, the girls, clad in virtually nothing, stand in windows trying to tempt any of the passers-by for a quick 15 min, €50 suck and f#$k. while we saw a few people taking up the kind offers, it was hard to imagine how a girl sitting in bra and nickers, eating a roll could be at all enticing. Despite it being the oldest profession in the world (although I don’t know how they figured that) there were far better things to spend €50 on in Amsterdam.
Eventually, following the planned exit strategy we left Amsterdam early in the morning for Berlin after a great couple of days there.
Tips for young players:
if you have other places in the Netherlands you want to see, go their first before arriving in Amsterdam.
The driving rain on arrival to Amsterdam meant any chance of walking to the hostel was out. After successfully negotiating the public transport system (known as the “silent killers”) we arrived at our very clean hostel, high 5’s all around for finally making to Amsterdam. We then sat down to form a vague plan of attack.
Amsterdam, famous for coffee shops (that sell more than coffee), museums, bikes and canals quickly revealed another asset…shoe stores!! It seemed that every second shop was a shoe store, and as Robin searched for a pair of boots, it certainly felt like we went into everyone!! Thankfully, due to the overwhelming number of shoe stores, Robin was not short and choice and eventually found a pair she liked.
Our initial plan of hiring bikes and doing the full Dutch thing was hampered by the weather. All we could do for the first couple of days was seek refuge inside shops and museums. All commuting we ended up doing was on foot and it quickly became apparent that transport rules were similar to paper, rock and scissors. Car beat bikes, bikes beat pedestrians and pedestrians beat cars. The only other rule was that trams beat everything! Ten tonnes of metal tends to beat most things in that respect, however the problem with the trams is that they are so quiet and hence very dangerous. In fact they want to make them even more quiet!! Clearly the Dutch have found an answer to their population problems.
Never an attentive student in art history classes during school had left me somewhat deficient in the intricacies of art appreciation, a fact I have been trying to change. Consequently, the hours spent wandering the amazing Van Gogh museum were thoroughly enjoyable. With the large variety of art displayed, and clear explanations of style and technique, it was simple to fill some of those holes in my art history knowledge. Oh my god, I can understand some art!!
Unfortunately the architecture museum was closed. After looking at the architecture of the building in which it is suggested that the museum might have actually been fairly crap! The photography museum, however, was awesome, even if I some of the artistic photography was a little bit too weird. The archival footage reaffirmed techniques I’ve been practising whilst away and therefore just as much a learning experience as a time to enjoy yet another museum.
Our one night out led us to the Grass-hopper, a large bar with only female bar staff. The place felt like you were stepping into the film Coyote Ugly from the way the staff looked and behaved. The music was crap however however the slow amble home meant a good night had by all.
No trip to Amsterdam is complete without a stroll through the red-light district. Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands. They have their own unions and pay taxes. Under strong red, neon lights, the girls, clad in virtually nothing, stand in windows trying to tempt any of the passers-by for a quick 15 min, €50 suck and f#$k. while we saw a few people taking up the kind offers, it was hard to imagine how a girl sitting in bra and nickers, eating a roll could be at all enticing. Despite it being the oldest profession in the world (although I don’t know how they figured that) there were far better things to spend €50 on in Amsterdam.
Eventually, following the planned exit strategy we left Amsterdam early in the morning for Berlin after a great couple of days there.
Tips for young players:
if you have other places in the Netherlands you want to see, go their first before arriving in Amsterdam.
posted by santas walkabout at 3:24 am
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