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I don't know if you know this about me, but I've always wanted to be on the Amazing Race. I have visions of running over the finish line with Tom and winning the 1,000,000 prize. As I watch the show I see teams having such difficulty getting from place to place using public transportation, which is usually how they lose the race. I've always wondered - have these folks just never used public transportation? What could be so difficult?
By the end of today, I have come to the realization that I may have judged them too quickly.
The day starts off flawlessly - both flights get us to Amsterdam on time, and the home made garbage bag and duct tape covers worked well - all packs made it there just fine.
We uncovered our packs, loaded them up on our backs, and we were off!
We decided against a taxi and opted to figure out public transportation on our own - after all, we consider ourselves to be pretty intelligent well traveled individuals, and being together as a group only gave us more confidence.
Mike arrived 45 minutes before us, and had already figured out that we needed to take a train from the airport, transfer to a tram in the city and then walk to our hotel. Sounds like a plan.
First stop - ticket kiosk for the train. Seemed pretty straightforward, but 20 minutes and 5 credit cards later (we keep getting denied - what does it want? chip only? chip and pin? standard swipe card? Debit? etc?) we finally have successfully purchased tickets. Now off to find the train.
Up and down escalators and ramps, changing platforms, consulting maps and anyone who spoke English (although how does one pronounce street names like Nieuwezuds Voorburgwal, Stadhouderskade, and Utrechtsestraat??). Another 30 mins and we found the train.
When we arrived at the hotel (a few hours later, and surely out of "the race") the room wasn't ready so we dropped our packs in the breakfast room and headed out to explore the city.
It rained a lot, but we tried to hit some highlights on our first day - went to Dam square, walked through the Red Light district, headed down into an infamous coffee shop (loved the sign!), stopped for chips (fries) with mayo, went to a cheese shop, and upon recommendation tried some Bitter Ballen (see photo). The best way this can be explained is if you took some thick/gelatinous gravy, froze it in the shape of an egg, battered and deep fried it. Interesting... But don't plan to order it again.
Tomorrow we plan to go to the Van Gogh Museum, take a canal boat tour, and find the only windmill in the city of Amsterdam (which, by the way, just happens to be the site of a brewery and beer garden). Weather forecast looks great!
P.S. You will see a very strange sign in my photos for today - DNA spray. Apparently, many stores have a new way of preventing crime and catching thieves. If they are robbed, they can hit a button to have a spray distributed in front of the store. The spray is sightless and odorless, but remains on the body and clothes for several days and does not wash off. A UV light can determine if you were at the scene of the crime. Interesting!
- comments
Kathryn Kanaan Is this a hostel? what the heck with the single beds?
Kathryn Kanaan The buildings are beautiful!!!! Doesn't rain mean prosperity? It is going to be a fantastic trip :)
Chris O. I have yet to catch up but love that you are sharing. Have a great time.