I AMsterdam

This past weekend I took to the road...destination Amsterdam. 35 of us loaded a bus at 7:00am on Friday. Little did I know that I would be on this bus for the next 8 hrs.

We drove from London to somewhere (gotta be honest, don't really know where) and hopped on a ferry. Before being allowed to drive on the ferry, we were searched by security. They selected 5 bags at random to search. Erica's was one of them...and me being me, I thought I'd capture the KODAK moment. The officers didn't think it was as funny as I did. As soon as I took the picture, an officer was running at the bus telling me to stop. Thus, the picture is not high quality BUT I feel like I really risked it to take the picture and thus it needs to be shown.



Two hours later, we are off the ferry and on our way! Oh wait, no we're not. We're being pulled over by the police and would you believe it...our driver doesn't have the right paperwork. I also risked it and snuck a picture of this 1.25hr delay.



I think Erica is tired of being on the bus!



Hours and hours and hours later, we were in Amsterdam. Our guide, Rob, took us on tour of the city and the infamous Red Light Distric. Dear Lord! I wasn't expecting what I found. I thought there would be a lot of strip clubs, etc....oh no, the women and the men wanting to be women were in windows. Everywhere. Each "person" had their own window/door. What I found humorous was what they did in their windows. Some girls did their hair, talked on the phone, ATE... Regardless, wasn't a place that I would take my mom.

Me being me and somewhat oblivious, I didn't really realize that Amsterdam is famous for the fact that drugs are legal. I learned this about a week before I left when everyone was asking me if I was going to have fun in Amsterdam. I'm like..heck yes I'm going to have fun. Then they would launch into their schpeel about which coffee shops were the best to purchase drugs and where to get happy brownies. I was like, um I'm pretty happy with just brownies. So on the bus ride there and on the evening tour, pretty much everyone in the group was consumed with the idea of legal drugs and when they would be able to finally get them. For the most part, people planned to be high all weekend long. Erica and I agreed that we're so rediculous that people will probably think we're high anyways...so we'll fit right in minus the actual intake of drugs. I have to admit...I laughed almost nonstop this weekend. So maybe Erica is the only drug I need.

And here I prove my point. Erica is leading our troops of statues... I on the other hand forgot to assume attack position.



Playing fetch with the troop puppy..



As brave as I was earlier in the trip, I wasn't brave enough to take pictures in the Red Light Distric. We were told that pictures weren't allowed (understandably) and the last person on the tour who had taken a picture was thrown in a canal.

Bikes galore in this city! My theme song for the weekend was "Ring my b-e-ll, ring my bell" I think this would be the perfect city for Kristina and Alex to visit...




On Sunday we stopped in

The city was absolutely gorgeous. I wished we had been able to spend more time here...I was just inlove with the place.









Being pretty sharp, I'm able to determine that tourism must be this way. I feel it is only appropriate to do what the sign says.



And Erica thinks it is ok to ruin a KODAK moment.



But that's ok, she made up for it with this KODAK moment.





Major props to you if you can pronounce this one.

Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn...

For those of you who are picking up what I'm throwing down, the title of this blog is a phrase in a rap song.

I'd like to share with you my Amsterdam hostel experience...there were good times...but mostly there were bad times.

It started when we arrived at the hostel... can u tell this is a hostel? I consider it a bad sign when only the "L" is lit up.



Six girls to a room!


And 6 girls to a bathroom!



The room did boast classy wall art though...



Chocolate AND Beer vending machines...could it get any better?



The hostel also had a pub...I'm finding this to be pretty standard in hostels.




Poor bloke! His mom called and asked that a note be posted for him to call home. I'd hate to be Isaac Alexander.



The hostel was absolutely FREEZING. I slept in flannel pj's (thanks to my fabulous sister Katie) two long sleeve shirts, my Northface fleece jacket...I also had my towel on top of my bed sheet for an extra layer. Truth be told, we all did this!

Wait till you read later on about the breakfast offerings...

I'd like to think that Erica and I are tough cookies for laughing through this dodgy situation.

Heinekin Experience

One of my most favorite things that we did while in Amsterdam was the tour of the Heinekin Brewery. For 10 eruos (admission cost) you get to tour the brewery, 3 beers AND a free glass and tin. That's a steal...I told Erica we would be throwing money away basically if we didn't go. She had no objections...



My favorite section dealt with their marketing throughout the years (not a surprise). I want you all to pay attention next time you see a Heinekin advertisement or logo...I would like to drawn your attention to the "smiling e". In an attempt to make the brand more upbeat and friendly, they changed the typeface a few years back. No longer are the letters all in caps...and it now boasts a "smiling e"... I just love this kind of stuf...



(Sam, the star trek ad make me think of you and all of those wonderful times that you forced me to watch Star Trek).



Beer #1! Also in the picture was severl girls from the trip. Most stayed in my room with me...yes, that would be 6 people to a room.


Too much beer for one girl???



Nah...




This tour included TWO rides. The first ride simulated what it was like to be a Heinekin bottle at the brewery...throughout the production process. Very fun! The second simulated what it was like to command the Heinekin horses...



I know, I know...I look pretty cool.



We were all smiles when we left...

Cheese and Clogs

Saturday started early with a hearty breakfast of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (the only free options at the hostel was bread, cheese, some wierd meat, jelly and peanut butter. Oh yes, and you were also allowed one boiled egg).

Since booking our trip, Erica and I relished the notion that we would get to go to a Cheese and Clog making factory. It's every girls dream! So we were showered, dressed, fed, and ready to rock and roll. Rob (our trip guide) asked us to knock on a few doors to make sure everyone was ready to go. We thought, well that's kinda your job but we're nice...so we'll help you out. And we did. When we returned to the lobby though...Rob and our group had left us. My comment was...Erica, we're like the only ones who actually wanted to go to the Clog and Cheese factory... I found a little humor in the situation...Erica, however did not. We acted quickly though and decided our best bet was to call Rob on his cell phone. Our cell phones did not have reception...thus we made our way to the pay phone. First of all, there was no english anywhere on the phone. Second, we weren't sure how to dial out. Third, the machine wanted lots of money...every few seconds it seemed like. Below is a reenactment of this ordeal (we were obviously a little busy at the moment to capture the kodak moments but went back at a later time as to be able to share our story....)








Luckily, after this bit with the phone and a brisk run, Erica and I met up with our group and we were on our way to the Cheese and Clog factory.

Rob had hired someone to give us a tour as we drove. You think this sounds great. It wasn't. It was probably THE worst tour I've ever been on.


This woman was our crazy crazy tour guide who repeated everything she said at least (at least) 3 times. And there were no silent moments on our 2 hour drive. Nope...she filled every bit of space with uhhhhhhhs and ahhhhhhhs and what we call jabberwocky (crazy talk).

We can thank Erica for these next pictures of the countryside.




We stopped in a small town just before going to the Cheese and Clog factory. Erica and I took this opportunity to have our pictures taken in traditional Dutch clothing (I'm working on taking a picture of the picture so that all of you can see this sight!). We look pretty hilarious...my first comment was "it's official, I don't look good in any hats!" We also took this opportunity to sit amongst the locals and ponder Dutch life...



And finally...we arrive at...


In case you're wondering...this is where they make the cheese!






And on to the clogs....


This guy was absolutely fabulous...a clog maker with a sense of humor! I must say that I learned quite a bit about clogs... For instance, fishermen wear clogs that have more of a point on their toe. This is because they often want to be lazy and pick up their nets with their feet. If you wear your clogs on pavement and so forth, you can expect them to last for 3/4 of a year. If you are simply using them in the gardens, then you are in luck because your clog will last you 5 years! It is tradition for a man to make a pair of clogs before he can propose to his lady. This is to show her and her family that he can work with his hands. Now not all men know how to make a good clog and this task can take up to 2 years. He must also create a design and carve it on the tops of the clogs. Upon completion he puts on his wedding clogs and presents himself to his lady to ask for her hand. If she decides that she doesn't like them, he is back at square one. Our guide says that the two year period gives the lad a lot of time to decide if this is something he really wants to get in to!

I can honestly say that I've already put what I learned into use. Later that evening when we got back in to Amsterdam, I overheard a girl in a shop saying "well I really want a pair of clogs, but I'm not sure what size to get". I was on it! I said, "I hate to barge in BUT I was actually at a clog making factory today and I can help you with sizing." I feel good knowing that now 1 million and 1 people wear clogs on a daily basis.

This was quite a stylish Clog factory...as you can see, they stock all major brands.



There was two girls from BUNAC, who sat in a shoe....





And this was all accomplished before 1:00pm....WHEW!

Greg gives the tour, two tumbs up!

Pub-tastic

These are random pictures taken this past weekend at a pub. Have to be honest, I can't really tell you who these people are. I really only know Luke (the scottish lad sitting next to me in the white shirt). We were there with some of his friends...the other people are what they call "couch surfers" Apparently, it's pretty popular to offer up your couch to people passing through...

We were there to watch a rugby game. Luke was kind enough (and patient enough) to try and explain the rules to me. Can't say that I understood them all that well...I'm not ready to comment on strategy or anything yet. It was one of the coolest pubs though that I've been to thus far.

And close your ears mom, but I also had the first yager bomb since I've been here.