Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 14:35:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Tip #1: Never mind the cars, but beware of bicycles!
Slaap Middag (or maybe avond),
Before I continue with this, I want to make a couple of notes to myself and my
brother. So skip to the next paragraph if you dont want to read it...
Note to myself: Sometimes it is better to explore all the coaches of the train
in your class, before deciding on a seat. And have an alternate seat in mind in
case the train suddenly decides to switch directions, then GRAB IT before
anyone else does.
Note to my brother: Happy birthday!!!
Okay...
Well, I'm back in Europe, a new country this time -- Netherlands, which is
"country #25" I've visited so far. Not counting my first 12 years in India, its
taken 14 years to explore just 25 countries. :( So many more to go and I don't
know how much longer I'm going to be alive...
I got barely an hour's sleep on Friday night, waking up an hour before my alarm
-- I guess I was too excited! I also didn't sleep much on the flights, which
were San Francisco-Dallas (I love the scenery on this flight every time from
the "A" seats -- right over Bryce Canyon and southern Utah), then
Dallas-Frankfurt in the 777 -- it's been a long time since I had been in the
777, and aside from the larger restrooms, I really miss the 767 seats and
entertainment system! Of course in coach class the 777 is far better.. but oh
well, those were the olden days.. on this flight the movies were themed --
"Miracle on 34th Street" and "Elf". "Darjeeling Limited" was also playing and
that was the one I wanted to see, but the audio quality was so bad on that
channel I'm just going to get the DVD when I get back home!
After freshening up in Frankfurt flughafen, I started walking leisurely to the
train station (I had 2 hours to kill before the 11:45 train to Amsterdam) --
that is until I saw on the TV monitors that there was another train leaving at
9:45. The leisurely walk turned into a jog to the ticket counter to get the
eurail pass validated, and I confirmed that I do NOT need a reservation on this
train. I made it to the platform a few minutes before the train arrived, got on
it, and relaxed, putting my headphones back on...
It had snowed the previous night, and the whole landscape was a winter
wonderland. Fresh snow covering everything in white -- beautiful!
First stop on this train = Cologne. Mental debate about whether I should get
out for a couple hours and take the next train onward. Nah. Cologne is a
beautiful city but I wanted to see AMSTERDAM!
Well, when we pulled in to Koln Centrale, an announcement came on the intercom
that everyone had to disembark due to "technical difficulties" with this train.
There would be another train pulling in behind this one, and we should all get
on that one to continue to Amsterdam.
Hmmmmmm.... a sign that I should spend some time in Cologne?
Well, I followed everyone else to the train behind the first one and got on
that, making myself comfortable before being asked to get out of my seat by a
couple of people who had a reservation where I was sitting. So I had to make
myself comfortable in another seat.
The ride was very smooth for the 220kmph speed that they kept displaying on the
LCD in front of the cabin. Again I debated getting off in Dusseldorf, Arnhem,
and Utrecht (I know someone there from my previous job) to do some exploring,
but ended up staying on the train, finally arriving in Amsterdam Centrale at
2:45.
This is unlike a lot of other train stations in Europe. For the first time I
actually had a problem finding the tourist office -- it's on Platform 1,
upstairs and away from all the "other stuff". But once I found that everything
else was fine. I bought the "I Amsterdam" card there, good for all public
transport and free or discounted attractions for 72 hours. The weather has been
WONDERFUL today -- Before leaving I was seeing "cold/fog/light rain/light
snowflakes" -- there was NONE of that! It's even warmer than when I was in the
"Venice of the South" one year ago!
I took the metro to my motel, which is right on Amstel River, and its the
typical European single-room which is more than a little cozy. But the motel
has a concierge, which is quite surprising given the cheap rate I got! I
checked in, gave my roller bag to the concierge to put in the luggage room
until my room was ready (standard procedure), and went for a walk -- I was
dying to explore the city!
I almost did die a couple times but ok... never mind that part. One really has
to watch out for the bicycles if walking on the edge of the canals. But right
away, I loved the city -- the first impression was good. I can see why its
called the "Venice of the North". The architecture of the buildings is also
pretty, a mix of old and new buildings. And it's had "that same effect" on me
that I've started to judge any "new city" by -- every road and turn looked so
great I couldn't make up my mind where to go! I just roamed around, finally not
caring where I was or where I was going, decided to eat lunch at one of those
stand-up places, saw several coffeehouses and other types of houses. I haven't
been inside one of them yet though. Well, I still have 6 more days....
When I came back to the motel I got my room number -- 516 -- "Great, its on the
top floor -- hopefully I'll have a good view facing the canals!"
Nope. My view is a 3'x6' feet window (I just measured it) looking out into
another building's wall, which is less than 10 feet away. But that's ok. Its
cheap, so I dont mind :)
Haven't seen Amsterdam by night yet, but I had a nap earlier so I might go out
for another stroll tonight after sending this email. Then again its 11:30pm
right now so maybe not...
YUP -- I can't even make up my mind on that much -- its a great city! :-)
Dag, (or slaap lekker),
-- Ik.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Contents | Dec 24 |