in my tree: Eurotrip '05: Amsterdam

Thurs, June 9, 2005 (Day 9)

Welcome to Amsterdam! Started the day off on a bit of the wrong foot. Arrived at Central Station at 17:30 only to realize that all the public transport in the city just happend to be ON STRIKE for the day. Normally, this wouldn't be a big problem - Amsterdam is not a very big city, and is easily walkable. However, we just so happened to be booked into a BOAT HOSTEL (recall the last-minute panicked booking made in London), and said boat hostel is located on the other side of the harbor - only accessible by ferry, or by one hell of a long cab ride. Naturally, the ferry we need is not running. Perfect. While attempting to call our hostel and explain our situation (which sounds easier than it actually is... Europe phones are the devil), we met a man who offered to put us up. We followed him downtown to check out his hostel. He informed us that he had room for us on Thursday and Friday, but not on Saturday. However, he also said that we could, quote: "hang out Saturday, smoke a joint, and crash in the lounge". Personally, I was pretty skeptical of the dude. We ended up getting in touch with our original place (the boat hostel), and he offered to come by the station and "pick us up" in his personal boat. So, we headed back and sat on the dock - Ginny has a great photo of this moment. About 20 mins later, lo and behold, a tiny dirty dory came puttering through the canal. THIS was our ride. But whatever, at least we had a place to stay. We jumped in, and Rene, the hostel owner, offered to give us a free tour of the canals, which was pretty cool. We later found out this was really just a ploy to kill time while he waited for other customers to arrive at the dock. But, whatever.. free tour!

Eventually, we arrive at the Marianetta - our home for the next 3 nights. From the outside, it looked like a slightly aging cargo vessel. We hoped the inside would be a little more comforting. It wasn't. As it turns out, we would be sleeping in the ships hull. A hull, I might add, that had NO DOOR. Thus, it was going to be pretty cold. Also, there were no lights, and the bathroom (located up on deck) also lacked a door. Not that I mind peeing with the door open! Anyway, the "bostel", as we christened it, left something to be desired, but whatever, this was an adventure.

Rene offered us a lift into town that evening, so some Americans who were also staying at the bostel headed in with us. We headed through the Red Light district (i.e. downtown), and then to the Bulldog for a couple grams and a pepsi. Wild stuff. I was definitely very blitzed. Don't think I need to get that bad again tomorrow! The best part is the ride home. Rene pulls up in his jeep at 23:30, all 8 of us pile into the back of the jeep, stoned out of our minds. We look like a bunch of refugees or something - hilarious. Rene then proceeds to pick up 2 girls on the side of the road with backpacks and offer them a place to stay in the bostel. They get in the front seat, and then glanced back at 8 silent faces glaring in the darkness. I could tell they were thinking "what the hell have we gotten ourselves into??" Then we were off, Rene and 10 crazy kids, blazing through the tunnels and streets at what seemed like break-neck speeds. He took a different route on the return, and I was convinced for a while that he was taking us out to a secluded dock to kill us. I think I was paranoid for some reason tho. We arrived back safe and sound, and shivered ourselves to sleep in the hull. What a day.

QOTD: "Arrows on the backwards projected calendar" - Me, while high, trying to explain our itinerary to the group

"Wait. What if ONE company owned ALL these food places? [pause] CONSPIRACY!!" - Ginny

Fri, June 10, 2005 (Day 10)

Started the day with some breakfast at the Lum an' Abner (the bostel) and then caught the ferry into town. Went to Dam Square, and attempted to hit the Anne Frank Haus, but got rained on, so we headed to the Sheeba Cafe for a "break". After returning to the hostel to bundle up (I might add, it went down to about 5 degrees the night before... cold when there's no door). Then we headed back into town once again, and hit the Het Derwoud cafe for another "break". By this time, we were getting hungry, so we decided to splurge a little. We went to a steakhouse on the main street for a killer steak dinner. Afterwards we went to the Paradise cafe for a night cap. Headed on back to the bostel, got some chips, and sat on some metal pole just off the ship and had a puff. Sleep will be a little easier tonight - plus it's warmed up a little, thank god.

QOTD: "B-Hostel!" - All

Sat, June 11, 2005 (Day 11)

Last day in Amsterdam! Can't believe I'm sleeping on a frickin boat with no door!! Today we went into town with the intensions of once again hitting Anne Frank Haus, but the line was just too crazy to justify it. Kay went off to do her own thing for a bit, and the 4 of us hit a pinner each on the side of a canal - Hilarity ensued (see quotes below). Kicked around for a bit and headed back to the bhostel for some all you can eat and drink 6euro BBQ, Karioke & Light show. I gotta say, funniest shit ever. Basically, Rene threw a party for all his friends, and charged us cover to attend. We got over an hour of some drunken Pilipino lady singing Abba songs!! Brutal but hilarious. The 5 of us even got up and did "New York, New York" for Rene in honor of some Americans who chose to opt out of the bostel on day 9. Got nice and high and rocked to sleep on the Bachelor II (a second boat tied to the first boat... that Rene didn't even OWN, I might add) Man, if this place got any shadier I'd swear the boys were in the Dutch Mafia. A great story to tell, nonetheless. U2 Tomorrow!! WOO HOO!!

QOTD: "Time for a really good duck show. I'm Mr. Black" - Me, regarding canal ducks

"Crazy dog, he knows what's going on.. he used that boy as a human shield" - Me again, regarding a boat that went by containing several people and one suspicious-looking dog

"Dancing Queen!!" - Pilipino Karaoke Woman

"Here’s some music. It's Canadian. [Puts on Patsy Cline] well... I BOUGHT it in Canada" - Rene