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Alright, you’ve waited long enough for me to get off my tush and post some pictures of Amsterdam. Here we go:
This is what the LOVE statue is to Philly.
Moving on…
If only I understood what the hell this was…Brother Bee didn’t get it either.
Ok, now for some nicer pictures
I love the thin buildings.
Flower Market.
Well, that should do you for your fill of Amsterdam, for now.
Alright, one story from our first day in Amsterdam that I thought deserved a post of its own.
As we were searching for dinner, we were also searching for a movie theater that I had read about in a United Airlines In-Flight magazine. It was supposed to be the absolute ending highlight of 3 Perfect Days in Amsterdam. When we got there, it looked great, but everything was, of course, in Dutch. So, we weren’t sure that we could actually see a movie in English. So, we shrugged the opportunity off, and began our search anew for a restaurant. We found a little Italian restaurant that was packed, so we figured that was a good sign. We ate a delicious dinner, and started our stroll back to our hostel.
This time we passed another movie theater. I decided to find out once and for all what the verdict was on the English vs. Dutch movies. As I waited in line to ask the movie attendant the question, I pondered what his response would be. Would he look at me bizarrely and think, “What tourist sees a MOVIE on vacation?” or would he just not understand me? What followed was not something either of us (Brother Bee and I) expected.
I walked up the the counter a posed my question, “Hi. I was wondering if all of your movies are in Dutch or if the English movies are dubbed in Dutch or have Dutch subtitles?”
He shook his slightly cocked head at me and replied, “Um, Dutch-made movies are in Dutch, but all the English movies are in English. We don’t dub our movies. We aren’t in Germany.”
OH.
“Well thank you kindly. I guess we’ll see a movie tomorrow night.”
Um…Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.
Alright, I know I’m beating a dead horse, but this story still cracks me up. So, before I get to Amsterdam, which I desperately need to do, I have to show you this. You all remember my post about The Canadians. Well, recently my friend who has the wittiest blog you will ever read, MommyPie, posted this that you all should take a look at. Apparently British and North American English are in fact, NOT the same! Don’t see what I mean…take a gander at this site from MommyPie’s blog.
Oh Canadians, your intelligence trumps us Americans again.
APRIL FOOLS!
I’ll admit that the convenience of public transportation is something not to be ignored in this world. Especially coming from a country, state, city that has little or no transportation. I mean, there’s a free city bus in my town, but as luck would have it, I would arrive 30 minutes late for work if I actually use this. So, instead of negotiating my working time with my boss, I simply drive the 6 miles to and from work everyday.
That being said, our April Fools was a joke indeed. I thought it would be great that our train left in the afternoon, plenty of time to get ready and pack, and grab a final lunch with German Bee and head out. The first part of this story happened perfectly. We did get packed, headed to the train station, left our luggage there and continued on to German Bee’s work.
This was an experience all in itself. German Bee works at Hapag Lloyd, which is a huge shipping company for freight pretty much all over the world. Therefore, everyone dresses impeccably. I mean, suit, tie, fancy-pants shoes, the whole get up. And in we stroll, two Americans that are blindly unaware of their surroundings (typical, eh?) in to the all-so-important in-house cafeteria. Not only were we not in suits and dress clothes, but we were in travel clothes, i.e. jeans and sweatshirts. I felt like such a gomer. Talk about being in the wrong situation! April 1st is turning out to be a big joke at this point.
As we approached the train station, we pondered about what Amsterdam will bring us, and sleeping in the very comfy 1st Class ticket seats I had purchased. We’re on the road home! Silly traveller, schedules are for idiots! As we boarded the train to Osnabruck, we were living the life of luxury. Reclining chairs, complementary drink service, chocolates, NO ONE around, beautiful. Then we got off at Osnabruck. Sitting and waiting for our train, I kept hearing German voices (no, not the ones in my head) over the intercom. Of course, I couldn’t understand them. We board the train and then get hit with the most rotten April Fools of all. Not only would we have to get off the train in Bad Bentheim (sp?) as an unscheduled stop, but we’d have to take a BUS to Amsterdam. A BUS. 154 miles on a bus.
Well, Bad Bentheim came, and all 150 passengers pilled out into the poring rain. Yep. Gets better. As we’re standing there with rain pouring down our backs, two charter buses pull up. As if that’s going to fit all 150 of us grumpy travelers. Begin the mad dash to the bus. “Brother Bee, you put the bags on the bus, I’ll get us seats!” I yelled as we’re sprinting to the bus. I climb on, secure us seats just in time, and sit there patiently waiting for Brother Bee as I fight of seat-hungry train passengers.
The bus ride begins. Then we get to Hengelo. I remember this place. We had to change here for some odd reason on the way to Hamburg. No matter, but the bus is stopping at the train station. We all look around, catch each other’s eyes and give the big shoulder shrung that means, “I have no idea, do you??” The driver starts to unload our baggage off the bus as people file out. Luckily, Brother Bee and I stuck to our places. An English speaking passenger (American or Canadian, actually) got off and figured out that we’re not supposed to get off here, but in Almelo. So, back on the bus goes our luggage, and we sit down. However, the bus was quite a few passengers short, and I can only attribute this to people who had no idea what they were doing, and were given no information.
In Almelo, we were instructed that we can for sure take the train to Amsterdam. Thank goodness. I was not going to ride, wet, on that bus for another 4 hours. BUT, now the rail system is crammed with all the other passengers who got stranded in Almelo, so began another mad dash to the trains. 4 confusing hours later, we arrived in Amsterdam. Wet, angry, hungry and ready for sleep.
Oh cruel April Fools Day, you don’t let go. We were only met with homesickness, loud music and an increasingly loud slamming door to our 16 bed hostel room. Sweet dreams!
Just so all our adoring fans know…we will be on the train tomorrow, and in Amsterdam for the rest of the week. There might not be new posts for a couple of days, and maybe even none until we get back, but keep checking as I finish out our trip with our great escape to Amsterdam!
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