Amsterdam

March 25

Our delayed flight arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport around 10:00 Saturday night. While waiting for Dave and Peter’s checked bags, we met some Americans from Aruba. They gave us the name of a hostel to check out. We had to take a train from the airport to Centraal Station. From there, we walked down the ‘main drag’ in the snow. For the duration of our stay in Amsterdam, it seemed like it snowed every hour. After being denied by the hostel recommended by the Arubans, we stopped in a hotel that was way out of our league to ask where we could find other youth hostels. Bums have an ability to spot tourists from miles away, and before long one pointed us in the direction of the Hans Brinker in exchange for our pocket change. At 11:30, we didn’t have much choice, so we accepted the €22.50pp room.
The breakfast in the morning was a disappointment compared to Dublin, but food is food. Since we had only paid for one night, the maid tried to kick us out at the 11:00 check out time. After conferring with the front desk, she discovered that we had just paid the next nights rent. In the lobby of the Brinker, we spotted a poster legitimizing the places lack of cleanliness. (Click on the thumbnail to enlarge it)And with graffiti on almost every wall, it was a pit. If one night gives us a boost, it must have been the second night that got us all sick.
While in Amsterdam, in addition to wandering the streets, we visited the torture museum, ate poffertjes, and met up with one of Cain’s high school classmates for a canal tour. We also met up with Amy, Ashley and Jenni and toured some free diamond museum. Free in this case relating to the museum, not the diamonds. We checked the Hard Rock Café for a benefit Glitter Bug concert, but no such luck. We thought about touring the Heineken Museum, but it was closed for restructuring or something. We walked past the Van Gogh Museum several times, but never offered the €10 to enter. While on the canal tour, and while walking the streets, I was often reminded of Pella by the architecture. Some of the activities and shops, particularly the night time activities, were quite shocking.
The Hans Brinker didn’t have room for us on Monday night, but they directed us to the Stay Okay. The maid wasn’t happy that we were still in the room at 11:00. As we gathered our belongings and headed down the hallway, she yelled in broken English. I was able to make one part out, but I think its best not to repeat it. Swaff inquired at the front desk about their customer service policy, but they didn’t seem to care. Stay Okay ended up being quite a bit nicer for the same price.