Catching up on Amsterdam

I am typing this from probably the slowest internet connection in all of Western Europe, so hopefully everything will go well.

I also hope to avoid writing an uber long comprehensive blog entry, so more is sure to follow. I don’t know about you, but after about 400 words, I start getting bored. Short and sweet I say.

So I haven’t re=read whatever it is I posted two days ago. But a few things stick out in my mind. There are some upsides to travelling alone. I think foremost, when you don’t know what you are doing and have no clue how to get where you want to go, there is no one to look dumb in front of or let down with your lack of plans. It took me a while to find my way out of the Schipol Airport in Amsterdam. My primary foe was the tram ticket machine. Amsterdam’s modern efficiency dictates that cash, both coin and bill form, is a thing of the past when it comes to automated public transit purchases. No problem, I thought, I still have my trusty Visa ATM debit card. What’s that you say, machine? You don’t like this American form of payment. Fine, you can’t rattle me. I still have my Alaska Airlines Visa, accepted around the world, even Amsterdam. But apparently in Amsterdam, people have PINs for their credit cards. Drat! Foiled again! Screw you machine!

After a few minutes of aimless wandering, I finally find a booth with actual humans who somewhat understand what I desire; I’m on my way and no one is wise to my bafoonery. Accept all of you… If you tell ANYONE…. I swear to God!!

OK, so. I’m new to the whole hosteling thing… but my first experience couldn’t have gone smoother. The place was clean, friendly and well located away from the party crowd and five minutes on foot from the Van Gogh museum and Rijksmuseum, which houses much of the art from Holland’s Golden Era including many well-known Rembrandt’s. The hostel was much better situated than some of the party area/Red Light District accomodations recommended to me by a friend who was clear hoping I’d have a terrible time (*cough, cough* MARK *COUGH*).

ok, I’m terrified that this computer is going to eat this entry before it get a chance to publsih, so i’m wrapping this up and pushing the button. 400 words