Amsterdam, Netherlands
(part 1)
May 19th, 2010
Day 1 of this journey in Amsterdam…
I woke up around 7 am in agonizing pain on my trans-Atlantic flight. We were about to land, but I had gotten only about two hours of sleep. This was my first observation: jet lag is very real and it was going to own me today. The next two observations were also very glaring; the recently herniated disk in my back was going to be a nightmare on this trip, and holy crap, it’s cold as shit in Europe right now! I hopped off the plane with a massive grin on my face, realizing I had finally stepped foot on a new continent. But as I looked around, I quickly realized I was the only dope wearing shorts (and that’s all I packed for this trip!) Oh well, the 45 degree weather is a welcomed reprieve from the awful heat in Florida right now.
I spent the next 20 minutes hopelessly navigating Schipol airport (absolutely massive), followed by my first awkward metro experience, and another 30 minutes trying to find my way out of Amsterdam Centraal station. Without a map, I began aimlessly meandering through the maze that is the Centrum section of this amazing city. I thought my neck was going to break with how much I was whipping my head back and forth in amazement of what I was seeing. You can read about Amsterdam all you want, but until you see it, you can’t comprehend it. Coffee shops on every corner, a million bikes (which actually have the right of way… something I learned after almost being crushed by a few), and a nation of people that all seem to be 7 feet tall, in great shape, and constantly chain smoking.
Somehow I found my hostel by pure chance, checked in, dropped my bag off, and set out to explore on my own. The beauty of this place is unbelievable. You can imagine my surprise when I was looking up at this gorgeous church, and out of the corner of my eye, I see a large, half-naked woman in lingerie beckoning to me. I realized I had unknowingly wandered into the Red Light District. I politely smiled, declined her offer, and continued on.
To combat the jet lag, I tagged along on a four hour walking tour. It was cheerfully insightful and fun, but my back began to hurt in unimaginable ways. So I ditched the final leg in favor of something to dull the pain. I bought my first 1 euro bottle of wine and enjoyed it while sitting by a canal. Across the bridge, I saw a massage parlor offering 20 euro, 1 hour massages. Exactly what I needed! It wasn’t until I was lying on my stomach in the basement of a 400 year old building with a tiny Chinese lady screaming at her mother upstairs in Mandarin while karate chopping my back that it finally kicked in; I had my first WTF moment. I’m alone in Amsterdam buzzed off cheap wine and getting a massage from a woman I can’t communicate with. Unreal.
Well I’m off to mingle with my fellow hostelers and do what I came here to do, make new friends! I have much left to do in this city, especially indulge in the local coffee shops. I was advised not to get bombed on your first day because the realization of being alone in a foreign country causes some to freak out… I think I’ll wait till I’m a tad more adjusted. But without a doubt, Amsterdam is the most welcoming, vibrant city I’ve ever visited. If the rest of my trip is anything like this, it’s going to be one wild ride.
-Batty
