When last I left you I had to get up at 4:30am to make my 9:55am train from Paris to Amsterdam. I left enough time for the Paris Traffic but not for my inability to return the car. I knew this was going to happen. I was able to find the station but not where to return the car. I finally parked the car in a parking garage which of course was the wrong car garage but close enough to find out where. I am now late for the train and carrying to much stuff. I had to run out of the station and buy a cheap suitcase to hold the wine. I now had plenty of time to unwind. I was a little mad at myself for missing the train and incurring the stupid penalty. Once I gave up the money and relaxed the train was wonderfull. What a more civilizied way to travel. It made the rest of day great. Ahh!! The train ride was nothing but groovy if a little corporate. Wine and the Clash can cure a lot.
I arrived at Central Station in the middle of Amsterdam. It was built on three artifical islands with an ungodly amount of pilings. The warm afternoon sun of Amsterdam was a lot less humid than Paris. It took me about a minute to find my way to the taxi's. The great vibe of Amsterdam just beginning to settle in as I reached the Hotel. It was nice little hotel across from the leidseplein. Plein meaning square though there wasn't a squrare. The room was perfect. It included a wonderful Franz Marc “Yellow Horses reproduction. It also had a real shower. Emerging from the steam of the bathroom, I felt like a completely different person.
I really hate driving now. It is such a hassle. I headed out to the Leidseplein to eat. I found a nice tourist trap advertising Argentinian Beef. It was an excellent Sirlion with three prawns. I am sure you can find better places but it is downright difficult to screw up steak. The First thing that I noticed was the bar with giant neon Rolling Stone Lips. I had have a few Bavaria's there. When I came out there was a group of people listening to music. It was three guys doing Bach's Torracota and Fugue, mostly with Accordians. It sounded great. The square was packed as I set out to find the Rockerij. I didn't have much luck finding that and wondered into the good times cafe and hung while I watched the first half of the Netherlands football game with Bulgaria. There were a few people there. The leidseplein was swinging on a Wednesday night.
I found this card in Hotel with all the tourist brochures. I couldn't stop laughing.
I was lucky to make it till eleven because I was really tired. The next day I got an early start by heading out to the Van Gogh Museum which was only a few blocks away. I sipped coffee at sidewalk cafe and watched with amusement the rush hour traffic in Amsterdam. There were a few cars but it was almost all bikes. Beautiful women in skirts and high heels pedaling their way to work. There were so many bikes and more than a few interesting designs. What struck me though was none of them were racing or mountain bike style. They were just plain bikes like the old days. The three story Bicycle parking garage by Central Station still makes me smile. I spent most of the day taking pictures. The Van Gogh museum was nice eventhough only one floor was open because they are doing renovations. I wandered through Vondal park, Dam square and the red light district. I took the canal bus downtown and rode it back. I found out they are decomissioning churches and turning them into stores and office space due to lack of churchgoers. I really wish I could have spent more time here. I really love this place. It will have to wait til next time.
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