MPD

Right now, I am traveling from Amsterdam to Brussels, and to be honest, I’m sort of glad to be leaving.  Amsterdam really wasn’t very fun.  I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it really wasn’t a fun and happening place.

The first night, I arrived at 8:15 to the Hotel Amigo.  My first impression was of the steepest stairs I’ve ever seen..  If they hadn’t had backing, I would have happily called them a ladder, since people basically climbed up them.  After one flight of stairs, I found the reception -> a room barely big enough for four standing people that held reception, a vending machine, internet access, and was where breakfast would be served in the morning.  I couldn’t believe it.  Anyway, I got my key for room 8, on the second floor, and had to climb two more flights of stairs to get there.  In America, this would put it on the fourth floor.  The room itself was actually ok, but the ensuite bathroom was pretty nasty.  We had to share it between four people, and I think the staff relied on fact that there was no shower curtain, just a drain on the floor to keep it clean.  I felt better not showering at all than showering in there.

Still, I decided to go out that first night.  I was very disappointed by the lack of activity on the streets.  Perhaps it was the unseasonably cold temperatures, but there seemed to be nothing happening.  Eventually, I found a club, went in, ordered a local beer, and headed upstairs to find that the stairs dead ended on a little balcony.  The club was just a small bar with overly loud music and lots of 30-year old men.  I left and wandered around until I found myself in a real club that was absolutely empty until 12:15 or so…  then, it turned out to be Dutch Asian Extravaganza night, and I felt more than a little out of place.  I stuck around to check it out for a while.  I’m pretty sure I saw an Asian beauty contest, but I couldn’t figure out who won.  I also saw a hip-hop martial arts exhibition that was a little hokey (though the crowd loved it), and an impromptu breakdance challenge that was pretty good.  Nevertheless, I didn’t really have a good time, so I decided to go to sleep.

In the morning, I woke up around 10:45 and since all the signs said breakfast until 11:00, I went downstairs to get some.  However, all I got was laughed at by the receptionist who told me I certainly could not have breakfast after 10, and that they should have told me that when I checked in.  I was a little upset, but I figured I could get a better breakfast on the way to the Van Gogh museum anyway, so I got ready and left.

I discovered that Amsterdam breakfasts are ridiculously overpriced…  The best I could find was one apple pancake with no toppings for 10 Euro ($13-14).

I finally arrived at the Van Gogh museum at 12:30 and paid 14 Euro for entrance and an audioguide.  A bit expensive, but worth it because it was a great museum.  With 200 paintings from Van Gogh, and 900 letters to explain them, the museum offered a chance to explore Van Gogh’s entire career as an artist and track his development.  My favorite of his works was one of his last: Wheat Field with Crows.  I really liked the intense colors and composition.  There were also works by other artists of the time to compare, and I particularly enjoyed the “Dragoon on Watch” (I don’t remember who painted it because I wasn’t allowed to bring in my notebook).  After I was done, I considered buying a print, bu tthey didn’t compare at all to the originals, so I skipped it.

Next, I tried to walked to central station, but I ended up completely lost after a few hours and showed up randomly in front of my hotel.  I was exhausted and fairly annoyed, so I climbed up to the room and fell asleep.  When I woke up, I wanted dinner, so I checked my map and went off in search of food.

I ended up finding Chinatown, but I didn’t want Chinese, so I continued on to the Red Light District, where I found a bar to serve me the worst spaghetti carbonara I have ever tasted.  Still, even though the ham was terrible, the pasta was ok, so I finished the meal and decided to look around a little bit, since I felt like I should see the most famous part of Amsterdam.  To be honest, everything made me a little uncomfortable.  I didn’t like seeing the women in the windows, the looks they gave me, or all the stoned people on the streets.  Not my idea of a good time.

Instead, I resolved to go to bed early and head to Brussels ASAP in the morning.