Amsterdam, Netherlands

(May 31-June 3) The cabbie picked us up at 5:15 am to taxi us to the Leeds/Bradford Airport. With the twilight light it seemed as though it was later than it actually was. It was the same cabbie who took us to the station on our trip to Edinburgh. He was a friendly chap who had a knack for the back roads. He took us through some wonderful countryside. The day could not have been better. The skies were cloudless and there wasn't even a hint of a breeze. Nicest day in Leeds is the day we leave.

Our hour flight to Amsterdam dropped us off about 20 minutes by train away from Amsterdam Central. At the train station we deposited our luggage in lockers. We wanted to walk freely through the streets and secure lodging without the excessive weight or attention on our backs. We found hostels harder to come by. We assumed in Amsterdam that you would trip on them but that wasn't the case. The weather didn't help. Mr. Rain Cloud our traveling companion decided he wanted to check out Amsterdam too. He's been the one constant in our lives. After criss crossing over canals we finally found our home at the Flying Pig.

The Flying Pig in Uptown is an interesting spot along the Vondal Park. Matt and I have alot to learn on this trip and the language of hostels is one I hope we master. This being our first real hostel experience we didn't have our savoy shoes on. We agreed to a double bed thinking it came with our own room, little did we know we'd be sharing a double bunk with about 16 other people in the room. We didn't just get splashed in the hostel we dove right into the middle of the beast. Since school seems to be out all over the world the hostel is already filling up with hormones and most of those hormones coming straight from the states.

Matt and I are mostly invisible at the hostel. We blend in like the wallpaper. It's good to be anonymous. Since we rented bikes we zip in and out of the hostel like ghosts. There's too much to see to get caught up with the scene at the bar located at the base of the hostel. The bikes are a godsend. Aside from dechiphering the street signs in Dutch we managed to navigate around the canals and small streets with ease. The freedom of the road under out wheels is like nothing else. Amsterdam is a charming city by bike and by foot. Nearly everyone gets around on bikes. Mothers peddle up to 4 children at a time. It's really a family city despite the reputation as a city of ill repute.

Our days here have been spent trying to accomplish one task at a time. It's amazing how you can spend an entire day doing one thing. We usually pick up fresh bread, cheese and some fruit for lunch. We picnic along our bike path and soak in the surroundings. I love all the cafes that spill out from the restaurants to the town squares and along the canals. They are tragic and sad too because it's too cold yet for people to enjoy lounging in the sun. At night, which doesn't actually get dark until about 11 pm, the city comes bursting alive with people and lights. The street lights have a warm orange glow. It's like everyone becomes a member of the Holland National Soccer team under the street lamps. National pride for their squad is hard to miss around here. Many cafes and restaurants are drapped in orange banners, streamers and even orange balls. I can only imagine how it will be when we finallly get to Germany.

I didn't know what to expect when I got to Amsterdam but I really felt connected here. We keep imagining ourselves living in each place that we stop in but this place feels so subdued that and accessible I think I could actually live here. Walking and riding through the streets I hear so many different languages spoken. It just seems to draw so many walks of life and I love the melting pot atmosphere.

Today we're off to Brugge in Belgium via train. We'll leave with pancakes in our bellies and await waffles!