Day 22 - Train to Amsterdam

Jim and I woke up a bit early and got ourselves all packed and ready to go. His worker Jack came by to pick up his keys and we left for the train station. I let Jim borrow my new bag and I was able to admire it while we made our commute. I also realized its going to be hell getting both my large bags to the airport next week, but it will be doable. At the train station we waiting a few moments to find our platform and we validated our tickets. Once Platform 8 was announced we made our way to the train. Jim was in car 16 and I was in car 17. The numbering system was a little off, so it was a bit confusing, but we found our coaches nearly at the end of the train. I found my seat and made myself comfortable settling in with a book Jim leant me from his bookshelves at his apartment.

The train pulled out of the station around 10:30. We stopped in Brussels and Jim came to find me saying a seat next to him was open. So once the train started moving again, I went to find Jim, ended up walking right past him, but he shouted my name and I found him. We went straight to the cafe cart to grab some food as it was just about lunch time. I enjoyed a chocolate croissant and a coca-light, while Jim had a coffee and some chocolate. After we ate we went back to our seats to chat some more. We made a few more stops and I started reading my book again. We finally pulled into Amsterdam Central Station at 2:30, it was great to finally be at our destination.

Luckily I was with Jim who has visited here frequently and I could just follow him around without doing much investigating. We walked straight to the ticket office for public transportation and each bought 3 day passes for Amsterdam. We found our train and boarded. Jim and I read the directions from the houseboat owner a few times to make sure we could navigate. Once we arrived at our stop a very short ride later we found the correct exit, with a little help and walked up to the street level. We followed the directions a bit more, but they weren't exactly the most precise directions, but we found ourselves across from house #6, with 3 houseboats sitting below us in the water. The directions told us the 1st one was ours, and the 2nd one was the owners. So Jim sent me down the very dangerous tiny staircase to knock on our door, but no one answered. So Jim walked down the other tiny staircase to knock on their door and he was greeted by David. David and his wife Abbey own both houseboats and rent out the one we are staying in. He opened the door for us and gave us the tour. The boat is very nice inside, with a large living room/kitchen in the front. A very updated bathroom and a small bedroom in the back with the most amazing bed, 2 singles pushed together. It was so cute, I was very excited about our accommodations. The entire living room and bedroom is lined with windows to see the view of the canal and all the houses and houseboats on our block. I opened the window to take some pictures and was quickly greeted by a small black "coot" with a white feathered top. He started chirping at me and Jim said he must be fed constantly at the boat, so we made friends. Jim and I opened the screw top bottle of wine left by the owners and relaxed a little in the warmth of our houseboat. The wine tasted a big like grape juice, but it was still a nice welcoming gift. On the table was a cute little guest book with lots of writing inside, I read through some of them and saw people from all over the world. I read the funny ones aloud and we chuckled. I also ready several times how much people enjoyed feeding the coot. So there you go, he demands food!

After we sat around for a while we decided to get out and see a bit of Amsterdam before the sun went down. It was a very cloudy day and I tried to take pictures, but it was started to get too dark so they weren't turning out the best. We walked over our canal and over the drawbridge near our house towards the center of the city. Jim usually stays in a hotel right around the corner so he is very familiar with the area.

We walked and Jim pointed out some important landmarks, so it was nice to see everything. Amsterdam is so much quieter than I ever imagined! There is no hustle and bustle on the street, hardly any cars and the people are so kind and relaxed. However, bikes are HUGE here. People ride bikes everywhere, all the time and its a bit scary trying not to get hit by one. Jim said he knows he will either get hit by a car in London or a bike in Amsterdam and that will be the end. I thought that was a bit funny, because its so true! Nah, but honestly bikes are everywhere here and Jim said in the '70s all the standard Dutch black bikes (that you see everywhere) used to belong to the Dutch Government and people could take them and use them as they pleased, just leaving them in places when they were done. But once the '80s came, people started to steal them so they couldn't do that anymore. This is all from the wisdom of Jim, so who knows. :)

We walked by a very large flower market in the square and I was able to admire all the different kinds of flowers they sell and bulbs. I saw a dozen roses for sale for 6 Euro...I thought that was hilariously considering Lincoln prices. The flower market is very pretty and I enjoyed looking at all the different types. I pointed out a few of my favorites to Jim, but we are not sure if they can grow in Nebraska.

We stopped at a small cafe across from the flower market to grab some late lunch. I ordered a sandwich, while Jim had a salad. We also ended the meal with some coffee. After that we walked around the city for a while and Jim pointed out his favorite spots to go. At this point it was freezing and I was ready to get inside. I think Jim thinks I'm a bit of a wuss, but it was freaking cold! As we walked I found myself very distracted by all the shop windows, they have the coolest stores here! But after a few, almost running into a bike moments, I decided it was more important to focus on walking, and shop later. We stopped at a small grocery store to pick up some breakfast food and I was able to stop and get a pastry for tomorrow morning. We made our way back to the houseboat and it felt great to get inside where it was nice and warm!

We opened a good bottle of wine and snacked on some chips and cheese. We watched some Dutch television for a little while and tried to figure out what was happening. I got bored of that quickly and so we watch some American television and I curled up in a blanket on the couch. As it got later, Jim wanted to go out for dinner and drinks, but I was too tired and really didn't want to go out in the cold. It had started drizzling, and it just sounded miserable to go outside. The movie Brothers Grimm came on the TV and Jim told me it was a good movie, so we watched the beginning. Then Jim decided to go out for dinner, but I wanted to stay inside. I know, I know, but it was so cold!! And I have two more nights here!

So Jim left for dinner and I watched some TV in my blanket and with my wine...oh and some biscuits I picked up! I listened to the rain fall on the houseboat and the water for a long time and admired how beautiful it was outside. It was incredible. Jim came home a few hours later and said he had an amazing time and it was absolutely gorgeous outside if you can get over the cold. I was a little sad I didn't go, but not so much because it was nice to finally have a calm, relaxed evening. Jim told me all about his adventures and finding an oyster bar overlooking an ice-rink and a comedy club. He ordered 9 oysters and 2 glasses of white wine and enjoyed himself immensely. He liked our waiter so much he said he might call for reservations on Saturday night for the same table for the both of us. But he told he it was a very expensive restaurant so we will have to think about it. He also explained him walking around and what he saw. We stayed up talking for a long time about different things and finally went to bed at around 12:30. Jim slept on the pull out couch in the living room and I got the high cozy beds all to myself. The bed was like sleeping on clouds, everything was white and it was the most comfortable mattress with all goose down pillows, bedding, etc. Incredible! I had a bit of a stuffy nose and I didn't feel too good so I took some Benydrl and I slept like a rock star. I swear I will be so mad if I get sick on this trip!!! I sure hope not, fingers crossed.

A bid goodbye, Anna