So the f***ing site i journal on isn't working again so i'm typing this into my email and will post it later.
I just got to Brussels, after four nights in Amsterdam. Amsterdam was really fun, the first three days i was there were beautiful. the first day i completely just failed at life. i got there at 1030 am, off a night train, and checked into my hotel. THEN i went to the flying pig to ask for directions and they told me they had vacancy for that night. so i went back to the hotel and begged the lady to refund my money, thankfully she did but the whole process, including checking in at the pig, brought me to about 1pm. i didnt get out until 230 because i felt sick and had to lay down. after i kicked myself out of the hostel i thought i might stop in a coffeeshop for a quick bite, or whatever, just enough to get going and get into the Amsterdam vibe. ACTUALLY i went to the pink floyd coffee shop which i loved from my first trip here, but it was bought out by Dampkring. i decided to go anyways and just see what it had turned into. the old laid-back, confortable homely vibe is completely gone. in its stead is techo music, shiny square black tables, purple flourecesnt lights, and techno music. it was disgusting. then, i went to the counter to ask about a cake that the old coffee shop had. before i could even ask, the guy behind the counter goes "ma'am, no headwear allowed|", i then realized i was wearing my bandanna. i asked why, he said "no exceptions", i walked out. it was so sad that such a wonderful shop was desecrated by such "hip" crap. i ended up instead at the Amnesia coffeeshop and there was a crazy old hippie man there who i ended up hanging out with for a little while. he had these guestbooks that he had people write in and sign, so i wrote a little bit, drew a red flower (he requested something in red), and signed it. he left, but by that time i was just slightly retarted, could not read my map, wandered for a while, went to the hemp marijuana museum, cannabis college and erotic museum, walked the red light district, got some fries and went back to the hostel. i guess it wasn't that unproductive, considering, but i still felt silly. the next day i went on a free tour, it wasn't the best but it was nice to feel productive. after the tour i rented a bike, and just rode around the city. oh, and i got my septum pierced (see, this is how i check if you're paying attention). after that i rode down to rembrantplain and leidenplain, cruised through vondelpark and ended my night by going to the theater to see The Reader, since i just finished the book. it was excellent, by the way, one of the only book to movie adaptations i dont hate, it actually complements the book very well. The next morning i actually met people! we had different daytime activities we wanted to do, so we didnt hang out during the day, but i ran into Nicole, one of the people i met, later that night and we went out on the town for the evening. but before that i went to the Rijeksmuseum (yes, i saw the nightwatch), rode around museumplain and the city, tried to go to the FOAM photography museum, but it was closed for renovations, just like every other museum in the city, and i went to the Jewish Historiches museum. After that i meandered around the canals and then went and bought Noah something that i had been eying for him for two days. After going back to the hostel, Nicole and i went out and got some awesome thai food, then walked around the red light district. we hit up a coffee shop, went to a ::ahem:: show, went to another coffeeshop, a few ::ahem:: stores, and then back to the hostel because it was raining. the next day was pretty gnarly out, cold and drizzly. i had planned to daytrip to Haarlem but threw that out the window due to weather. Nicole and i went to Barneys for breakfast. i had pancakes with salmon, and some bacon. barneys has changed too. the pancake (not a real pancake, they dont have those anymore), was classily wrapped around some eggs and the salmon swirled with it. it was very amherst, actually. but it isn't the same as the nice, traditional breakfast place it used to be. it has also changed its interior to be chic, dark and hip. its a damn shame.
After breakfast we went seperate ways again and i headed to the portuguese synogague and then the holocaust memorial. the memorial was free and actually had a very good exhibit, also free. from here i went to the anne frank house, but it was too busy, so i went and hung out at the hostel for a while. after an hour, it was around 5:00, i went back to the house, which was far less crowded. i had been on the fence about re-visiting, since i had already been there, but i'm so happy i did. especially because i have never read the diary, but intend to when i get home. it is a wonderful museum and really gives a face to the holocaust.
I stopped in the grey area coffeeshop after this, but had no money and had to leave. i went back to the hostel and met some really nice people in the comfy room, and we just spent the night hanging out and having deep, philosophical conversations, perfect change from the general "so where are you from.....", although we did cover that question as well. we ended up going out and getting some fries and then trying to find an absinthe bar which, apparently, doesnt exist. along the way we saw these two dead pigeons. i know this doesnt sound interesting, but it was actually amazing. they were in these very dramatic poses, it was very humanistic, they were side by side, on their stomaches, one facedown with one wing almost shielding the other, the other looking up, a look of pain on (her?) face. it doesnt sound terribly exciting, but there were so many dimensions to the scene, Jae (one of the guys i was with), had a camera, and will be sending me the pictures, ill post them when i get them! Since the bar didn't exist, we went back to the hostel, had a drink, and then just went to bed. by that time i wasnt functioning too sucessfully, so it was time to call it a night.
Today i got up, had breakfast, packed my bags and went to Leiden. it was cold and windy out, which may have effected my outlook, but i found Leiden to be pretty boring, especially after Amsterdam. i took an canal tour and went to the museum of natural history, both were nice, but ultimately just filler. i wish i had come straight to brussels. anyways, i'm here now, this is a great hostel and im going to go out and find some food! cheers!