Furmanator's Blog

First weekend

Well it's been two days pretty much in the Netherlands. The flight over was pretty smooth, got some sleep in on the overnight flight. They showed "Shall we Dance?" and it wasn't that great of a movie. The Schipol airport was pretty nice, all the signs were in English. We then took the train to the Amsterdam Centraal Station and then took the tram to the hotel. The public transport here is very efficent compared to the RTA in Cleveland. Hotel is all right, well most of it. Our room is the basement and the stairs to the basement seem even more narrow and steep than any other stair case - pretty much a vertical ladder. Our room isn't that nice - very drafty and a small window to the street about the same as any basement window. Showers are interesting, at least there are shower curtains unlike in France, but I can't figure out how to stop the shower and the bath from running simulataneously. The good thing about the drafty window is that it has a big window sill that we are using as a refrigerator - we went to the grocery store today to get some breakfast things - squeezable nutella! And some juice, yogurt and tartines (don't know how to call them in English - closest equivalent is melba toast i guess). Yesterday we didn't do much other than wander around until we found something to eat. We walked through a bit of Vondel Park, which is Amsterdam's equivalent of Central Park.

Today didn't do much either, because we slept so late, and it was Sunday. Got to a grocery store though and got food. Found a great resturant with the nicest waiter ever with good mediterranean food for really cheap prices within a short distance of the hotel.

It's really pretty here, minus the record amounts of snow for Amsterdam. The sidewalks are a mess, very icy and slushy. There is a seperate lane for bikes that is very tempting to walk in...but watch out if you're in the way of a biker!! Learned that the hard way as I nearly got hit.

Tomorrow's the first day of class here..should be interesting!