Saturday we got up a little bit late so Amanda just made up a quick sandwich to eat for breakfast and we headed for the bus station with the two guys that Amanda goes to school with, Kyler and Joel. We were walking and I looked at the time and realized that the train we wanted to get on was leaving in 3 minutes and we were still a block away from the train station. So we started running. We got to the train station and found the platform that we need. We got on the train and did not have time to get sat down and the train started to move. The train ride took about 35 minutes and we got to see some of the country side. Amanda had not taken that way yet so she got to see something different too. It is flat country. When we got to Amsterdam, Kyler and Joel helped up find this place called the Lord in the Attic. It was a church built in the attics of 3 houses in the 1600 (I think), during a time where some of the prosecution was taking place. It was really neat. It was interesting how they had services up there. The church was even 3 stories tall and had two balconies, it even had an organ. One thing about many on the old building there is that they have really steep stair. So it is interesting walking up and down them. You have to be really careful.
After we were done there, we meet back up with Joel and Kyler and we went to my hostel to get rid of my bag and stuff that I did not need for the rest of the day. On our way there we stopped at the place where I had found the Mountain Dew because I was going to buy some. When we got there I found out that it was 18 euro for a 12 pack, which would have been $24. I left it there. After that we walked through the Vondel Park which was just outside of my hostel. It was said to be one of the top things to see in Amsterdam but when we were there they were doing construction to it and with it being winter there was not much to see. After that we went and grabbed a quick bite to eat and went to our boat tour. This particular tour is owned and operated by the St. Nicolaas Boat Club. This non-profit group restores Dutch tuindersvletten or garden flats. These boats used to carry vegetables and between markets and farms. Volunteers operate the boats and navigate the canals. It is an unguided tour but if you ask questions, the volunteers are happy to answer. It was nice being on a small boat for the tour. Amanda said it was better than the big boat that they went on the first time they were in Amsterdam. We were brought down some really small cannel and we went under one bridge that we had to duck down in the boat in order to get under it. It was neat.
After the boat tour the 4 of us walked around the flower market for a little bit, they had about everything you could think of there. It was really pretty too. After that we tried to find the food market but were unsuccessful and after walking around for a long time trying to find it and Kyler and Joel were no finding it, Amanda and I decided to part ways.
While doing research about Amsterdam on the internet before the trip, I read about this place that was called Jay’s Juices, it was a really small place that made fresh juice out of fresh fruit right in front of us. We had pineapple, mango, passion fruit and fresh squeezed orange in our juice. It was amazing. Amanda sat on a bench by this little cannel off the beaten path and drank our juice as the sun set. It was really nice. After that we went and had supper at an Italian restaurant. Amanda and I both had pizza. I have ham and pineapple and Amanda had mushroom and onion. I thought mine was better. After supper, we dodged in and out of souvenir shops on our way back to my hostel. Amanda found a really cool sweat shirt. We decided to go back to my hostel because we were both tired of walking around for 2 days and just wanted to sit and talk for a while. Then I walked Amanda to the train station so she could go home. I walked back to my hostel. On my way back some guy rode up beside me on a bike and told me it was for sale. I said “that’s nice, where did you steal it from?” He did not stay around for long. I got back to my hostel, talked to my mates for a little bit and went to bed.
I had a great trip over all. Hope things are good at home. Take care.
Rick
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