Holy Bicycles Batman!

Well we finally arrived in Amsterdam. Yesterday we took a train to Antwerpen from Leuven and arrived at 1100 am. We had a quick lunch and our bus to Amsterdam was supposed to leave at 1. It was an hour late. So we arrived here at five and took a train to central station and walked to "Bob's Youth Hostel".

Wow, what a dump. And I sure know I'm in Amsterdam. We walk into the reception area and everyone is passed out/stoned juxtaposed against the bubbly girl at reception. There is only one shower per 12 beds! Me and Deanna are together but everyone else is in separate rooms. We came back this afternoon and our room is filled with boys and one boy was snorting coke in the bathroom. Awesome.

So we went for supper after we got here at this Italian Restaurant then walked to the Red Light District. We are just on the edge of it. We went to Belushi's for 2 for 1 Stella. It is attached to another St. Christopher's Hostel like the one in London. Wish we were staying there. Then we wandered around. We went to a strip club with the boys and Ben and Derek got lap dances from some ugly girls. We left then wandered around some more. You walk down alleys and there are just door after door of half-naked girls. We went to this other bar while some of the boys went to this show for 25 euro which was basically live porn. After that we went back to the same strip club cause the boys wanted to see this other girl dance. Well then Ben and Derek bought me a lap dance.... yah.

Anyways, then some of the group bought some pot and tried it and we were home at 2am after everyone with the munchies stuffed their faces.... yah.

Um so this morning it was tough to get in a shower. Then the crazy cleaning guy was in there yelling at us to get out at 10 so he could clean. I hate this place.

Anyways, we bought a canal pass for 18 euro and rode the bus to the Van Gogh Museam which was cool. Cost 12.50 euros. I bought a Van Gogh picture from a souvenir place, it is metallic. After that we went to the Waterloo flea market and I found a really cool butterfly ring. Then we went and got a huge cone of Belgian fries with mayo and ketchup. We went to the hostel to meet up with the group but no one was there. So now we're in an internet place and I have no idea what we'll do tonight.

Tomorrow we're going to try and get to the Anne Frank house early to queue... so busy.

To explain the title - Everyone bikes here.... and there are bike paths everywhere like there are streets. The train station has a 4 level parkade for bikes. And they ring their bells at you if you get in their way!