My French has been useful. But everything Dutch makes it hard. Signing into blogger for example! ah well, here I am.
I made it to Groningen, which is a lively little town indeed. It is market day, so I went there first. What fun. There is even a guy pulling an organ, complete with a monkey!
The train went well, and I even made acquaintance with someone who is going to the conference that I will be attending too. It was nice. She is from San Francisco, and her day was even longer than mine yesterday. Wow is she tired. Anyway, we are on different parts of town, and I confess that I am a little glad for that. I like company, but I also like to do what I want to do.
and that will be to take a hike out to where the conference will be held. Although I could bus it, I actually want to walk, but to do so without getting lost. So, now that I am here, I will post something as often as I can.
Take care!
30 September 2008
If I time it right..
Today I am leaving Amsterdam to go to Groningen, in the north of Holland. I had a great sleep last night, except for the cold that I have picked up along the way. It's not a surprise really, not sleeping for a whole day, and then the weather in Amsterdam is wet, but not raining. You sweat sometimes, and get wet sometimes, but not enough to use an umbrella, and it was too hot to always be covered up. You get the idea?
Today of course is different. Today I have to time my leave of the hotel with the rain that comes down in buckets. Funny use, that term. I was thinking that it was like someone filled up a pail, and when it was full, down it came all at once. After that, there is a lull while the pail fills up again. But when it comes down, wow. I need to get to the train station in the lull, because if I get caught in that, I'll be wet for the entire day, umbrella or not.
Darn, I typed a whole lot more and went to post it, but then I ran out of my free 15 minutes and I have to do it all over again! Oh well.
Continuing on...the rain comes down all at once. And it is amusing to me how people cope with this on their bicycles. Some just wear a ball cap, others have cloaks that cover them and their bikes. Others use open baskets, and the rain falls where it will. Some even carry an umbrella in their 'extra' hand. And some just go through it. This would make a great photo essay!
I'm getting ready to check out and head to Groningen. I know that there are two trains; one that goes directly there, and another that splits in two halfway on the journey. One half heads to Groningen, the other heads somewhere else. I can handle that now that I am awake. Yesterday, who knows!
So my friends, away I go on another adventure. I'm looking forward to it! I'll post again when I find a place to do so in Groningen.
Today of course is different. Today I have to time my leave of the hotel with the rain that comes down in buckets. Funny use, that term. I was thinking that it was like someone filled up a pail, and when it was full, down it came all at once. After that, there is a lull while the pail fills up again. But when it comes down, wow. I need to get to the train station in the lull, because if I get caught in that, I'll be wet for the entire day, umbrella or not.
Darn, I typed a whole lot more and went to post it, but then I ran out of my free 15 minutes and I have to do it all over again! Oh well.
Continuing on...the rain comes down all at once. And it is amusing to me how people cope with this on their bicycles. Some just wear a ball cap, others have cloaks that cover them and their bikes. Others use open baskets, and the rain falls where it will. Some even carry an umbrella in their 'extra' hand. And some just go through it. This would make a great photo essay!
I'm getting ready to check out and head to Groningen. I know that there are two trains; one that goes directly there, and another that splits in two halfway on the journey. One half heads to Groningen, the other heads somewhere else. I can handle that now that I am awake. Yesterday, who knows!
So my friends, away I go on another adventure. I'm looking forward to it! I'll post again when I find a place to do so in Groningen.
29 September 2008
wow, all that work...
So for those of you who are wondering if I made it to Amsterdam in one piece, I did. The reason that I didn't update the blog earlier as I promised, is that the library that I was intending to use is clsoed, and I spent most of the afternoon looking for another affordable sight.
Okay, I feel pretty stupid now knowing that the business centre at the hotel is free.
Let's blame it on a very long day. The flight, on the Florence Nightengale (really!) was pretty uneventful. It left fifteen minutes late and arrived fifteen minutes early. That's my kind of arithmatic. I slept for about an hour on the plane, and woke up to the rustle of cellophane as everyone around me opened up their breakfast plates, which I missed. Oh well.
I found the train and was relieved that some things actually seemed familiar. However, apparently I lost some of my good sensibilities in the lack-of-sleep zone. So intent was I on following the signs to Westerkerk, which I know to be a block from the hotel, that I got a little turned around. Here's the thing about Amsterdam: very few of the streets run straight. Most of them curve around in this big bowl shape, and some of them do so rather subtely, so it is a very simple matter to be going the wrong direction. I had a map, and a good one, but it wasn't convenient and so I thought I could follow the signs. Let's just say that my 17 minute walk, according to mapquest, was closer to 40. That's okay, I needed it by then, but I sure was hot and sweaty when I arrived at the hotel.
Which may have been to my advantage, since just before my plea two others were turned down for early check in. I have a lovely little room, looking out on the courtyard. Of course, there were stroopwaffels waiting, and I have to say that is one of my favorite things about Amsterdam. That and the coffee. What a combination!
Anyway, I slept for about an hour and a quarter, then made myself get up. I figured if I could keep going until 5 I wouldn't feel guilty about going to bed after that. It was a little tough at times but I did it (it's not 5:15!)
One thing the Dutch do very well is cheese and bread, and there are dozens of little bakeries around that serve bunwiches for take out lunch. Oh they are good. Nice and chewy, very sharp old cheese, and this time, some lettuce and chives. It was great. Supper on the other hand was a little more difficult to find. I was too late for lunch, too early for dinner, but eventually I found a spot that took pity on me. It was an interesting dish, though I wouldn't likely order it again. And it wasn't as plentiful as I was hoping for right then, but I've decided not to worry about it because I have a dozen stroopwaffels in my bag just in case.
I also found the Albert Cruyp market today. What a hoot that place is. It's like the Byward Market on steroids. And it has everything--clothes, souvenirs, fresh fish, french fries and mayo, shoes, bags, scarves, knickyknackies. I wasn't must in the mood to buy, but it was a good walk and people viewing spot. I didn't take many pictures today either since it rained most of the time. And, I was just too tired to care that much.
All told, it's been a good day. Tomorrow I head to Groningen. Hopefully internet will be easy to find there too and i won't have to wander all day to locate it!
Okay, I feel pretty stupid now knowing that the business centre at the hotel is free.
Let's blame it on a very long day. The flight, on the Florence Nightengale (really!) was pretty uneventful. It left fifteen minutes late and arrived fifteen minutes early. That's my kind of arithmatic. I slept for about an hour on the plane, and woke up to the rustle of cellophane as everyone around me opened up their breakfast plates, which I missed. Oh well.
I found the train and was relieved that some things actually seemed familiar. However, apparently I lost some of my good sensibilities in the lack-of-sleep zone. So intent was I on following the signs to Westerkerk, which I know to be a block from the hotel, that I got a little turned around. Here's the thing about Amsterdam: very few of the streets run straight. Most of them curve around in this big bowl shape, and some of them do so rather subtely, so it is a very simple matter to be going the wrong direction. I had a map, and a good one, but it wasn't convenient and so I thought I could follow the signs. Let's just say that my 17 minute walk, according to mapquest, was closer to 40. That's okay, I needed it by then, but I sure was hot and sweaty when I arrived at the hotel.
Which may have been to my advantage, since just before my plea two others were turned down for early check in. I have a lovely little room, looking out on the courtyard. Of course, there were stroopwaffels waiting, and I have to say that is one of my favorite things about Amsterdam. That and the coffee. What a combination!
Anyway, I slept for about an hour and a quarter, then made myself get up. I figured if I could keep going until 5 I wouldn't feel guilty about going to bed after that. It was a little tough at times but I did it (it's not 5:15!)
One thing the Dutch do very well is cheese and bread, and there are dozens of little bakeries around that serve bunwiches for take out lunch. Oh they are good. Nice and chewy, very sharp old cheese, and this time, some lettuce and chives. It was great. Supper on the other hand was a little more difficult to find. I was too late for lunch, too early for dinner, but eventually I found a spot that took pity on me. It was an interesting dish, though I wouldn't likely order it again. And it wasn't as plentiful as I was hoping for right then, but I've decided not to worry about it because I have a dozen stroopwaffels in my bag just in case.
I also found the Albert Cruyp market today. What a hoot that place is. It's like the Byward Market on steroids. And it has everything--clothes, souvenirs, fresh fish, french fries and mayo, shoes, bags, scarves, knickyknackies. I wasn't must in the mood to buy, but it was a good walk and people viewing spot. I didn't take many pictures today either since it rained most of the time. And, I was just too tired to care that much.
All told, it's been a good day. Tomorrow I head to Groningen. Hopefully internet will be easy to find there too and i won't have to wander all day to locate it!
27 September 2008
it twas a dark and stormy day ...
or so it felt. Darien on her way, on a trek to a far away place, leaving behind all loved ones (okay that would be Lynxy). To learn or so we have been led to believe!
destruction and mayhem left in her wake, okay, that would be the floors. And things to come.
sigh. But soon the sun shall return and ....
*edited to add "Hey, someone broke into my blog! He's jealous; he could have come along!"
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