More Than Wooden Shoes: Amsterdam

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. And that new beginning starts in Amsterdam.

Dec 27

Day 1: Welp, I was on my way.  The great adventure started out in the quaint little Knoxville airport. I had said my difficult goodbyes and was sitting there 2 hours early for my flight, not quite sure what to do.  When asked what I wanted for Christmas, I listed a couple things I wanted for my trip, including a photo album on a jump drive. Something meaningful to take with me but wouldn't hinder my ability to pack under 50 lbs in my suitcase, an already difficult talk for a 6 month trip abroad.

I had just stopped crying from my goodbyes when I read the letter and clicked through the pictures and tears welled up in my eyes again.  I was so excited yet nervous as anyone would be.  I think it really hit me that morning that I was actually leaving.  I was confident though that I had thought of everything three times over so I just needed to wait.  I could imagine things that could go wrong but I have always believed that things are what you make of them.  This trip will be the adventure I imagined as long as I made it that way.  Yes, things will not go as planned but I wasn't going to get my panties in a wad.  "The happiest people do not have the best of everything.  They make the best of everything they have." -someone pretty great.  Aaaaaaaaand here we go!

Already I’m having a good time.  I met the most wonderful older woman in the Knoxville airport.  I think it’s beneficial to try and have a conversation with who ever is around you because 1. It makes the time pass quickly 2. You may learn something new and 3. You may make a new friend.  Worst that can happen, they are rude.  So seeing a Lee Child book sitting in her lap, I struck up a conversation about books.  This led to talking about the holidays and her plans for New Years.  Her description of a collard green and black eyed pea filled New Year’s Day made me wish a little that I’d be a part of that southern tradition.  This was until I realized I’d be sleeping in after a New Year’s Eve adventure in Paris, full of sparkling wine (not to be called champagne in Paris) and fireworks under the Eiffel Tower.  

Started my travels off with a 6 hour layover in Houston and remembered that this was the last time I would be able to call anyone for another 6 months.  Made a few calls, then looked around and tried to find things that I would no longer be seeing in Europe.  I didn't find much in an airport but I decided the neon shoe laces in Nike sneakers and an overweight man playing on his iPad with a Venti Starbucks by his side screamed America.  Guess I'll have to wait to see that again until June...

All of a sudden it was time for my flight to Amsterdam.  Seated close to the back of the plane, I scooted my way toward my seat where a black woman was standing in a cute top, fur hat, fur scarf, fur boots, and a short mini pleaded plaid skirt, which did not fit with the temperature whatsoever.  She greeted me immediately in what I can describe as a British/Scottish/with a touch of southern accent.  We started talking as if we had been friends forever.  As I came to realize throughout my trip, saying I am from Tennessee brings up a few subjects.  1. Jack Daniels.  I have seen more Jack Daniels ads in Europe than I ever have in Tennessee.  2. Elvis. and 3. Country music stars from Nashville.  Other than that it is just a state somewhere in America.  This woman emphasized that on her trip back to Amsterdam, she made sure to bring back plenty of American food.  Not sure if she was exaggerating, she claimed she had 57 lbs of food and drink in one of her suitcases, including a handle of Jack Daniels.  Apparently, it was worth paying the extra for her bag.  Our flight took off, she took her horse size pill of Vicodin, and that was the last of our conversation until the 8 hour flight ended.  She was quite a character that made at least the beginning of my journey extremely enjoyable.  Fortunately, a guy coming home to Amsterdam from grad school in Canada accompanied me to baggage claim, through customs (which consisted of walking through an oversize metal detector), and helped me find the correct train.  People here have been extremely nice every step of the way and it reminds me of the southern hospitality I find at home.

My first test of whether I could handle Europe alone was when I first arrived at central station.  I came to find out that the texts I could send over wifi weren’t working and after 15 minutes, my free wifi had expired.  Hoping that at least one of my texts/emails went through, I decided to stay in the same spot.  I had read some of my mystery novel, with the oh so clever character Jack Reacher and thought, ok what would Jack Reacher do.  Ridiculous, yes.  Worth it, yes.  As much as I didn’t want to just sit there and wait, I decided it was the best decision, and after sitting just over an hour without wifi, I was right.  My friend had gotten one of the texts and had been searching for me.  So far, I think that is the most nervous I have been on this trip.  In a foreign country, everyone speaking a different language around me, not knowing where their hostel was, and no wifi to check directions.  On this trip I realized that in the US, I am extremely dependent on my phone, not only as a source of communication but directions and other information as well.  Many sources of “free” wifi are not actually free so that has been a little bit of a challenge but a bit of a relief as well.  I’m sure my parents were more worried than I was because once I finally got wifi, a text came through from my dad, “please give me a small indication that you are alive.”  I did and all was well.

After stashing my luggage at the hostel we meandered around Amsterdam.  This was my first sight of Europe so my first impression was how beautiful the buildings were!  It made me realize really how young America is.  There are wonderful canals everywhere.  It is simply a picturesque city and I learned quickly that much of Europe is the same.  

Believe it or not, this is a mall

There are 165 canals all around Amsterdam

From left: Liz, Michelle, Olivia, and moi

My traveling buddies for this trip consisted of Michelle, a friend from college, and Liz and Olivia, who I had just met on this trip and were friends of Michelle’s from home.  They turned out to be the most chill agreeable and positive people one could ask for hence making great travel companions. 

The line for the Anne Frank museum was way too long and considering we only had a day in Amsterdam, we adventured on.  We saw churches, prostitues in windows, coffee shops, the canals, and beautiful architecture for any and every building, including the McDonalds.  

My favorite part might have been simply walking through the streets. During some parts you were completely surrounded my buildings so it felt as if I was either in Disney world in a section with cobblestone streets and buildings close enough they seemed to make tunnels, or somewhere in the movie inception. 

Amsterdam

Disney World

Inception

Maybe you had to be there.

To give another image, many of the buildings seemed as if they could be drawn by Dr. Seuss.  The edges where one building met another were not always straight and gave a cartoonish feel to them; it was as if they were leaning.

Dinner! Pancakes with ham and cheese.
Absolutely wonderful.   Much thinner than
pancakes but not quite as thin as crepes.  Pancakes
were the start to an adventurous day! I think
Laura Numeroff would say the same regarding a
certain pig... If You Give a Pig a Pancake

The clock tower of Westerkerk.  The
tower can be seen from Anne Frank's
hiding place and the sound of the bells
are frequently mentioned in her diary.

AND of course we had to be typical tourists and get a picture with the "I amsterdam" sign.  Ignore the people in between the "I" and the "amsterdam."  The important four people you're looking for are scattered around the "m," "s," and "t."

Aaaaaaand... we found a Bulldog reference.  Therefore,
picture necessary. Go Dawgs!

Our one and only day in Amsterdam.  Definitely a city I would like to visit again when I have more time, especially to see the Anne Frank museum and the Jordaan area.  Off to Paris!