I bounce right back

Friday morning I was set to leave Koln early in the morning to get on a train taking me straight to Amsterdam.  I packed and got all ready the night before so I wouldn’t have to worry about having a close call with the train, like I did in Brussels.

I get up very early and pack up the last things, heading out the door with plans for maybe bread from the bakery and possibly cash from the atm.  and then I realize that my bike has been stolen.*  the lock is broken and ripped apart on the ground.

so I stand there just staring at it for about a full minute.  I mean, will I even make it to the train now?  walking doesn’t seem like an option; it would take me nearly 45 minutes.  I gather myself up and decide that I will take the train that stops right in front of our flat (which I’ve never taken) and hope that it gets me to the train station quick enough.  I forfeit the bread and atm and 1.4e to get there in time.

so I made it.

* I have repeatedly mentioned my irrational fear about this event occurring throughout the summer, which makes it all the more ironic.  and sad.

my bike

after I got off the train in Amsterdam I began to check things off my list.

I went and waited in line at the station to buy a train ticket for Sunday morning when I needed to leave for Rotterdam.

I walked outside and around to the harbor to rent a bicycle at Star Bikes.  I was pretty excited about being in Amsterdam and doubly excited to be renting a bike (for the first time in any of the cities I have visited), which the lady at the counter verified was written all over my ready to be sunburned face.

over 75% of the people in Amsterdam ride bicycles as a primary mode of transportation and there are supposedly over 600,000 bikes in the city.  I had budgeted 18e for my bike rental to be a price I was definitely willing to pay because I figured that riding around would be the best way to experience the city as locals do.  plus I freaking love biking.  it’s a twofer!

unfortunately most of the bike rental businesses rent bikes that are bright red or yellow with huge letters and insignia that basically plaster “I am a tourist, please rob me” all over you.  the bike I got was white with black spots, like a cow because I am a cowgirl (lady at the counter’s words, not mine).  it was a traditional Dutch style single speed bike with brake pedaling.  it was lovely.

on biking in Amsterdam

my first fifteen minutes on my bicycle were the best of my entire trip in Amsterdam.  I quickly picked up on the rules of the road and slowly gained confidence on where to go.

there is a special lane on the side of most of the roads that is only for bicycles.  if you are a pedestrian and you walk into this lane unsuspectingly, you will get a polite but curt briiing-briing to get the heck out of the way.  it is basically the street.  the part that gets tricky is where the roads intersect.  during those first fifteen minutes I just tried to follow the lead of other bikers.

oh and you can’t just stop in the street and take photographs.  you have to pull over for that.

at the intersections there are special street lights for the bicycle lanes and they are different than the pedestrians.  they are more in sync with the cars.  bicycles = cars in Amsterdam.  when you arrive at the intersection, you push a button (like a pedestrian walk button) that signals you are there waiting.

it was thrilling!  everything was perfect.  the sun was shining, the wind in my hair kept me nice and cool and everything was just beautiful.  I don’t think I will ever forget my first real moments in Amsterdam.

hostel

the hostel I stayed at was very different from the one I stayed at in Milan.  it had a lot more people!  I stayed in a room with seven other people (guys and girls) and slept on the bottom bunk.  it was also a lot more expensive so I bet they were raking in the dough.

I didn’t actually go into my room until very late Friday night when I got home so I didn’t meet anyone in my room until the following night and even then most of the people were pretty reserved and quiet.  I think that most of them were travelling alone like me.

one good thing about the hostel was it’s huge breakfast.  I only ate a little both mornings because I don’t usually like to eat a lot in the morning but they had a lot of options.  and Nutella.