Da Dam!

It's a little late but it's been hectic since getting back. I'm actually posting about my excursion to Amsterdam while in the middle of my next trip in Montreal. Oh it's so nice to have ready free internet access in the hotel. High speed internet penetration is just not as high in Europe. So frustrating. Make me realize hw dependant I am on my link to the web!

It was a rocky start. I came off the plane into a cloud of cigarette smoke and a zombie army of redeyed travelers making a bee line to the designated smoke stations and its token attempt at isolating the stench to a confined area. I waited what seemed like forever for my luggage, only to find it really was forever since everyone's checked luggage was lost. Not that they took the initiative to tell us, but instead waited till each disgruntled passenger to complain at the desk before the truth was out. Being the Canadian, I was the last to reach the disgruntledness threshold of complaining, and therefore, the last to leave with the promise that it was coming soon.

The next morning, we got the call. It was a bouncing baby suitcase! We rushed off to claim my prize. My night of sleeping in old clothes was over. Even though it was just in back of the car, I felt cleaner. My posessions were safe.

We then went on a little country drive to a little town/suburb. Nothing like the distances common to Canada of course, so we were there in a jif. Not really as many windmills and milkmaids in wooden shoes as one might expect. But it was really neat to have lunch in a small european town with cobblestone streets with a view of a little modest canal lock. Quaint!

My friend also had a little surprise for me. We went to the driving range! A popular passtime for us during his time in Edmonton. It was a bit nippy but it was a novelty to be hitting golf balls in a foreign country. It was one of those where you hit the balls into the water too, so bonus!

That night, he made a pasta dinner with chicken and zuchinni, which I will have to steal sometime. It was pretty good. I like zuchinni, but got overloaded when my mom grew too many in the backyard when I was young. I believe I'll have to rediscover it.

Then we went clubbin'! Boy, haven't done that in like forever! And to do it in Amsterdam at that! We began the night at an intimate little bar with a mellow and varied crowd. Things really got going next at this unmarked "underground" club. Well, not really underground. It was on the second floor. But it was some sort of regular event put on by artsy students that you have to know about to go! It's fun to go out to a club once in a while, and this one was pretty awesome! I left exhausted. We were also covertly offered a ride from a questionable gentleman while waiting in line for the bus. Probably not the smartest thing to get into an unmarked unlicensed taxi, but it was memorable!

On sunday, we took it easy. Went to a really nice science museum with tons of interactive displays. Puts ours to shame really, but it was slightly marred by the shear volume of screaming rugrats running around, occupying exhibits meant for *my* enjoyment. Museums was the order of the day on Monday since my friend started med school that day. I went to the Rijksmuseum, which had lots of historical and antique exhibits, crowned by works by Rembrandt, including his famous Night Watch. I ended my solo trek at the Van Gogh museum. My favorite was his painting of the bedroom. While there, I also took part in some sort of promotional video. They were looking for patrons to volunteer so I jumped right in!

The flight back was much better than the flight there. I managed to get a wink, had enough battery power to watch two movies on my laptop and time flew. Great trip but I was so glad to get home to my mudskippers. They grew so much! And they obviously like the new environmental arrangement I put together before I left. They were being nonchalant, but I could tell they were glad to see me.