Chris: Where is our hostel?
Hannah: You mean you don't have the directions? I don't either!
(An hour or two of searching later, we were in our dorm room at the Witte Tulp – in the Red Light District)
Chris: Holy ****, when they advertised a view, I didn't know that was what they meant. (Really deep in the Red Light District, the views can be...interesting).
(A little later, and still hungry)
Chris: I'm hungry -- let’s get lunch -- the evil Swiss people in the airport were taunting me with fresh croissants, but wouldn't sell them because it was too early in the morning.
Hannah: How about this cute little bakery ("De Bakkerswinkle")?
Chris: If only they had broodje harring!!!
Hannah: You can get some later. These are pretty good! (Little did we know that we would end up eating breakfast here every morning – it was really that good)
(After lunch and a run to the French fry stand...)
Chris: Where should we go now?
Hannah: How about the Rembrandt museum.
Chris: Grumble. I'm not such a fan of Rembrandt. And it’s not a museum, it's his house. It's a tourist trap.
Hannah: Neat, we get a discount. And this Rembrandt print exhibit is…extensive.
Chris: Yeah, that was really nice. I really like Rembrandt.
Hannah: Snap. Snap. Picture. Picture
Chris: Let’s go shopping at the flea market.
Hannah: These wallets look nice.
Chris: These wallets look used.
Hannah: These wallets look stolen.
Hannah and Chris: ***checking pockets***
Chris: I can’t believe how cheap everything is here compared to Switzerland.
Hannah: I can’t believe how expensive everything is here compared to Russia.
Chris: Of course, the French fries are definitely worth their weight in gold. Let's get some more.
(A few thousand calories later...)
Chris: How about some coffee?
Hannah: The coffee is wonderful here.
Chris: So are the baked goods! This is an amazing brownie.
Hannah: Now it's time for some van Gogh.
Chris: This coll…
Hannah: This collection is fantastic.
Chris: Go-Van-Gogh (DMA reference)
Hannah: I think van Gogh went.
Chris: Did he go get a bike?
Hannah: No, but we should.
Chris: I haven't been on a bike in a long time.
Hannah: That's OK – they'll rent them to anybody. (speeding off through the pedestrian crowd)
Chris: This is fun!
(Once we'd worked off all the French fry fat by riding all over Amsterdam...)
Hannah: Aafke (Hannah's Dutch friend) said to hang out in Vondelpark.
(pedal, pedal, pedal)
Chris: I'm tired, how about a nap in Vondelpark?
Hannah: ***snore***
Chris: ***watches crazy old woman drink a whole bottle of wine and have a conversation (in Dutch) with herself***
Hannah: (Suddenly awake and ravenous) Lunch?
Chris: I want a broodjie harring!
Hannah: You're obsessed with that stupid herring.
(Post-broodjie harring...)
Chris: That broodjie harring wasn't so tasty. I don't feel so well.
Hannah: Your fault. You should have just had more vlaames frites (French fries with mayonnaise).
Chris: I think we need some more coffee.
Hannah: Indeed. Coffee rocks!
Chris: And more vlaames frites.
Hannah: This is the best. Postcard. Ever.
Chris: We have got to send it to the McDermott Office.
Chris: And these fries are fantastic.
Hannah: FANTASTIC!
Chris: Reijksmuseum?
Hannah: Of course!
Chris: Our Lord in the Attic?
Hannah: What?
Chris: The 17th century Dutch Protestant government wasn't so keen on public Catholicism…so they built a fabulous Roman Catholic church in the attic.
Hannah: Fabulous. Snap Snap. Picture Picture.
Chris: I wonder how often people fall into the canals?
Hannah: I don't know, but they smell like the Trinity "River."
(later that night)
Chris: This place reminds me of New Orleans.
Hannah: Only it’s more chill -- not so many drunk frat boys.
Chris: And there's no Lelia. (Gowland, '04)
(on the last day)
Hannah: One last cone of Vlammese Frites?
Chris: Of course! They're FANTASTIC!
Hannah: Did you remember to mail the postcard?
Chris: Crap, I left it on the train...maybe that's for the best.
Hannah: It was so good to see you! Have fun in Switzerland.
Chris: It was so good to see you too! Don't freeze in Siberia! If you die, I'll never forgive you -- wear that long underwear.
Hannah: (Only a good friend would bring Swiss chocolates and REI underwear when you're truly in need of both).
