Sunday the 19th
I was at work 10-4 and the plane the others were catching was at 1345, so I had to catch one on my own at 1945.
I quickly packed and my mum gave me a lift to the airport, dropping off at my dad’s on the way to say goodbye.
Nothing of any excitement happened at the airport or on the plane, so I will skip to my arrival.
I arrived in Amsterdam airport at 2025 (Amsterdam time) but due to the incredibly long distance between the plane and the main part of the airport, I didn’t arrive at passport control until 2045.
After collecting my luggage I went to the ajoining train station and bought a ticket for the city. I boarded the train and watched the airport disappear from sight, and the beautiful city arrive.
The boys (Glyn, Tom and Martin) met me at the station and seemed to be having a great time.
We walked through the city to our hostel: the Flying Pig. The second I entered the place I loved it. In one room was the reception and the bar and in the corner was an area full of cushions and low tables that (if you are willing to take your shoes off) you can chill out in.
We went up to our room so I could drop my stuff off and then went into the city.
First, we had a look at a few of the coffeeshops. They were all so surreal. I was amazed that in most of them you couldn’t buy alcohol. It was one or the other it seemed.
Then we had a look at the Red Light District. The others had had a look at it earlier and had told me how weird it was. Apparently all the girls were just sitting around texting their boyfriends and chatting to each other. This must have been because it was very early, as when I went (about 12 or so) it was very different. I have to admit I was a bit scared of the place. There were loads of blokes wandering around and speaking to the people walking through. One of them came up to us and said (in the most frightening voice ever) “COCAINE?”. It was horrid.
After all this, is was back to the pig for a lovely sleep.
Monday the 20th
We awoke quite late (11ish?) and went out to find some breakfast. We had a look around a few shops and bought one or two things. Then we walked miles to Vondelpark where we chilled out for a bit. At rush hour we saw for the first time the true extent of the bicycles in Amsterdam. There were literally hundreds of men and women cycling past on sit-up-and-begs. It was amazing.
We then walked back and by coincidence stumbled across Daniel Barker, Nic Harvey, Adam Schmitt and Scott Langford (we knew they were in Amsterdam but not where they were). We sat with them for a bit and had a little chat (well, myself and Martin didn’t say much but there we go).
After chilling out a bit more in the city and at the docks we went back to the pig and had a drink in the bar before retiring went to bed.
Tuesday the 21st
We were intending on renting bikes but we couldn’t afford the deposits. Instead explored the city and met up with the other group and went to a coffeeshop for a smoothie with them. Adam showed us some absynth that he’d bought. It was 92% and looked very dangerous. He had it out in the coffeeshop and just left it on the table. Next thing we knew, it was gone. He rushed downstairs and caught the guys who had it. I don’t think they intended on stealing it, just taking it to the bar.
When the barmaid appeared with our smoothies she said she’d heard someone had some alcohol with them, and they need to put it away because “if the cops come we’re fucked!”. It really felt like Adam was at a bar in the UK with some weed lying on the table.
In the evening we chilled out in the pig, in the snug area. Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name came on, and that was awesome. And thus we ended our last night.
Wednesday the 22nd
We had to be out of our rooms by 1030 and we were. We went to the bar to discover that we’d been entitled to a free breakfast every day, but that it ends at 1030. Gutted.
No one had much money left except me so I decided to go to the Van Gogh musuem on my own.
The walk took about 20 minutes but on the way I saw a few cool things like the Royal Palace. The museum itself was pretty awesome but not very big. When I left I went the wrong way and found myself in the middle of a residential area and not sure of where to go. I asked a woman how to get back and she advised getting the tram she was getting. After a while it still hadn’t arrived but a bus did. I took a risk and jumped onto it. Luckily it was going the right way and I soon arrived back in the city centre.
I went and met the others at McDonalds. We sat there for quite a long time and then went to a coffeeshop to meet the others where they were playing pool. After an hour here we set off for the train to the airport.
We arrived at the airport with plenty of time. An hour of queuing later we were at the gate. Boarding time was scheduled for about 30mins later.
DELAYED.
Gutted.
DELAYED MORE.
Gutted!
DELAYED AGAIN.
Gutted…
Eventually the plane arrived and we all hopped on. The flight was fine and my mum and Martin’s dad was waiting for us at East Midlands Airport.
The original plan was for Martin’s dad to take Martin and Tom to Martin’s house (where they were both sleeping) and drop Glyn off on the way. However, Glyn wanted to join us for Leeds shopping and Tom needed his Leeds ticket from my house so my mum took the three of us back.
We did Leeds shopping, I stopped off at my Dad’s to say hallo and then went back to Mum’s.
I unpacked from Amsterdam and packed for Leeds before falling asleep in preparation for the next adventure.
