Unusual Sights in Amsterdam

July 28th, 2010 by Joel 5 comments »

Rather than post photos of things other people have shared a million times, here are a few things I found interesting in Amsterdam:

Sorry, I didn’t get any good photos of the guy who apparently died during his visit to the red light district (yes, DURING). But it was definitely interesting to watch the hullaballoo.

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Bikes were parked everywhere. The most in any one place was near the train station. This is about 1/3rd of a multi-level parking structure and bike parking area. Regardless of all the bikes, I was actually not comfortable riding around town. The way cars, bikes and trains cross paths, it’s like those old silent movies where the getaway car crosses the tracks milliseconds before the train rams it.

Bike parking by the train station.

Yes, yes. You’re comfortable with your sexuality. We get it. You don’t have to keep beating it to death. So to speak.

Nationaal Monument at Dam

I would estimate that 30% of bikes in Amsterdam are discarded and forgotten.

Bike or unique planter?

I thought it was cool that houseboats were apparently permanently moored by the canals.

Houseboats

Is there even room for a Dalmation in this car? I hope the hook n ladder truck is a bit larger.

Fire department vehicle

In case you were curious how furniture gets to the 5th floor with those tiny little staircases.

A "ladder-vator"

And finally… I’m more terrified by what this sign might mean than anything else I’ve seen in Europe.

DNA spray - WTF??

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Three Great iPhone Travel Apps!

July 27th, 2010 by Joel 3 comments »

A lot of folks have shared information on great ways to use mobile apps on the road (including some great posts at TravelsofAdam.com). I just wanted to share a couple recent discoveries. Helpful to anyone with an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad (which is getting close to being everyone with one of the three).

Mobile Check Deposits with Chase!

Well, I’m not making any money while I’m traveling (not yet, anyway) but I still have a few checks coming in from closing out some past accounts.

My checks all went to a good friend, who’s acting as my mail drop while I’m traveling. The challenge became “how do I deposit those checks from halfway around the world?”

I certainly could have had him make a trip to the bank for me (and forge my signature, etc), but I didn’t want to inconvenience him every time I got a $12 refund check from a canceled magazine subscription. And without a permanent address overseas, I didn’t want him to mail the check to me (not to mention the challenge of exactly where I would be able to deposit it).

Enter Chase’s new mobile app. Sorry, at the moment you need to have an account with Chase AND an iPhone for this.

And no, I’m not being paid for this post!! But my hand is open, Chase…

This fantastic little bit of software allows you to take a photo of a check with your iPhone, upload it to the Chase website and it deposits into your account on the spot – wherever you are in the world.

For this, I didn’t want my friend to have to mail the check to me, so here are the two simple steps:

  1. He scanned the check in hi-res and e-mailed the image to me.
  2. Using the Chase application, I was able to take a photo directly off my computer screen into the app and voila! Check was deposited.

I don’t know how often I’ll need to use it, but it was incredibly handy. (Free app)

OffMaps ($1.99)

I was searching for an application that loaded up city maps so I didn’t have to carry the paper versions with me (or FIND a paper version in every single city I visited).

Enter OffMaps. You can download one of the free city maps they offer or just buy the application. Download the city you’re visiting and you’ll have full time access to a street map, that also integrates with the iPhone GPS. The full version allows downloads of pretty much anywhere, from the looks of it, but I’ll be testing it more as I head through France.

In addition to street maps, it includes sites, restaurants, hotels and has optional city guide downloads for more information.

Caveat: as you would expect, the maps are HUGE, so prepare for long download times. Best to do when you have a full-time internet connection – NOT while downing a McFlurry.

Accio Language Guides ($1.99)

I’m loving the Accio language guides so far. Type in a word you want to translate and it takes you right to it. Hit a button and it instantly switches from French-English to English-French. Or whatever language you’re using.

Sitting on the train, every time I see a sign I don’t understand, I pull up the words in an instant. It’s teaching me the language far more quickly than if I had to pull out a dictionary each time.

At $1.99 each, they’re a great value and space saver.

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And finally, another shout out to Evernote. I know I’ve extolled its virtues before (here), but I use it CONSTANTLY to record my random thoughts and memories so I can store my impressions the way a photographer stores images.

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Brain Drops 3: Amsterdam Edition

July 25th, 2010 by Joel 4 comments »
Captain Morgan
Image via Wikipedia

Not every random thought deserves to have its own blog post. Here are some of the things that popped into my head while I was in Amsterdam.

  • Do you think somewhere in the Netherlands there’s a community of Dutch Pennsylvanians? All wearing Steelers jerseys and eating cheese steak?
  • They don’t seem to realize it, but the marketing folks for Cool Ranch Doritos are missing a natural opportunity to sponsor the entire city of Amsterdam.
  • Amsterdam trivia: a licensed prostitute has to pay 19% sales tax and 30-35% income tax on the fee she gets from a client. There’s a joke in there about getting screwed 3 times for the same money, but I can’t quite get to it.
  • Trying to figure out signs in Dutch is like sorting through furniture names at Ikea.
  • In trying to speak an approximation of Dutch, I think I just asked someone for directions to the “Al Franken House.”
  • You’d think that with the gigantic queue in front of the Anne Frank house, the Germans would have known something was up.
  • I’m torn between two worlds. For the hell of it, I joined a pub crawl in Amsterdam with a bunch of twenty-somethings but I also think I’m starting to develop that crusty white gunk old people get on the sides of their mouths.
  • On the pub crawl I feel a little like “Ken, Lonnie, I’d like you to meet … Mohammed, Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton. Grab a seat and make yourself at home, okay?”
  • There’s an Amsterdam Club called “More Than a Woman.” I don’t want to think too hard about what that means, but I’m guessing it’s not a Bee Gees theme bar.
  • My hotel bath tub in Amsterdam is some bizarre funnel shape so the only way to shower without falling over is to pose like Captain Morgan. One foot by the drain and one on the ledge above.
  • The Diamond Museum should give out free samples like they did on the Heineken tour.
  • I’d really like to have someone’s ear to complain about the long lines at the Van Gogh museum.
  • I haven’t eaten much in Amsterdam since I realized everything is cooked in Dutch ovens.
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Running A Red Light (District) In Antwerp

July 22nd, 2010 by Joel 10 comments »
Villa Tinto
Image by wauter de tuinkabouter via Flickr

Antwerp was a beautiful city and full of surprises (read more here). One additional surprise I got was stumbling into the red light district after boat watching.

Here’s a peek behind the curtain inside my head:

Huh, this street looks interesting. Wonder what’s down here? Lots of store fronts and guys walking ar– whoah! That’s no mannequin in that bikini!

Jeezus, there are hundreds of girls behind glass doors posing and pressing up against the glass.

Wait, what do I do?

Keep walking?

But what do I DO?

Okay, look, but only for a second. You don’t want to seem rude.

And smile politely.

Shit! Don’t smile too big! Now she’s waving for you to come over, just keep going.

Haha – that guy just got yelled at for offering a 20 Euro note to a woman.

Okay, looks like I’m halfway through. Geez, this is like a haunted house at Halloween Horror Nights. Except women keep grabbing at you from behind the glass instead of werewolves. They’re all over the place.

Tall one, fat one, old one.

Eeep!! Tranny!

Wait, do I just ignore him? I know it’s rude, but…

Hey, did you ever wonder who invented shoelaces?

This place could totally be more efficient if they just added a bill slot next to the door and it worked like a vending machine.

hmmm… she’s posing totally motionless, like a statue. I guess some guys like that.

70% of them are on cell phones the entire time. I hope they turn them off when they get a client.

Finally, end of the street. I need to stop for a drink and absorb all that.

Well, look at that. This must be where the off the record girls work.

Moving along…

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Antwerp: Quick Pics

July 21st, 2010 by Joel 3 comments »

A few pictures from Antwerp to go along with ones from yesterday’s post.

The central clock tower in Antwerp

The top of the central clock tower

Sailors from the Tall Boat Races hanging from the mast.

Antwerp has the most beautiful train station I've ever seen.

Interior of the train station

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Antwerp: Tunnel Visions

July 20th, 2010 by Joel 9 comments »

One of the real gems of the trip that I wasn’t expecting was Antwerp. After a 60 mile ride from Bruges, I rolled up to the river and saw an amazing city skyline across the water.

Antwerp - Across the Sea

Bridge? What Bridge?

I had no idea how to get to the other side of the river and my Belgian isn’t quite upto snuff, so I was a bit lost. My GPS kept telling me to go across the water but there was no road to be found.

Lots of boats on the sides of the river. Maybe you have to be ferried across – seems kind of inefficient, but who knows? So, I explored the river bank. I rode a couple miles in each direction and still couldn’t find any way across.

Finally, I decided to trust the directions I was getting from my GPS and I zeroed in exactly on the place it was telling me to go. Lo and behold, there’s a building there. Inside the building, I discovered an ancient escalator. The entire thing was made of wood – the sides, th e housing, even the slats on the steps.

Carrying a 90 pound bike on an escalator was a challenge, but I was motivated by not wanting to kill the people below me if it slid down willy-nilly.

At the base of the escalator was the tunnel to get to the main part of the city. The tunnel was long and built for pedestrian traffic, of which there were thousands taking advantage (due in part to an event the city was hosting).

Hostel Territory

I checked in at the hostel, which was not my favorite. The place was essentially a bar with owners who decided to make a few extra bucks by renting out the crappy rooms upstairs – the floor of the bar patio was covered in sand, which meant everything in the hostel was, too.

The stairs were winding, as is the case in most old buildings in Europe, but these also added an angle of inclination with each step. By the time you got to the third story, they sat at about a 30 degree angle. God help anyone who had to climb those drunk.

Finally, the hostel (which housed about 30 people) had one restroom, one stall, one shower. I’m glad I shower in the afternoon since I’m off riding in the mornings.

Wanna Watch The Boat Races?

As far as the city goes, I lucked out big time. I arrived on the final day of the Tall Boat races. While the races were over by the time I arrived, I did get to see a nautical parade of old style sailing boats and their crews – including some who were hanging from the masts 120 feet up.

The city is really beautiful and it’s a place I’d love to go back to again for a longer stay. As it was, I was pretty exhausted so after an unexpected encounter with the city’s red-light zone (more on that in two days), it was time to head for bed and rest up for the next day’s ride to Rotterdam.

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Statue of Liberty Play

July 19th, 2010 by Joel 11 comments »

Disclaimer: Do not try this. If you choose to try this, you are on your own and you’re probably not too bright. I do not condone this behavior. Any time you mix fire and alcohol, you’re asking for trouble.

That said, it was pretty cool.

On a night out in Amsterdam, I met a couple guys who worked for the US military. Unlike 95% of the crowd at the clubs, these guys were close to my age. They’re stationed in the Netherlands working for Nato, with their families still back in the States.

While we talked, I learned about a very cool drinking trick called the Statue of Liberty. It was completely new to me, although I may have to show it off at parties eventually.

  • Order a shot of Sambuca, in a glass large enough to dip your fingers into the liquid.
  • Dip your first two fingers into the Sambuca, coating them. Sambuca is a bit syrupy, so it’ll stick to them fairly well. Keep your fingers pointed down so that the liquid doesn’t run down your hand and arm.
  • Using a candle or other available flame, ignite the Sambuca on your fingers. The flame will burn the alcohol, but not your fingers (as long as you don’t take too long).
  • Hold your fingers in the air like the Statue of Liberty while you down the shot with your other hand.
  • Put your fingers out by shaking them before permanent damage occurs.
  • Collect accolades and admiration.

Do I have to tell you once again NOT to do this?

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Brain Drops – Belgian Edition

July 18th, 2010 by Joel 11 comments »

hehehe... boobs... hehe

Also includes surrounding territories…

Isn’t it strange that the direct translation of the number 80 in French is 4-20? Is there a hidden meaning there? Does FRANCE want to be the home of pot smoking in Europe?

France is full of warning signs about Mort. Really, how dangerous is some 70 year old Jewish guy?

France’s economic structure is partially built on inefficiency. Having 7 waiters to serve 10 tables wouldn’t fly in the US, but here it keeps people employed.

All the chocolate shops in Bruges sell beautifully crafted “special occasion” chocolates. Where the hell is the “shove as much in your mouth as you can” chocolate shop?

If I were ever in a wheelchair, I’d want one made out of a BMW motorcycle.

Lots of American tourists in Bruges. I guess Colin Farell movies still sell tourist attractions, if not theater tickets.

It’s odd to me that babies cry the same way wherever you go. I always expect them to wail with some sort of accent in other countries.

Just saw a heavy, old Belgian housewife in curlers running down the driveway yelling and shaking a dish towel at her husband, who was driving away. I love when movie cliches come to life!

Had a thought while singing the Gilligan’s Island theme song in my head (don’t ask) – the line that says “no boats, no lights, no motorcars – as primitive as can be?” WTF is a motorcar? The show aired in the late 60s, but evidently the theme song was written in 1912.

Canal in Bruges

Saw a porcelain cat while I was riding today. Fake animals are usually pretty disturbing in the first place and this was a statue of a hairless cat which enhanced the creep factor tenfold. It gave me that vague feeling of unease I get when I see the silly putty version of Tom Hanks in Polar Express.

A Rotterdam dance club advertises an after hours club every Saturday & Sunday morning from 5am – noon. Note to self. Stay away from the coffee here. And pretty much anything else consumable.

I’m starting to get the hang of the Dutch language. It’s kinda like English but you string an entire phrase together into one word. Like “wuldjulikunbier?”

Just saw a wandering rose salesman going bar to bar in Rotterdam’s red light zone. I think I love the new phrase I just came up with – “that’s like taking roses to a whorehouse.” I’m totally going to start using that.

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Changes: I Fought The Blog and the Blog Won

July 16th, 2010 by Joel 12 comments »
Have desk, will write
Image by Bright Meadow via Flickr

Here’s the final part of the changes I’m making to make for a better journey as I near the mid-point of month 1.

Blogging & writing – for the first week or so, I didn’t.

Lesson #1: Make time.

Reasons, excuses, whatever. For the first week, most of my writing was signing my name to dinner checks. Now that the trip is underway, I’ll be writing more.

Lesson #2: Not every post has to be epic.

Part of what scares me away from writing is that I always feel like each post should be a grand observation on the universe, humanity and my place within it. Just to clarify, that’s a crock of shit. Expect to see many more posts of me and my random thoughts, which is how my brain works best.

Lesson #3: This is a personal blog, not a travel blog.

I certainly have travel stories and advice I can and will share occasionally, but this isn’t going to be the place where people pop in to find out the 10 best restaurants in Lille. Because really, when you’re eating pain du chocolat two meals a day, where you’re eating it isn’t all that important.

Lesson #4: Now that the adrenaline has subsided a bit, it’s time to get working.

I think I was entitled to treat the first 10 days more like a vacation than travel with intent. Now that I’ve settled in to my lifestyle a bit, it’s time to get cracking on some of the goals I laid out.

That’s about it for now – more regular posts are on their way!

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Changes: Travel Communication and Transportation

July 14th, 2010 by Joel 6 comments »
A Eurostar.
Image via Wikipedia

A few more alterations and updates to my plan based on how things have gone so far:

Communication:

Lesson #1: AT&T Sucks
» Read more: Changes: Travel Communication and Transportation

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