Ticket to Amsterdam

Well, today we left at 9:15 for Amsterdam. We were supposed to arrive around 10:45, but for some reason the train in front of us was not working, causing us to be delayed for over an hour. So, around noon we arrived in Amsterdam and toured the city. First stop: red light district. The last time I was here we went there as well, and surprisingly this time was a bit less appalling than the first time. Still, where are these women's dignity? Jokingly I told my roommate these women get up, "get dressed," and head to work where they sell themselves, and I am going to get up, get dressed, and go teach children. I just don't see how both can be considered jobs or how any human being could think that is an OK decision. It's really, really sad that we live in a world that not only accepts but also encourages this. Sickening to my soul.

After the culture shock of that we drank some hot cocoa, took a canal tour of the city, went to the Rieks Museum, and then to the Anne Frank house. You think I am just giving a very brief description of this, but in reality, this was not the highlight of our day. No, the highlight was the train ride back.

6:24pm, 5 girls go sprinting through the Amsterdam Centraal station, burgers and fries in hand, trying to make a 6:26pm train. They get on the train and then much to our surprise, we get about 20 minutes from Zwolle and find out that a person had jumped in front of another train and that we would, again be delayed, but this time for over 3 hours. So, what do you do with 17 Americans, 3 Dutch college students, and 1 professor while waiting for/on a few trains after a day full of walking and train rides already? You play Mafia, sing "Don't Stop Believing," and listen for the whistle.

10:15pm we arrive back in Zwolle after a total of 5 hours in Amsterdam and about 8 hours on a train. Now what? Well, we go to the Joffer, of course! We biked home, got ready, then headed back downtown for a night out. What a great night...  until I fell off my bike, scraped my knee, broke my chain, and got to double bike with LaRae, and then went to bed. Long but good day.


The End.