Sleeper Trains?

10/3/2009

Katherine and I have must have arrived in Amsterdam with fall. It is another rainy, dreary day, but we are leaving today so decided to persevere. I really wanted to try these Dutch pancakes that were a traditional dish, so we started off our day walking to a restaurant called Aunt Sarah’s Pancakes, which we passed yesterday, had a 10% discount card to, and Katherine said her parents (her mom being Sarah) met when her mom worked at a pancake house, so how fitting. The Dutch pancakes, which have a special name that I cannot think of right now were delicious. It was quite a walk to get there, but we didn’t really have much of a rushed agenda for the day other than to get on the train at 7 so it all worked out. Plus I really enjoy walking. We were able to leave our big backs at the hostel, while we toured the city, until it was time for us to pick them up and go to the train station.

Next we headed in the direction of the Rembrandt Museum. On the way we stopped in a pharmacy and HM so that Katherine could get some essentials to help her get better. I found it very interesting that they sold Celestial Seasonings in the pharmacy, so way to go Colorado! When we got to the Rembrandt Museum there was a very long line outside and it cost 10 euro to get in and the museum was under construction and we didn’t know what collections would be opened or closed or if it would be worth it so we just skipped it and moved on to the last thing we wanted to see in Amsterdam, the Heineken Experience.

For some reason, we always have the hardest time getting to the building. It has to do with taking the road that goes along the back of the Rembrandt Museum, when we should be taking the road that goes around the front of the museum. We did exactly what we did yesterday when we were trying to get there and showed up ten minutes too late. It is at this point that I can almost eat my words. My left foot started to hurt. At first I thought it was a foot cramp, but the pain lasted way longer than a cramp would and I am starting to think I have a stress fracture in my foot from walking so much and wearing my Sperrys on these walks. When I got back to the hostel, I immediately changed my shoes, took some calcium, and Advil. The train ride will be good for being off of it for a good period, but Ill give it till Austria to see how it is doing. I am seeing a cane in my future. I totally jinxed myself on how much I liked walking, but ill make it through.

The Heineken Experience was a very cool brewery tour. They did a great job with it, with everything from using a 3d video to explain the brewing process, to having interactive ways to view their marketing tactics, to getting three free beers. It was highly enjoyable and I don’t even like Heineken that much.

At this point we headed back to the hostel before making moves towards the train station. Katherine went to a grocery store near by and picked up some things for us to eat while we are on the train. Taking the tram back to the train station went much like the way it did when we took it to the hostel with the paying situation. In a way it was nice not have to waste money on just one 15 minute ride. When we got to the train station, we found the platform the train was coming to and posted up there until it came.

We were quite surprised by the sleeper train situation. Im not sure what I was expecting, I suppose something like this, but the real deal still surprised me a little bit. The sleeper cabins are so tiny to fit 6 people in, but we made it work. In addition to that there is no food car so it was a very good thing that we brought our own food. We had only heard bad stories about people getting their things stolen on sleeper trains so we were probably over cautious about that, but it is better to be safe than sorry. The rest of the people in our cabin came in many stops after ours and got off before us. It was kinda annoying because the train ticket guy kept coming in to check tickets and then tell them we were at their stop. Oh well. I guess that is just how these things go.

On our way out of Amsterdam we saw some windmills like famous ones in pictures. Now I feel like I have seen everything I need to this time around in Amsterdam. I hope my foot feels better tomorrow.