Before I dive into our new place, you must first understand how hard it is to move in this city, especially when you do not have a car. As much as I appreciate bikes only lifestyle, having no car makes moving all the more difficult. The night before getting kicked out of our temporary housing, I put together a moving plan email:
Mission - Apartment Project Move Our Stuff (For real real not for play play):
1- I will ride bike over to new apt, meet Robert, get keys, etc.
2- I will leave my bike at the new apt, and will walk back to current apt.
3- Once you get home, we will move boxes, luggage into taxi (I will ride with taxi and you will follow with bike)
4- Ali mentioned she will be home around 8 or 8:30, we will ride over (both of us) and get her keys, info, etc.
5- I will leave my bike at Ali's and will ride dutch back to our current apt.
6- Thursday morning, I will cab over to Ali's place with Indy, her carriage, my luggage, laptop and your bag.
How does that sound home slice?
Now the plan didn't actual play out that way, but you get the point.
On April 7th, I got back from Birmingham, England and Kirk continued on to London, Valencia, Spain and finally Los Angeles. I can't wait to see the spot - coming out this summer!
I finally arrived to Prinsengracht 480 ready to unpack and stay for my first night. The funny and stressful thing about this particular move was the movers decided to leave all our belongings (13 boxes) sitting on the sidewalk. Funny....do they really think that I can carry 13 boxes half of my size up 50 stairs (no elevator)? Luckily I was able find some immediate help.
Prinsengracht is one of the 4 main canals in Amsterdam. Our location is in the center of the center. Very touristy, lots to do and walking distance to everything. It's very lively on Thursday-Sunday since we live on top of two coffeeshops, and two bars called Mini Bar and Liquid. We live right off on Leidsestraat (main shopping street - a variety of boutiques, bars, cafes). Around the corner is the Leidseplein. We are walking distance from many magnificent museums - Anne Frank, Film Museum, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and the Heineken Museum.
As for Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull's volcano ash, our skies are really clear. Kirk's flight to Los Angeles was delayed a couple hours (one of the last flights out of Amsterdam - before the major airspace shut down). However, I have met plenty of people who were stranded here.
More fun and interesting observations: TV shows are in super high-def (almost like the show is right there in your apartment); They will leave all your belongings on the street with out even one phone call; sell red bull in bins at the local drug store; will not give you any kind of drugs (at the dentist for a cavity - forget novacaine); where diaper type outfits - feel like we are back in Venice, CA. The young men love to rent boats, make it into a bachelor pad and crank up Euro techno; fist pumping, singing and cheering after an Ajax game!!!
More to adore:
Bottle of wine with Kirk on the Leidseplein and people watching
Mint tea with new dutch friends!
Dutch bars with the Amsterdames
Dress-up parties
Boat rides on the canal
Running in Vondelpark
Soccer pick-up games with expats (finally found a group to play with)
Place we shop at frequently
Blokker (a small Target)
Hema (like Target)
Indiana Update: Indy is hanging there. She still shakes when I ask her to come outside with me. I now know that I can't walk her late on Thursday-Sunday, since there are far more tourists/locals out and about. Her favorite thing to do now is run with me in Vondelpark - you definitely see a change in her once she sees the park entrance. Another obstacle ahead - when to walk Indy during Queen's Eve and Day. The streets will be packed with over 700,000 tourists so might have to figure out some odd hours to walk her around!!! Indy also had a doggy date with Molly and her owner Michelle (who is from Seattle). Hopefully with time and patience, Indy will adjust to her surroundings!
Over the last few weeks I managed to get out, meet some new gals and have some fun. My friend Ali took me out to an annual dress-up party called Night Games - Nachtspelen. This years (7th edition) special theme was Giro d'Italia. A night of drinks, games, competitions, music, dancing, costumes and then being evacuated from my apartment at 4am definitely made this a night to remember!
After days of recovering I met up with a new friend Denessa by the train station for Randy Roy's Redlight Tour. This is a 90 minute tour, walking you thru the red light district, and learning the history of one of Amsterdam's popular hang outs. I had a blast!!! Thanks Denessa!
That's it for now. Hope all is well and thanks for checking on us!
More fun and interesting observations: TV shows are in super high-def (almost like the show is right there in your apartment); They will leave all your belongings on the street with out even one phone call; sell red bull in bins at the local drug store; will not give you any kind of drugs (at the dentist for a cavity - forget novacaine); where diaper type outfits - feel like we are back in Venice, CA. The young men love to rent boats, make it into a bachelor pad and crank up Euro techno; fist pumping, singing and cheering after an Ajax game!!!
LOVE this post!! On to the next one...
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