Back Two days ago, I decided to do some laundry. My hostel doesn't have washing facilities, so I too all my clothes over to a laundromat. I had been thinking that I would be washing everything myself, like back home. Not so here. I had to drop everything off, and wouldn't be able to get it back until 10 the next morning. Unfortunately, the hostel has a lock-out period between 10am and 2pm. This means that between these hours, you are not allowed upstairs into the dorms, where all your stuff is. When I picked up the clothes, I managed to convince the receptionist to let me drop it all off upstairs. I took the time to change into a clean shirt, but I didn't want to change out of my shorts into longer jeans because I had been told to hurry, and also there were women cleaning the rooms. So here I am, walking around Amsterdam in shorts, a T-shirt and my windbreaker. Fortunately the weather here is fairly warm.
Next chapter: I decided to take in a show that evening, one that I had been trying to see for a few nights. Since I happened to be in that are of town, and it has been pretty warm, I didn't go back to the hostel to change. (getting the feeling that I was stupid yet? just wait.) It was a great show, called Boom Chicago, and I was sitting next to a very nice couple from Canada. After the show let out at 10, we decided to go out and find a bar or a coffee shop and hang out a bit more. They had a specific place in mind, so we spent about an hour and a half searching around for it. (the streets here really are crazy.) By the time we found it and got our drinks, it was 11:30pm. Early, right? well, my hostel doesn't think so. They have a 12:00 curfew, after which they lock the doors and don't let you back in. Since I was on the other side of town, I didn't even bother trying to get back on time....I knew there was no way I would get there. After a few brews, the canadian couple headed for their place, so I started walking back to my hostel. By the time I got there, it was about 1:30am. I knocked on the door, and when it was answered, I was told, "You read the rules, there is no excuse. Please leave." Didn't even tell me anywhere to go for the night. Now, I have heard that this can be a dangerous city after dark, especially if you decide to sleep outside. I thought it would be better to just stay awake all night, and go back when they opened at 7am. So, I proceeded to wander....
I saw quite a few interesting things, stopping frequently to get rid of all the beer I had been drinking at the outdoor urinals. Not much more than a small hole in the ground with a screen around it, really.
Eventually I made it to the north of the city where I turned a corner and found the fire department in the last stages of putting out a fire. Since I had nowhere else to be, and I was a bit bored, I stopped to rubberneck. I got to talking with one of the other people that was standing around, and it turned out he was from England. He had been renting an apartment in the building next to the one that had gone up. After telling him my plight, he said I could borrow a sleeping bag and crash on his floor. Ahh, saved. Or not?
It turned out that the firemen weren't allowing any of the residents to sleep there. After hanging out for a while longer, I wished my friend luck and headed off on my own.
Just around the corner, I found about 7 or 8 people, most of whom had also missed their curfew at their hostels. They were all just hanging out together, passing joints and pipes back and fourth. I hung out with them for a few hours, until it started to get light, but no, I didn't partake of any of the freely offered "relaxants".
I walked back to my hostel, getting there around 6:45. Just as I was walking up the street, I saw three other people who had tried to get back in at the same time I did. We hung around outside the doors for about half an hour, passing the time attempting to communicate...not a one of them spoke english. It really is amazing what you can say using only gestures and facial expressions.
The doors were finally opened around 7:15, and I went straight to bed. I knew I only had a few hours until the aforementioned lock-out period. After two hours of fitful sleep, I had to get out of bed and go down for breakfast. Needless to say, this time I dressed in my long jeans.
I thought my troubles were pretty much over, so I headed to the train station, thinking of paying a visit to Cecil's mother. When I reached the station, though, I realised I had left my credit card in my money belt under my pillow, where I put it while I sleep. Having only about 10 guilders, I had no choice but to give up any thoughts of visiting friends. I headed over to the local internet cafe to have a warm place to sit until 2:00, when I can get back into my room.
Like I said at the beginning, an adventure is not always pleasant while you're goin through it. But I'm sure I will look back on all this and laugh.
Now, don't go and start worrying about me, I'm doing just fine, and will be heading back to the hostel for some more sleep as soon as I finish this. In fact, I think that's right now...
Yours,
Scott
Home