Amsterdam Room

Train left on time from Paris, arrived about 5:30 in Amsterdam, then checked in at the Travel Hotel. We hauled our things to the second floor, inserted our key and opened the door to a very dark room.

Inside, our new japanese roommates were sitting in the dark playing some unrecognizable experimental music. We knew of their nationality based on what the front desk said when we later mentioned the curious way in which they sat in the dark room all day. She said, "Oh the japanese boys...yea they're quiet." Back at the room I took a look at the beds while Mike took care of some paperwork down at the front desk. Searching for the bathroom, I pushed one of the bunks away from the closed door behind it. The 2 guys, sitting on their beds, watch as I opened up the door and revealed the bathroom. In unison they moaned a very japanese, "Ohhhhhhhhh..." in a tone as though I had revealed a sacred treasure to them. Apparently they didn't know we had a bathroom in our room. I held back the giggle, and went to find Mike. The roommates were too much to handle right away so we ditched our stuff and took off to find a place to get a drink.

We found a local watering hole we've decided we like a lot. We had a few beers there and then decided we should check back at the Hostel. Upon arriving we stood outside our room against the door to listen to the noise inside. Nervous, we walked in to the peaceful, yet erie sounds of chirping birds. Though there was still daylight, they were laying in bed listening to what may have been a relaxation audio that was mixed with techno music...in the dark...blinds closed...cutains closed. So again, we felt as though we were interuppting some ceremony and we left.

With all the time we had (which is all in the world when you're trying to stay away from your room) we headed out to the streets again and found relief in knowing that we were right around the corner from those rows of classy little red-lit windows. And we were instantly ammused. Mike led the way, finding every last glowing alley-way in our part of town. It is the crowds of people though that become the real entertainment; belligerent, loud and in masses.

Somewhere along the way we found a by-the-slice pizza joint that knocked our socks off. Finding a place for pizza had been on our mind but every vender had the same looking pale pies. Then we found a place where, after our first few bites, said, "We are coming back here." And we did. About two hours later when we reestablished our bearrings.

Back at the room we didn't spend much time making noise. We went to right to bed. Next day we talked to the front desk about our concerns with the roommates (not that we were unable to adapt, but it was hard to function in all the darkness all the time) and got a new room. An upgrade! The bathroom is delightful and large, BUT it is 5 floors up a steep narrow stairway. Still, neither of us are complaining.