Amsterdam Antics

Hello My Dears,

Sorry for the long silence but you all know that I am not exactly a chatterbox and as I have had nothing major to report there was little point in writing.  After all, I am one of those authors who really hates it when people post stupid, not to mention disgusting details on their blogs or facebook.  Anyhoo, enough with the rant.

Since my last post, I have been chasing down agencies which have promised to present me to their clients as a candidate, but for an industry that hits the ground running their followup leaves a lot to be desired.  I have been told that companies really are keen on speaking with me but then nothing.  Nada. Zip. Zilch.

What's a girl to do?  I decided to keep a promise to myself that I made sometime last year and that was to see two new places each year.  To that end, I decided to keep a promise to a friend and go visit them in Amsterdam.  I left on Wednesday  April 6 in the evening and got back late SaturdayApril 9 lateish.

I really like Amsterdam.  It is quite the cool town and fairly easy to navigate.  Except that they suffer from a public transportation system that doesn't like money.  Or maybe it is ING they don't like.  We were trying to get me a bus pass and it took 3 tries before we could.  Then the 72 hour card that we bought expired after like 24.  The thing with Amsterdam buses is that you need to swipe the pass on entry AND Exit.   Ok class, repeat after me, the word for that is redundant.  First they tried to claim that I didn't swipe the card on the way out of one of the buses.  Not so.  Next they tried to claim that we took one of the other bus companies that serves Amsterdam.  We didn't.   So after a day of explaining the issue every time we got on a bus or tram we went to the office and and paid to have it sorted.

Amsterdam is not all that big and easier to navigate than Edinburgh.  Having said that, I found myself in the suprizing position of being uncomfortable with right sided driving after a month in the UK.  Weird.  Also, mine host was oblivious to oncoming traffic and so would cross the street whether we had the light or not.  Picture me trying to dodge buses, trams, and bicycles.  Not funny.

Now a word about bicycles.  That word is YIKES.  Bicycles in Amsterdam is like sheep in New Zealand.  There are 1 million people in Amsterdam and surroundings, there are 2 million bicycles.  It is insane.  Amsterdam is enough like Edinburgh in that the first sunny warm day everybody is in the park or wearing summer clothes. And riding bikes.  I nearly got run over once.

We took a canal cruise and went to visit another friend.  I am rather ashamed to say it but I got a teensy bit tipsy (read falling down drunk, literally). Vodka is not my friend.  I did discover a love of tulips, and you all know about my love of cheese.  Amsterdam has a daily farmer's market that has both.  It inspired me to come home to Edinburgh and look up our farmer's market.

We walked enough that I was in pain quite a lot of the time.  What, you exclaim?  How is this possible, you ask?  Yes, it shocked the hell out of me as well.  I rediscovered my hamstrings and the fact that I am not 12 anymore.  Why didn't one of you tell me that I am not a kid?  Rude awakening, that.  On my last night in Amsterdam, we went to dinner with a friend of my sister's to a very impressive italian restaurant and then for drinks.  NOT Vodka.  On Saturday we just sat and enjoyed the glorious weather in the park.

I got home late as my flight was delayed.  Go KLM!   I spent a very peaceful Sunday enjoying weather that was in the 70's in Scotland.  I actually broke out the summer clothes.

Next up: an interview with an agency for a job and the national insurance for a number so I can get healthcare, as well as possibly moving into my flat. (Fingers crossed please.)

Cheerio for now,

Tina