Mokum... slang for Amsterdam (thanks to Enno for the info!).Two terrific days. Garrett picked me up at the airport and Jonathan, Cathleen, Garrett and I have been basically hanging out.
Incredible weather... t-shirt days. Amsterdam is heading into Queen's Day holiday, and a lot of people knocked off early to enjoy a couple days of perfect blue skies and warm breezes.
Recuperated from travel yesterday, went cycling today. Cathleen lent me her bike, and I took it out for a short ride. Cathleen: keep the bike, fix the brakes! Then I put my bike together (no damage from the travel) and went out for a longer afternoon ride. Terrific! Rode kind of aimlessly, just focusing on mastering the protocols of cycling here. Amsterdam has no 'master plan' of roads... so I was lost, then found, then lost again, found again... throughout the afternoon. Eventually did make it back home, so I was never apparently lost beyond retrieval.
Much of the two days spent enjoying getting to know Jonathan, who is about 5 months old. Those of you who know me will be saying "Hunh???", given my usual relationship with babies. 99% of babies seem to see me and burst into tears. Jonathan is in the remaining 1%... bursts into smiles (at pretty much everything, so I can't really take the credit).
Heading out tomorrow to Arnhem by train, then by bike to Otterlo. Given how well I did today at getting lost, I'm a bit nervous, but hey... will try it and see how it goes.
Amsterdam is a fascinating city in many ways, but kind of heaven on earth if you just dig bicycles. To see what I mean, take a look at these photos... 82 pictures taken during 73 minutes, by a guy sitting at a cafe.
At 4 PM here, and 1 AM there, we are both at 57F/14C, (imagine that!) though our rain is moving on and yours is just arriving. So glad all is going well over there!
ReplyDeleteSteve - If you make it to Copenhagen, you have to check this out!
ReplyDeletehttp://cleantechnica.com/2010/04/26/ride-a-bike-help-power-the-hotel-get-a-free-meal-in-copenhagen/
Steve, Enjoyed reading your blog tonight, sounds like you are primed for the ride of a lifetime>
ReplyDeletekelly
Steve, don't know if you made arrangements to get the book Vrienden Op de Fiets over there, but I just received my copy here in the US and it looks like a great opportunity for finding frugal accomodations all over the Netherlands.
ReplyDeleteWe'll be using it a lot on our trip during the next 2 weeks. Hope to see you on the Fietspad! Stu