A few more little dittys about AMDAM!

There are 2 other new posts before this one...so if you havent read those do that first.


You know, of all the things that I say about loving about europe and the dutch in particular-there are a few things I dont like or I just havent gotten used to - yet...

1. The stairs in Amsterdam are a joke. To be honest I wouldn't reccommend Amsterdam if you have bad knees. There is no point to it. Between the biking, the walking and the stairs they can kill you. The stairs are more like ladders and sometimes you even have to walk up them sideways so your knees dont hit them. It's a little insane. The older the building the worst the stairs. I took a picture of the steps at my hostel and i'll post it when I get home. When you see it - remember I had to walk up and down these stairs for almost 2 weeks-bad knee-fucked up ribs and all.
2. Air conditioning isnt a common thing in most hotels. Rooms can get very hot in the middle of the day regarless of how the temptature is outside-so you almot have to be up and out by a certain time. The really frustrating part is that because of no air conditioning you have to sleep with the window open which means a ton of noise from the street- which means a harder time sleeping and staying asleep. Also, the curtains on the windows are very heavy so when they're closed it blocks a lot of the air coming in-so you have to get used to sleeping with the curtain open (meaning anyone looking up -which people always do - can see in your room) or dealing with not that much air coming in. Once you fall asleep it's not that bad- until the morning starts to break. Unless you pay to stay in a really nice hotel or rent a houseboat or apartment you will have to deal with these issues no matter where you stay.
3. Customer Service, both from a customers standpoint and an employees standpoint is pretty non-exsistent. This can be very hard to deal with as an American because you're used to people having to service you (they dont always do but you know it's expected). For instance- if there are 2 lines for an exhibit and one of the lines runs out of people, the person at the counter will not say "next"or Ï'll take you over here"- No they will go back to reading thier book or doing whatever it is they're doing. Unless you actually break away from the line and go over there no one will call you over. So imagine you're the next person in line 1 and line 2 empties and then the last person in line 1 goes to the front of line 2 and gets right in. That's acceptable and it happens all the time. If you bitch or complain people look at you like you have 2 heads. Also, pay attenton when in line. Cuttting the line is very acceptable in Holland and for most of Europe from what I can tell. It's so bad that people will actually look you right in the eye as thier cutting in front of you. The first few times this happened to me I of course wanted to start World War 3 but I've learned to join them. If someone cuts me off I immediatley cut them back off-while also looking them right in the eye AND giving a really dirty look. Once you do this most people back off (last case scenario is to speak a few words of English to let them know- I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU KEEP DOING THIS.) LOOOL If you're not forceful with this you will stand in line forever with dozens of people going ahead of you-and no one caring the least. So, if you're in America and a foreign person cuts in line- understand it's not them being rude-it's just they way it is-almost like survival of the fittest. (P.S. - I would hate to see how it get's at holiday!!!)
4. The Dutch are a little to free with thier bathroom going. Ive seen sooooo many guys whipping out thier dicks along the canal (in full day light or night-doesnt matter) and just pissing in the canals. They talk to each other as thier doing it just like they would in the bathroom and anyone walking by or near can see and hear it all. It's SOOOOOO disgusting- but no one seems to care. Also, the "public" bathroom's that are stationed on the corners like outhouses without doors, are the most disease infected things on the planet. DO NOT EVER GO NEAR ONE! AS advanced and civilized as the Dutch are I'm appaled and amazed this goes on.
5. On the flip side using a restroom in a building is usually a VERY pleasant experience. You have to pay to use most toilets (even in McDonalds and Burger king) and it's worth it. Usually you have this very nice lady that stands thier and greets you and tells you where to go. She also will clean the toilet after EACH AND EVERY use so you know it's clean and fresh. They will even go in ahead of you and spray stuff to cover up the smell of the person before you. I know this is nasty but to them it's just normal. Íts funny to see an old lady with gloves and cleaning supplies standing inches from your stall as you do your business, and sometimes commenting "ooh, sounds like a bad lunch"(i'm sooo not kidding!!! LOOL). As you come out of the stall you get a warm towel, mints and a smile like she's saying "good job going potty-here's your reward!"). The trick is finding the right attendant, they're not all that good- you have to do some research. It's like having your favorite hair stylists or coffee- you gotta find the one thats just right and stick with them! LOOL The cool thing I like about the stalls is that most are completely enclosed so its very private. No seeing underneath or over the top (ummm...not that I do that....ummmm) LOOL. '

Thats pretty much it. Despite all that though I LOVE IT and will take those issues anyday.

Only 2 nights left (tonight and tomorrow) . I gotta make them count! My ribs or sternum or whatever is messed up still hirts a lot but I'm dealing!

PAAAAAA!!!!