Amsterdam Weekend

Amsterdam just wasn't for me. I went up with the group of girls who stayed in a hotel. We made our train with no problem, and quickly made 'friends' with some people on the train. I can see how we are called ugly americans, cause at times, some got extremely loud and disruptive. But it all worked out fine. After a bit of confusion with the trams, we made it to the hotel and checked in. I personally was tired and decided not to go to the bar that night and instead went to bed early.

Upon waking the next morning the group split and went our separate ways for the daytime. The group I was in got breakfast and then went to the Rijks museum area to wait for a bike tour. We did mike's bike tour in Amsterdam, which was a lot of fun - highly recommend it, our tour guide was a really great guy - its not so much though for if you want to see tourist sights in the city though. The tour took us to a small square where Stewart, our tour guide informed us about the nature of coffeeshops in Amsterdam, and the decriminalization of Marijuana. It was there that I broke my kickstand. Oops. It was okay though.

Upon leaving the city we took off through the countryside, where there was a bit more room. However, this was where my mishap happened. Someone swerved in front of me on their bike and I grabbed the first brake I could reach, which happened to be the front one, at which point I was thrown over the front of my bike. I'm okay though, but for a scraped foot and knee, and an extremely sore/unknown injury to my other foot. My camera took a few knocks and scrapes, but is just fine. Things could be a ton worse.

It was because of this injury that I decided to return early. After completing the tour, which included a tour of a cheese making factory and a clog making place (the same place) I returned to the hotel, paid for the room for two nights, and left for the train station. I made the train easily and returned to home, only scaring Kerstin when I walked in the door an entire day early. Iced my foot and went to bed.

I made the right choice though, whatever any of my mates think. It has been nice to relax in Kaarst today. I got to meet most of Max's family, as they were in town for his mothers birthday the previous day. We had a nice big breakfast, and then they sat around talking, some of which I got, or they explained to me, and most of which I didn't - but it was no big deal. The highlight of the morning was playing hide and go seek with the three kids, by which I mean, helping them find hiding spots from the seeker. Wo ist Philipp? Wo ist Celine? We also went back and had dinner with his parents once the rest of the family had started their travels home. Today, I think has been my best day so far, with no major accident, and only some residual pain from yesterdays accident. And I got to talk to my parents on the phone for the first time yet. Yay! Now to spend more time with the family. Tschüss.