The Flying Pig, crazy cyclists, and the stoners

Amsterdam at Night

Ah Amsterdam, a city like no other… It really took me quite a while to get used to all the bikes, after nearly getting my head taken off on several occasion by rogue cyclists I focused and made sure I respect the bike lane haha…

I arrived at the Flying Pig Downtown, my kick ass hostel and upon walking into the door, the stench of marihuana hits you like a ton of brinks…. Now most hostels that I have stayed at you pretty much were sure that the guests where at the hostel only for short periods during the day, to eat, mingle with others, but mostly spending their time out exploring the particular city that you are in.  Because this is Amsterdam, the Flying Pig has different types of guests:  you have those that that explore the city and smoke a little, and then you have those guests that smoke so much that they NEVER leave the hostel!!!

My friend Kiki was staying at the hostel for 4 days when I got there, I ask him, “so what have you seen in Amsterdam?”…

“Man I haven’t left the hostel yet! But the breakfast was good downstairs”… said Kiki :)

You leave the hostel, they are there smoking, you come back after lunch, they are still smoking… You come home at 2 am, they are sitting up starring at the wall in front of them…

My first day, I decided to check out some the city, walked around Dam Square, home of the National Monument, Old Church a lot of pigeons!  Went to Van Gogh Museum, which was really cool, definitely worth a trip…

I was amazed that in Amsterdam, they put mayonnaise on EVERYTHING!!!  I am not used to Salmon with mayonnaise and just to make sure I ask, “does this come with a sauce, mayonnaise?”  The waiter says “no” and I feel relieved, but when the meal comes it has mayonnaise on it…They just can’t help it haha

I took one of those Canal Boat Tours, which ended up being pretty cool for someone who absolutely despises boats… You got to see Amsterdam from a different perspective.

Good times around the billiards table: Me, Kiki(New Zealand), Alice(Australia), Keith(Ireland)

At night I decided to walk around Amsterdam, check out the infamous Red Light District, and I got to say I was a little disappointed.  For those who have been to New York, it reminded me of The Village with legalized prostitution.  I thought that Red Light District was big but it was literally two canals and a couple of side streets…  Walking through the streets you see the prostitutes waiting at the window for their next customer, and everyone looks at the men exiting the establishments taking the “walk of shame”…

After a long day of exploring Amsterdam, I retreated to my hostel and played quite a few games of billiards versus the contingency that felt like the United Nations…Ukraine,Sweden,Ireland,Denmark,Australia,New Zealand,England,Malta,Italy,Canada :)

Me and Kiki didn’t fair too well together as a team because he was soooo high,  but it was funny to watch him ask “Are we stripes or solids” before every shot haha