Amsterdam is mijn Mekka:Ed's Hajj 2012

[ed the head]

20 ... dream-pt of being in the dam last night, very nice

[Arsonist]

[ed the head]

19

[Arsonist]

gonna miss you ricky

[ed the head]

Big Day Arsonist. Happy trails.

[Arsonist]

Thanks for your hospitality, Ed.
Barely made my flight, couldn't post Iker's jersey.

[ed the head]

The landmark today was getting the ink done.

Some may argue the annual Hajj tattoo should be applied in Mekka, economics dictate otherwise.

Case in point: On the 2010 Hajj, I felt a little guilty about getting 2009 done in NY around the corner at the Mexican tattoo parlor. But $50 was a whole lot better than E100 in 2009 and economics won over idealism. One night on my 2010 Hajj, the subject came up at a bar with a local tattoo artist. At the time the conversion was $50=E37. He offered to do it for E50 saying he would be honored on account of the content.

Turned out to be the messiest of the bunch.

Fast forward to 2011 Hajj, I have every intention of running across the canal (literally) from my hotel to fix last years and affix this ones. One thing leads to another and before I know it my ass is back on a plane stateside, no ink.

Almost a year has gone by now with a myriad of higher priority expenses sucking away my income. Finally got it all behind me with the passing of tax day only to find the tat shop packed

Today I went back and got my tat adding MMXI and MMXII catching me up and freeing me up for my whole trip.

Back to the economics. there is no way I would have gotten this ink applied in the Dam for E45 ($60).

I blame international exchange rates for my compromised Amsterdam Hajj tattoo hypocrisy.

MMVI
MMVII
MMVIII
MMIX
MMX
MMXI
MMXII

[ed the head]

Thanks for your hospitality, Ed.
Barely made my flight, couldn't post Iker's jersey.

Here you go mate:

Happy Trails

[ed the head]

Another Amster-dream ...

Suddenly, I am in Amsterdam
Naturally I am elated.
I begin my meanderings, seeing people I know ... everything is great!
Then I realize I forgot to bring my backpack!
I have only the clothes on my back.
I rationalize the situation, it's only a week: it's like camping: you can buy new cloths:
Suddenly I realize I forgot my money
I haven't forgotten my phone ( ), but I don't expect it to work.
The IT guys had told me it would not be activated to avoid high International data rates ...
I called home ... it seems to be connecting ...
there is no answer ... there is bad IP echo when I leave a message.
I put my phone away and I want to go back to my meanderings
but I can't.
The Amsterdam before my 'eyes' fades away in distance
and in substance and I awake, aching
to return.

[ed the head]

Happy 420 Stoners
...for me? ... just about a fortnight now


4 weeks from NOW, instead of heading HOME, I head to the airport

Mua-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha

[ed the head]

[ed the head]

[AzLaker]

Just about into single digits now ed.....you're almost there.

AzLaker

[ed the head]

Just about into single digits now ed.....you're almost there.

AzLaker

you're right my friend, if my math is correct, Wednesday I hit the single digits.

Close enough now to start watching the weather

[Hillbilly&Momma]

Hello Ed my wife and I are Hillbilly&Momma we are going to arrive centrel station around 9:00am on may 13th we have a couple of hours befor check in time at hotel it would be kool to set up a TnT that moring are first trip let us know whatcha think.