Now back home, but my last post got eaten by the great Bulldog Wifi monster.
Last full day - Saturday May 20
I've had great weather, but on this Pancake boat day, a very heavy shower
moves in over Amsterdam in the morning as I commence my re-boot process.
I am thankful that the Bulldog Energy Shop constructed a collapsible umbrella
with heating lamps, it's like winter again.
I finish my joints and liquids and move inside for a while. The music
in the lounge is real hit or miss - today it's a hit with GNR rocking ...
Off toward Centraal Staion now to catch the ferry. Some Dutch dude stumping for
the 'Dieren' Animal Rights party mistakes me for a local (good), but then directs me onto the wrong
ferry (bad). I didn't realize until I crossed and asked but it all worked out in the end.
It's very quiet across the Ij so I took advantage of one of the outside urinals.
I posted the photo to FB with a comment about how civilized people urinate in public.
A short time later, two of my Bulldog friends vacationing in Greece send me a teaser.
When I returned to Centraal I saw the same Animal Rights dude. I let him know politely which was the correct
ferry to the Pancake Boat, and we had a nice chat. Undoubtedly the fantastic cannabis I am madly consuming is
not helping with these misdirected adventures, but they are fun and filled with joy.
The weather has cleared up and while I wait for the ferry I catch a beautiful boat passing.
Aboard the correct ferry now, I am treated to the site of boats out on the Ij under sail power, with the Boathotel in the
background.
Then as we approach the pier, there is what appears to be a German U-boat.
Reminder to self: Research Amsterdam Submarine
Finally! The Pancake Boat! It begins raining again, so I am thankful there is a covering over their waiting area.
They let us in early, and my table is right by the door.
More than a few attractive woman board
and there are also families with small boys - jongen
It's really an awesome experience, the staff are super friendly
Pancakes are lined up in vertical racks for the taking.
Bacon
Apple
Plain
More toppings than I could have imagined.
Two was all I could muster, they were delicious. I added brie and apple sauce to my apple pancake. The bomb.
I also had a hot chocolate and followed it with a Dutch Coffee.
Nice thing about this boat for the kids is they have the hole of the ship set up as a ball pit with a slide. It was a lot of fun watching those kids and it made me wish I was smaller!
Now back across the Ij. The skies are clearing and I spot a large ocean liner departing Amsterdam.
Meanwhile, my ex-colleague Olga is texting me about meeting up for dinner. She will bring her
husband and daughter, we plan on meeting at Vapiano in the Rembrantplein.
My hot tooth is acting up so I stop in a pharmacy in Centraal and buy 400mg Ibuprofen gel
caps and Sensodyne Mouthwash. I rush back to the hotel for a treatment and realize it is the
foot pounding on pavement that is making the tooth worse. I communicate I am running late,
she lets me know that she is running even later. I make my way up to Vapiano but find it closed.
The sun is now setting providing a nice view of people finding a closed restaurant and dealing with it joyfully.
The Ibuprofen is helping now, and Olga and family show up! We decide to go to the other Vapiano.
It's 'close' (insert heavy Dutch accent), and off we go. Their daughter Elenka is tots adorbs!! She is almost
four and would really rather be carried but Mom and Dad are pretty insistent that she walks. Very cute. Not
so good for my tooth though and too many ibuprofen way too often now.
We walk all the way across the Ij to Vapiano and it is PACKED!! It takes me 25 minutes to get my
pasta,
but I have a nice conversation with a young man on line in front of me.
When I finally get back, Olga tells me Elenka was worried about 'the man from America'. Cute.
I bought two pasta plates and I am glad I did. Their pizza was finished and Elenka found more
hunger and a new love for Bolognese!
It's getting a bit later than I had planned now 10:30 so I suggest we call it an evening. We get a nice
photo on the walk back toward their scooter and my hotel.
When we get to the Niewmarket we part ways, they on the east side of the Kloveniersburgwal, and me on the west.
One final pic from Olga as they walk home. By now I've ducked into Greenplace for provisions
Now back to the Bulldog
Mouth maintenance and prep
for a long,
crazy,
beautiful
Amsterdam Saturday night on the
Oudezijd Voorburgwal 216
The very epicenter
of
Mijn Mekka
The Genever and Eua De Ma Tante are ideal medicines for my throat, mind and tooth. I pop between the lobby
for a roll and a drink and the outside for a smoke.
I really love that period just after the coffeeshops all close.
So many interesting human encounters!
One after the other they come.
'They're closed. They ALL close at 1 a.m.'
Some don't or won't believe and move on. Most don't even notice the Dutch man selling cannabis in front of the door.
'Ven dey closch, I OPEN.'
Inside again for another roll, from the lounge a beautiful girl approaches Francesco at the front desk.
'Is there a coffeeshop open now?"
"All Coffeeshops closed at 1. You can buy from the dealer in front next door, but surely, a girl as beautiful as you
only has to ask someone, no?
She bounces back happily.
God how I love this place.
Around 3 I am about the only ghost left. I ease into my bed and sleep that unique, uber sound sleep...
that can ONLY be found...
in that wonderful Bulldog cocoon...
