DAY 24
TUESDAY MAY 24 2005
The 24th of May on my 24th day of travel finds me in an Amsterdam taxi winging my way to the US consulate. The Moroccan taxi driver asks me if I would go back to Morocco with him and in perfect English I reply "I don't speak English". We both have a good laugh and that is the end of that.
While waiting in line at the US Consulate I show the security guard my Alaska's state drivers license and he asks his fellow if Alaska is a state of the US. Good Lord, man, you work for the consulate! What's our educations system coming to?
After two forms, photos, a breakfast break, and waiting in long lines I give them everything they need to start processing my new passport. Which, by the way, will take a week. It will be ready May 31st. They could have given me a temp just to get home on, but since I decided I wasn't going home, I will need a real one. So it is to be a week, then, of sightseeing. All the things I missed the first time I will now have time to do. I can live with that! :-)
Let me take a moment here to say some things:
I am very happy that I had Jeff scan in my passport before I left. He emailed it to me and I was able to print it out at Cafe Amadeus, which is the best local internet place for a lap top in Haarlem. This was a smart thing to do.
My police report was not needed for a passport, they didn't even look at it. I suspect I will need it for insurance, though.
My drivers license came in very handy and I was smart to bring it with me.
If the security guard asks if you are here for immigration say yes. That is where the passport issuing desk is. I said no and waited in longer lines. Then he kindly pulled me out of the long lines and sent my on my proper way. Very nice of him. Always go to window number 7. Trust me on this. Window number 7.
Bring extra photos.
Bring a 100 American dollars. Yep, just lucky I had that in my purse, hey?
Lovely canal.
So after I left the consulate I was going to leave Amsterdam immediately and head back to Haarlem. By this time it was 2pm. I really don't like Amsterdam that much and wanted to get out, then as I was walking past a lovely canal and park, I stumbled upon the Hard Rock Cafe. Oh, come on now! I am a Beatles to Woodstock music loving kind of girl, with a little classical thrown in for good measure! Who could pass up the Hard Rock Cafe?
And this is where it really gets so good for me. S
Yum!
Sitting there for a relaxing two hour lunch, listening to classic rock, with an all English menu, and an all American atmosphere, with a guilt free sugar indulgent dish. It was wonderful.
After that type of relaxation I went to explore Amsterdam and buy tickets to a local comedy/improv show called Boom Chicago Amsterdam. All photos that follow are in Amsterdam unless specified.
Locals enjoying a concentrated effort to win.
The view from Boom Chicago Improve Club.
I went for a 15 minute ride in this and it was great. The pictures that follow are from that ride.
I really enjoyed going to the improv show. It was a laughter, fun, filled two hours. If any of you get a chance to ever see them, it is worth every Euro.
For those that are in the know, Rockies is the place to go.
Oh, yeah!
HAARLEM
And so I left Amsterdam at 11pm that evening to train back to Haarlem and my hotel. It was a exactly the kind of exploring day I enjoy the most. These kind of days gives travel a good name. It is so nice to just take the time to meander through the most ancient neighborhoods, for hours. To soak up the vitality of Amsterdam. To enjoy an improv show with a steak dinner in front of me.
This so beats the office!