This photo is posted solely to link to my academic blog on bad design.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Amsterdam Continued
So I left off with the Flying Pig Hostel in Amsterdam. This Hostel has the reputation as one of the best Hostels in Amsterdam and when we arrived I quickly learned why: there is a bar in lobby. When we arrived the party was in full swing: the disco ball was spinning the music was pumping and everyone had face paint on. I was really intimidated at first. It was really loud and it took us forever to get checked in so it was a bit much at the time. We split up into pairs and went to drop our stuff in our rooms. My room was on the 2nd floor which i picked because I thought it would be quieter because it was farther away from the noise. When i open the door the room is filthy. There are cloths scattered everywhere and it is very dark . Then I notice that there are only two sets of bunk beds and only one unoccupied bunk. To my horror i realized this meant I share a bed. To top it off the luggage lockers were mad out of plywood and did not look very secure. On the upside we did have a bathroom/shower in the room.
We all met back up and went out into the night. We found a carnival some people went on some rides and then we explored the red light district a little stopped for refreshment at a coffee shop and then I headed back to the hostel to get some sleep. The next day was a slow start but we eventually went on a walking tour that was really cool. It was totally free (just tipped the guide at the end) and lasted about 3 hours. We walked all over Amsterdam and heard great information. The tour ended at a Dutch restaurant so we could eat. I had Flemish stew: which turned out to be a salty meet stew. It was good. After then I wen to the Rijksmuseum with a couple of friends. It is one of the two best museums in the Amsterdam (the other one being the famous Van Gogh Museum). The Rijks had a collection of Dutch art and an extensive Rembrandt collection. It was nice to see some art. One of the highlights was a giant pencil on canvass ship drawing. After that i went on a red light district tour. It provided more information in the Red Light District.
The next day we went to see the Anne Frank House. It was busy and we had to wait in line awhile to see it but is worth it. It was enlightening to she the actual house where Anne and her family hid. The house designed as a walk though experience. You are led from room to room by quotes from Anne's Diary on the walls and short video clips on monitors. All of the rooms have remained unfurnished because after the family was captured their furniture was all confiscated. It was Otto Frank's (Anne's Father and the only member of the Frank family who survived the war) wish that house remained unfurnished. It was a moving experience but also hard to stay in the moment when you are being pushed and shoved by small children and other tourists. I am glad I went. At the end of the exhibit is Anne's Actual diary. After the Museum we hopped on the train to Brussels.
The most important thing I learned about Dutch culture was that their culture is governed by tolerance. Many things that tolerated there that are not tolerated else where. Two being prostitution and marijuana. It important that prostitution is legal marijuana is not it is just tolerated. In order to be tolerated things must meet 3 criteria: 1. Must be discreet 2. Good for Business and 3. Harmless. As explained on our tour pot fits this definition of tolerance. Pot is not allowed to be advertised on menus, euphemisms must be used. It is good for business because there is great demand. Pot is considered a soft drug and many people who smoke pot do not commit violent crime as opposed other drugs and is therefore considered in Holland to be harmless.
All in all I am glad I went to Amsterdam. I am not in love with city I like it during the day but at night it is just too much for me. Also I want to note that while at first I was surprised by our hostel in the end it grew on me and I would recommend it to others (depending on what type of experience you want) That's all for Amsterdam! I'll post about Brussels soon.
We all met back up and went out into the night. We found a carnival some people went on some rides and then we explored the red light district a little stopped for refreshment at a coffee shop and then I headed back to the hostel to get some sleep. The next day was a slow start but we eventually went on a walking tour that was really cool. It was totally free (just tipped the guide at the end) and lasted about 3 hours. We walked all over Amsterdam and heard great information. The tour ended at a Dutch restaurant so we could eat. I had Flemish stew: which turned out to be a salty meet stew. It was good. After then I wen to the Rijksmuseum with a couple of friends. It is one of the two best museums in the Amsterdam (the other one being the famous Van Gogh Museum). The Rijks had a collection of Dutch art and an extensive Rembrandt collection. It was nice to see some art. One of the highlights was a giant pencil on canvass ship drawing. After that i went on a red light district tour. It provided more information in the Red Light District.
The next day we went to see the Anne Frank House. It was busy and we had to wait in line awhile to see it but is worth it. It was enlightening to she the actual house where Anne and her family hid. The house designed as a walk though experience. You are led from room to room by quotes from Anne's Diary on the walls and short video clips on monitors. All of the rooms have remained unfurnished because after the family was captured their furniture was all confiscated. It was Otto Frank's (Anne's Father and the only member of the Frank family who survived the war) wish that house remained unfurnished. It was a moving experience but also hard to stay in the moment when you are being pushed and shoved by small children and other tourists. I am glad I went. At the end of the exhibit is Anne's Actual diary. After the Museum we hopped on the train to Brussels.
The most important thing I learned about Dutch culture was that their culture is governed by tolerance. Many things that tolerated there that are not tolerated else where. Two being prostitution and marijuana. It important that prostitution is legal marijuana is not it is just tolerated. In order to be tolerated things must meet 3 criteria: 1. Must be discreet 2. Good for Business and 3. Harmless. As explained on our tour pot fits this definition of tolerance. Pot is not allowed to be advertised on menus, euphemisms must be used. It is good for business because there is great demand. Pot is considered a soft drug and many people who smoke pot do not commit violent crime as opposed other drugs and is therefore considered in Holland to be harmless.
All in all I am glad I went to Amsterdam. I am not in love with city I like it during the day but at night it is just too much for me. Also I want to note that while at first I was surprised by our hostel in the end it grew on me and I would recommend it to others (depending on what type of experience you want) That's all for Amsterdam! I'll post about Brussels soon.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Long Time No Blog? (Amsterdam)
Hello All,
So . . . Its been awhile. Sorry about that. Lets pick up where I left off Sweden was a great trip! Probably the best trip I have had thus far. Kate is great Traveling partner. Since then I have also been to Amsterdam and Brussels. Amsterdam is a crazy city. I am glad I went to the city but I have mixed feelings about the city. I love it during the day but at night I think it is too much.
Our flight to Amsterdam was out of Copenhagen so a few people went in to Copenhagen a couple days early to check it out. I just went in for a day before our flight. In order to get to Copenhagen from Aalborg you have to take a 5 hour train! My friend Harold also took the train. We got in with about 5 or 6 hours to spare which turned out to be just enough time. We grabbed lunched from the train station then ate out side of Tivoli. We then did self guided walk through the city to the Statue of the Little Mermaid. We walked down a giant shopping street. So many cool shops! I want to go back to Copenhagen just to shop! We also walked though a few squares an Nytorv which is classic Copenhagen. Nytrov is the section of the city after the shopping street by a canal filled with tall boats. The street is lined with sidewalk cafes and multi colored buildings. If you ever seen a picture of Copenhagen its probably a picture of this strip. Its a beautiful area. You hear tons of languages and people just sit either at a cafe or on the side of the canal and just hang out.
After the canal we still had a quite aways to walk to the little Mermaid but we finally made it was pretty cool. We got there at low tide so we were able to get right up to her to take pictures. We also just missed the crowd. After our long walk we rewarded ourselves with Ben and Jerry's Ice cream and then headed to the airport. We made it fine minus a little trouble buying tickets for the mass transit system.
Once we got in Amsterdam we headed straight for our hostel. We got a little lost finding it because the directions we had said to go down an alley and we didn't want to go down a dark creepy ally in Amsterdam. But we eventually found our hostel: the Flying Pig Hostel. When we got there the party was in full swing.
Ill finish the update later!
So . . . Its been awhile. Sorry about that. Lets pick up where I left off Sweden was a great trip! Probably the best trip I have had thus far. Kate is great Traveling partner. Since then I have also been to Amsterdam and Brussels. Amsterdam is a crazy city. I am glad I went to the city but I have mixed feelings about the city. I love it during the day but at night I think it is too much.
Our flight to Amsterdam was out of Copenhagen so a few people went in to Copenhagen a couple days early to check it out. I just went in for a day before our flight. In order to get to Copenhagen from Aalborg you have to take a 5 hour train! My friend Harold also took the train. We got in with about 5 or 6 hours to spare which turned out to be just enough time. We grabbed lunched from the train station then ate out side of Tivoli. We then did self guided walk through the city to the Statue of the Little Mermaid. We walked down a giant shopping street. So many cool shops! I want to go back to Copenhagen just to shop! We also walked though a few squares an Nytorv which is classic Copenhagen. Nytrov is the section of the city after the shopping street by a canal filled with tall boats. The street is lined with sidewalk cafes and multi colored buildings. If you ever seen a picture of Copenhagen its probably a picture of this strip. Its a beautiful area. You hear tons of languages and people just sit either at a cafe or on the side of the canal and just hang out.
After the canal we still had a quite aways to walk to the little Mermaid but we finally made it was pretty cool. We got there at low tide so we were able to get right up to her to take pictures. We also just missed the crowd. After our long walk we rewarded ourselves with Ben and Jerry's Ice cream and then headed to the airport. We made it fine minus a little trouble buying tickets for the mass transit system.
Once we got in Amsterdam we headed straight for our hostel. We got a little lost finding it because the directions we had said to go down an alley and we didn't want to go down a dark creepy ally in Amsterdam. But we eventually found our hostel: the Flying Pig Hostel. When we got there the party was in full swing.
Ill finish the update later!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Sweden
This is Kate who I went to Sweden with. To save on money we bring our own food. Here is kate with her GIANT bag of peanut butter and white bread sandwiches.
Kate & Me in front of Hostle the Af Chapman. It is a permanently moored boat.
The 500 year Vasa swedish Defense ship and me.
Absolute Ice Bar Stockholm
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sweden
I have barely recovered from my last trip and I am off again. I leave tomorrow at 5 pm for Sweden. I think this will be a tad bit more relaxed than London was. I promise when I get back I will Post about both.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
London!!!
I am leaving for London today and will be back on Tuesday. I will make sure to tell you all about it when I return.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
