Our European Adventure, Day 15

I felt like we woke up at the crack of dawn this morning because I had trouble sleeping last night. It was really already 6:30, but still, that’s incredibly early. We packed up our things, checked out of the hostel, and headed over to the train station to purchase some snacks for lunch before finding the platform for our first train of the day.

Immediately upon stepping on the train, we realized the difference it the older trains we’ve been taking for the rest of the trip and sleek, faster express trains that we took today. Instead of private cabins of six, today’s trains featured airplane-like seating only roomier with a table every few seats. The dining car was also more luxe.

The inside of the first express train - they looked the same

We toiled away the train rides by playing cards, reading, and sleeping. The switch between trains was a pretty high stress event though because our first train ended up getting stuck working its way around construction and we were running about twenty minutes behind. Originally, we had only had about twenty minutes to make our connection in Frankfurt’s Main station. However, our train pulled in two minutes before the second left and we would have needed to run across the station. People sitting in our train car persuaded us to wait until the next stop because they said our second train would be there also, but on the same platform. Luckily, they were right and we stepped off one train and directly on to the next. I did have to kick someone out of our seats though because he thought we weren’t coming we didn’t get on at the right stop.

After we settled in and a round of cards was played, we ordered our lunch from the dining car. I ended up getting a hot ham and cheese sandwich with chocolate cake and an ice cream bar for desert. It was actually really good. I’m surprised at the quality of the food that they sell on those trains. It was really easy to find something on the menu that I would like too.

We pulled into the Amsterdam station about half past four and put our luggage in storage lockers before adventuring into the city. We didn’t have anything specific to do, so after exchanging currency (for a really crappy rate, it would have been cheaper to do at the airport), we wandered throughout the souvenir shops looking for things to spend our money on. I ended up buying quite the collection of things, including a change purse, scarf, t-shirt, calendar and mug. I’m happy with the purchases that I couldn’t make as freely before because I didn’t have a credit card after it was stolen.

We found a Argentinean steak restaurant for dinner. The service was so slow and, while the meat was gigantic, it wasn’t that great tasting. It might not have been the best meal but Madeline and I definitely agreed the bread with garlic and butter sauce was really good. We made sure to order a second round.

Since the restaurant didn’t have a very big drink selection, we decided to get chips at a Mexican restaurant after dinner and try out their cocktail menu. We ended up making friends with the bartender, Victor and he gave us a few free sample drinks. I didn’t really like his mixing as much as everyone else, but maybe I just ordered the wrong things. They just all tasted rather strong to me and I wasn’t in the mood for that. Then Matt, Ben, and Madeline went back to the train station to wait for the next train while I sat outside a McDonald’s and stole their WiFi.

The four of us cheering to Victor's specialty on our last night in Amsterdam - notice Matt looks better today

We took the 12:45 train to the airport and we’ve been waiting there ever since in the downstairs area. Not getting a hotel was a good choice, but at the same time, I’m kind of tired.

Our European Adventure, Day 4

Once we checked out of the hostel and stored our luggage, we walked around the city. We went back to the church we visited on our first day in Amsterdam and walked through the red light district during the daylight so that Matt could take pictures.

After our walk around the city, we picked up our bags from the hostel and headed to the train station to catch our train to Berlin. We bought dinner at a small grocery store, Hema, that was inside the station. Everything was actually pretty reasonably priced, so it worked out well.

I screwed up through and got the train for the train wrong. I thought we were supposed to leave at 5:19, but that’s actually when we’re supposed to arrive. I got so confused with military time.

It’s a good thing that we got the station early though because we had to ask to find out where our train would be leaving from. We also had to get our passes validated at the ticket agent since this is the first time we’re travelling by train. We had a minor heart attack though when Ben couldn’t find his rail pass. We had to run across the train station to try and buy another before our train came. It turns out he had just dropped it on the floor when I asked where to get on the train though. Relieved, we had his pass validated and raced over to the platform only to realize that I had the time wrong and we still had twenty-five minutes before our train arrived.

The train is rather cute. It’s cramped quarters, but we have four beds in a six-bed room. I have one of the top bunks, which is nice because I get to look out the window and watch the scenery go by.

Our train cabin
Ours was the first stop of the train on its journey through Europe, but we met our two roommates when we picked them up in Cologne. Zack is from Nebraska and travelling on weekends while working in Europe. Jean is from the northern part of France and going to Berlin to learn German. They’re pretty cool, both were very considerate when they got here since we completely rearranged the cabin, taking out the bunk ladder and putting up the table.

Our European Adventure, Day 3

Today was definitely not the best travelling experience. After getting up, we all trooped down to the dining hall in our hostel for continental breakfast. They offered multiple kinds of bread, meat, and cheese so we feasted on sandwiches. When I went up for seconds though, I made the mistake of thinking it was safe to leave my purse in my chair as the rest of the group was at our table. When I came back, my purse was gone. Not only did that purse include our travel vouchers for the day and my souveneir cash, it also included all of my credit cards and 370€ that belong to my school. Also included were my digital camera and passport. Gone. In the blink of an eye.

Even though it was only three in the morning back home, I immediately called my mom and we began cancelling my credit cards. After all the cards were cancelled, I was able to look up the US consulate and begin the process of obtaining an emergency replacement passport. Unfortunately, since all my credit cards and money were stolen, I was forced to borrow money to pay the $135 fee as well as the 6€ photo charge. My passport was done within hours.

With my new passport, I was able to file a police, politie, report on the stolen items, although I highly doubt it will do any good. My copy of the report is in Dutch too.

By the time everything was taken care of, it was 530pm and our day was nearing a close. We had missed lunch between me needing to run around town and everyone else napping, so we headed to Sara's Pancakes house to sample the local pancakes and waffles - a favorite among locals. While the pancakes were bigger than our heads, they were quite expensive, starting at 5.50€ each. Their thinness made them more similar to crepes too.

Dutch pancakes - maybe not the most appetizing picture

After dinner, we tried to track down a place that I could have money wired to in order to pay for our stay until we are able to get to Poland. We finally succeeded in finding a GWK Travelex at the Central Station that partners with Western Union. In order to find this, I had to sneak onto the tram by pretending to scan a card before walking on. Thankfully that worked since my travel card was stolen along with everything else.

It takes awhile for the money transfer to go through though, so we hopped on a sightseeing canal cruise that we had already paid for to kill time. The sights were quite pretty. The gables along the canals are beautiful. It's also interesting to see how small the buildings along the canals really are in the front because they used to be taxed on how much of the building faced the water. The water is actually quite dirty though, with lots of stuff floating in it.

Our European Adventure, Day 1 & 2

Yesterday, the four of us departed from our individual hometowns and met at the Philadelphia International Airport. Upon boarding our plane to Amsterdam, we were forced to wait two hours before we were able to take off. First, the pilot announced there was something wrong with the pressure system that activates the engine. After airline staff installed the airline's plan b, we taxied out of the gate only to return twenty minutes later so an "uncooperative" passenger could be escorted off the plane. No one is quite sure what happened with him, but after he left, we waited another thirty minutes before it was our turn to take-off. Shortly after the in-flight dinner, the pilot came on the intercom to ask if any doctors or nurses onboard could press their call buttons. I'm not sure what happened, but I think it was a first class passenger having difficulties. The rest of the flight was fairly calm. We pulled our money and bought two bottles of liquor on the plane so that we would have something to start off our travels. The duty free shop was fairly cheap -- only $18 for a liter of Absolut. While our journey started off quite delayed, our pilot managed to make up time in the air and we arrived only an hour and a half late.

We rushed through customs, waited forever to claim our baggage and then stood in line to purchase train tickets into Amsterdam and separate tickets for all the city's public transport. Since we were short on time, we paid a small fortune of 23 euros to store our luggage in three lockers at the Amsterdam Centraln Station before venturing to Anne Frank's house.

Without a map, we struggled to find the house and ended up asking one Dutch family and two groups of tourists for directions. We eventually arrived an hour after our scheduled entrance time, but the woman waved us through check-in and we wandered through the museum. The experience was rather somber. While there was no furniture in the house, reconstructions and videos showed how cramped the space really was. The lighting was awful and I struggled to read the notes on the wall; I can only imagine how depressing it was for those in hiding, especially since their efforts mounted to little for many Jews.

On our way out of the museum, we stopped in the bookstore and were able to purchase some postcards. We passed an interesting looking church on our hike back to the train station and were drawn inside by the pretty sounds from the small, yet impressive, organ. The building was rather nice. After looking around for a few moments, we headed out to the train station.

We picked our luggage back up and were able to locate the correct tram - tram 2 - for our hotel. A nice man on the train told us when we got to the Van Gogh stop (our landmark). Matt got off first, and then me followed by Ben. Madeline was last, but the doors shut before she could get off and there was nothing we could do but watch her roll away. She was able to get off at the next stop and she ran back down the street to meet up with us. We were briefly turned around before we found the Inner Hotel, located on a cute, quiet side street. I checked us in and we went in twos in the tiny Dutch elevator up to the third floor.

Our room is fairly nice. It has six bunks, but we have it all to ourselves. We have an ensuite bathroom too. We don't have the best view from our window - just some rooftops - but I'm glad the place is clean.

After a short nap, we hopped back on the tram and got some dinner at a dimly lit restaurant called La Pampa. It was a cute place and the food wasn't too overpriced. We had to eat quickly though so we could rush across town to meet up with our group for the Red Light District Walking tour.

I was actually really surprised with the tour. After being given a small glass of wine (or beer if you wanted), we received information from a working girl and proceeded to walk past some of the windows in the area. I was surprised though, by how small the windows were. Most of them were just a door with a window in it leading to a small room with a twin bed and not much else. It was quite bizarre how open everything was. The windows were surrounded by sex shops and, surprisingly, there were some Christian hostels nearby.

After the tour, we split up and Madeline and I did some shopping. We ended up getting lost and wandering around Amsterdam for awhile, but it was still fun. Once we figured out where we were, we caught a tram back to the hostel and dropped our stuff off before heading to a small, casual bar down the street for a drink. It closed soon after we got there though, at 1230, so we headed back.

Updated Itinerary

Here's an updated itinerary for the Holocaust trip this August:

August 2: Depart United States
August 3-5: Amsterdam, Netherlands
August 6-8: Berlin, Germany
August 8-9: Warsaw, Poland
August 10: Oswiecim, Poland
August 11-12: Prague, Czech Republic
August 13-15: Munich, Germany
August 16: Amsterdam, Netherlands
August 17: Return to United States