Amsterdam and Hamburg

August 23 and 24, 2009
Amsterdam and Hamburg

I posted today’s message before we went out to dinner and it is a good thing that I did because the Internet service here is VERY sketchy. So we were very tired and wanted to eat close by and there is a little pub about half a block away where we went. These places are so funny. There were 7 tables in the whole place and most of them would accommodate 4 people but one of them held 6 and then ours was a long table with places for 12. When we went in, all the tables had folks sitting at them except the BIG table and so we stood at the door looking pitiful. Some older man who was beyond harried came flying up to us and indicated that we should sit at the big table. He then flew off to not be seen again for about 10 minutes. In the meantime, another old fellow was rushing in and out of the back with plates of food and drinks. Eventually one of them approached and in perfect English asked us what we wanted to drink and gave us 2 menus. I guessed we LOOKed American but later discovered that they converse with all strangers in English!! Soon a family of 4 joined us at the far end of the table and they didn’t speak to us but amused themselves by playing tiddly-winks with the drink coasters!! They allowed us to order one meal to share and we were really glad that we did because when the “steak” arrived it was the size of a roast!! And it looked a bit like a roast, thick, no particular shape and tough. Ah well, it tasted fine and we ate it, the accompanying French fries and a most peculiar but tasty tossed salad. Just before we left, a young girl came in and we found out that she was from New York and was visiting until tomorrow, when she will fly home. I found myself not being sure if one was supposed to keep to themselves when at a large table with lots of strangers or if you were supposed to make friends. Very strange. Nobody in America would put up with these situations but it is very practical and works just fine. It’s fun to mix with the locals and see how they live.

Up bright and early and on the road to Hamburg. Got “lost” twice but managed to get back on track with a minimal amount of wear and tear (ie, yelling and screaming). We drove directly in to our hotel and I thought all was well when Don blithely drove right on past it!! Oh boy!! Now we were in for some fun. The signs are totally foreign and we didn’t know which streets were one way, whether we could turn, yikes!! Horns were honking and we wee both getting REALLY stressed when all of a sudden we were bak at the hotel and in we turned……….only to have him turn onto the sidewalk and try to park in the front hotel lobby!! Holy cow!! I was yelling and trying to get him to stop and we were a sight to behold but he finally “got it” and backed out and drove on into the parking garage. Was I ever glad to get out of that car today!!!

Dinner tonight was in the hotel and it was delicious!! I ate so much I’m not sure if I’m going to pop or not but it was too good to pass up. Tomorrow starts our ‘real’ vacation. We arrive in Copenhagen and I’ve been boning up on all the good things we need to see while there.

No Internet here unless I want to pay big bucks and I don’t, so I used the free computer in the lobby to see if anything important is happening at home. Since all seems to be well with the world, I am not buying Internet time. Speaking of ‘well with the world’, we are very pleased to see the Dow is over 9600. Yippee!! And on top of that, the Euro is only 1.40 to the dollar instead of the 1.75 it was. Ah, life is good!!

Thoughts on Toilet Paper

The French and the Dutch don’t seem to have nearly the high regard for their bottoms that the Germans seem to have; as evidenced by the quality of the toilet paper. Paper in France and the Netherlands was harsh, rough and thin. Here the TP has more substance and is much softer. On top of that, the Kleenex brand is so proud of itself that it has printed its name on every 5th square!! Go America!!