Amsterdam Highlights

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The Amsterdam Adventure....

After exiting our Hostel, we turned right on Damrak Street heading toward the Dam Square (it's where the Amstel river was first dammed by the locals to help create the precursor to Amsterdam).

We decided to hit the Van Gogh (pronounced "Goff" in Holland) Museaum. We spent about an hour looking at all his works. Did you know that he was an intinerant minister of sorts before becoming an artist? well, now you do!

After a couple hours, we headed back to the youth hostel for a little rest. Matt was massively jetlagged. I visited the Olde Kjirk in the Red Light District while Matt was in the rack, before getting some rack time myself.

After recharging the batteries for a bit, we met up with a few fellow flying pig hosteleers... and some of us headed out to grab some grub and see the RLD. While there, we were curious about the "First Amsterdam Coffee House" called "The Bulldog." Very unimpressive. Well, the American guy who joined us started feeling really sick, so we took him back to homebase were we swapped him for an Irishman. We went back out, b/c he was curious about the RLD.

For those who have never been, it's definitely a curiosity. But, after awhile, one senses the darkness and starts feeling really sorry for these women who choose to sell themselves and for the men who buy their wares. It's basically sex reduced to a commodity and an act. Nothing spiritual or beautiful about how sex and sexuality is treated. What did I expect? Probably about what I saw.

I suppose one can draw an analogy to the first couple centuries AD when sex was sold by temple prostitues in Roman & Greek cities, except now the god is money, and not Diana or Aphrodite; and the temple is a long alley of windows in a district famed for its red lights, and not some edifice dedicated to a pagan fertility god.

The next day, Sunday, Matt and I headed over to the Amsterdam Cultural Fair. This weekend was the opening of the artistic season. We saw a Dutch rap band perform! Very fun/funny to see it.

About an hour before we boarded the train to Den Haag, we visited the Olde Kjirk located in the heart of the Red Light District. It was a fitting way to end the day and our visit to Amsterdam. It reminded me that there's always hope and God's grace even in the midst of darkness....

signing off for now...


ps-one photo from the adventure...

Landed in Amsterdam

Hi,
Met my buddy Matt from lawschool this morning at Schipol. We took the train into downtown Amsterdam. Checked into our Hostel - http://www.flyingpig.nl/. We're about to roll out!
cheers

Base of Operations ~ Established

After a couple days of searching, I finally found a place to stay. My fellow flat mates are quite nice. I'm definitely the "old man" of the place. The place reminds me of a dorm come youth hostle. We have a common kitchen, communal area with TV, the promise of internet (but, I might just do mine at work), and a little back garden where one can chill out. My room faces the street and can be quite noisy with street traffic (ie - walkers & bikers) and the walls are thin, but I have ear plugs. In a couple weeks, I'll be able to tune out the sounds. I might buy a fan for my room to make some noise to cover the street sounds ~ at 3am, the street is SO still and SO quite ~ like they say in hushed whisper in the horror movies "It's too quite!!!"

The weather has been sunny and mid-70's the past three days. Most excellent! Yet, I'm afraid I've also caught a cold. My sinuses have been draining since I got here, and this morning I woke up to some chest congestion. Instead of sounding my "normal self," I sounded like James Earl Jones meets Barry White. I was two octaves lower than ususal! Suffering jet lag and sleepless nights have not helped either. Fortunately, I have this weekend to rest up, sleep in, and recover. I start my internship on Monday!!

I hope to post some pictures to my blogspot.
My Address: Erik Sayler, Obrechtstraat 418, 2517 VJ The Hague, Netherlands.
Mobile #: (31) 6-46695205 -- the 31 is the country code and 6 signifies it's a mobile number [note: i corrected my phone number; previous attempts using 06 instead of 6 wouldn't work from overseas]

Dat was alles voor dit moment! (sound very dutch-like, doesn't it?)

Cheers

Arrive Safely

After a gruelling 24 hours in airports & airplanes, I finally arrived! I arrive safe and sound and so did MOST of my luggage. One of my bags looks like it was dropped a few times... now it doesn't roll properly. It flips over instead. Moreover, the bags were covered with yellow pollen or something. Well, one must expect adventures when traveling.

On my two flights, I met an engineer, a pilot, and a 16 year old from Serbia. Ironic, don't you think. I asked all of them lots of questions, but did not get much sleep on the plane as a result.

I've landed and will let you know more in a few days.

done with the MPRE & it's done with Me!

the MPRE = Multistate Professional Responsibility Ethics exam... this exam is a pre-req for most state bars (lawyer stuff). yesterday, i took the exam in Gainesville (where I attended undergrad) and it took me by surprise. i studied for it this summer when I took PR (professional responsibility) class, and then BarBri... well, i thought a couple days of study would suffice..., well, after taking the exam, i'm not so sure! 6 weeks from now when I get my results i'll know. but until then, i don't have time to worry about it since i'll be interning at the ICTY in Den Haag (the hague, netherlands).

speaking of the hague, i've gotta pack. so much to pack in so little time to do it.

ciao

Last Saturday in Tally

Hasta la vista ~ Thanks to all those who were able to attend. I really appreciate your stopping by last night. Hope you had as much fun as I did. This blogspot is dedicated to friends. Cheers, farewell, sjaumst.