We arrived in at Hook of Holland port with some new friends but were harshly greeted by pouring rain and a 30 min wait for the train to Rotterdam. However, upon arrival to Rotterdam we got a more fitting greeting of bright sunshine. We arrived by train at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam and took a bus to near our hostel, Hotel Van Gogh. This hotel is by far the best we have stayed in thus far on the trip considering it feels like a nicer hotel (3-4 stars) with just more beds in the room. After checking our backpacks in at the hostel, Doug (who had been here prior in his trip) directed us to his favorite "coffee shop", Dampkring. This place was just awesome because of the mood set inside: great playlist, cool tables/lighting, and an intimate layout. Ruth, Doug, and I shared a few LEGAL joints while watching the trippy videos being shown on the TV monitor. This included zooming in/out on an African child covered in white powder, drops of rain on a pond, and an Alligtor repeatedly "laughing". After becoming officially tripped out by this footage, we all got the munchies and headed to a great bagel place that Doug knew about. I had a stellar sandwich with smoked chicken, pesto, and avocado. Next, Ruth and I bid goodbye to Doug, who was heading home to NY, and made our way back towards our hostel via one of the big shopping streets. This was the perfect place for Belgian waffles with chocolate and for Ruth to buy some clothes cheaply that she had wanted for awhile.
Upon our return to the hostel, we met two of our roommates and quickly made friends with the recent grad couple from Calgary. I took this opportunity to go run in huge Vondel park on what turned out to be a really amazing weather day. I got in 8 solid miles of loops at a brisk pace because I was always trying to catch one of the many runners ahead of me. Of all the parks I have run in and visited, this one definitely has the most people and "life to it".
After showering, Ruth and I went to dinner with the Calgary couple at a great Italian place we had passed on our way back to e hostel earlier. The waiter recommended the seafood spaghetti and he was spot on! We also watched favored Spain score a last minute goal again Croatia, which was exciting. After dinner we headed the Rembrandt square and Smokey's coffee shop for some pints and to enjoy the new atmosphere. Although the club was "bumping" next door, we were getting tired and headed back to te hostel...we will save our raging for tomorrow nights' pub crawl with all our roommates ;)
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