Todd's Travels

Hup Holland!!!!!!!

NETHERLANDS | Tuesday, 13 July 2010 | Views [605] | Comments [9]

Day 4
I made it from London to the ferry for Hook of Holland easily enough, and decided to go down to the bar for a drink. I saw a group of about 8 guys around my age sitting at a table drinking. After asking to join them it turns out that it was actually 4 different groups that just formed on the ferry from people asking to sit down. I hit it off with them really well, discovering that they were from Brooklyn, Texas, and California. We drank until the bars closed on the ferry that night and after 3 hours of drunken sleep i met up with the 3 from Texas (Andy, Mason and Carson) and the guy from Brooklyn (Marcus). By the way, Marcus is a Harvard graduate in theoretical mathematics with dreads down past his waist. It was quite a trip when he told us his schooling, none of us were expecting that.
We arrived into Amsterdam the morning of the world cup finals game and they didnt have a room, so searching for that took up most of the morning. After that was settled we did visit some coffee shops, just for the experience, we are in Amsterdam after all. Then checked out the Heineken brew tour. It wasnt what I expected, but it was really fun, and I got to drink 5 day old beer, which was delicious.
Then it was time for the game. After getting lost on the way (I still dont know how we couldnt find the city park filled with that many people) we finally found the park, museum square. This is a vast grass area where they set up one 30 meter by 17 meter screen and 3 slightly smaller screens, for the fans, who numbered over 100,000 im sure. 5 of those being us, because thats right, i was in Amsterdam when the Netherlands went into overtime in the 2010 world cup finals. So what that they lost, I had a great time and i will never forget it.
After getting lost, again, on the way home, i finally was able to get my first night of good sleep since England. My hostel roommates are actually from the town my dad was born in, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They were surprised that i knew where it was, let alone that i had actually been there.
Day 5
Today was a day of waiting. We waited in a store for the sudden down pour to stop because we were all too cheap to buy umbrellas, i waited in line at the Anne Frank house and the marijuana/hash museum, and we all waited in line at the train station to get tickets for the Texas guys to go to Brussels. I was planning on going to Berlin tomorrow, but the weather has shut down rail lines to Germany. I was going to just go to Brussels with them, but their train was in 20 minutes and my bag was back in my room. They didnt have information about tomorrow, so if i cant go to Berlin, ill just head to Brussels as well, maybe we will meet up again.
Im sure that some of you will be excited, and some of you will say "i told you so", but i think ill be cutting my trip short. I know its still early and things can change, but as it sits right now, i will be coming home after i see Europe. I will save Asia until i can find a friend to go with. Like i said, this is still too early to call, and i may have a different mind set in a few weeks, but i miss not having friends. I have met great people along the way, but when im alone, its just not what i imagined. I think the only thing id change about this trip is taking someone with me. So on that note, unless it gets better, ill be home sooner than expected. I kinda feel like a quitter, but if it doesnt feel good, why keep doing it, right? I enjoy the freedom of travelling alone, but it would be a completely different trip if i had a friend.
Love and miss you all, Toddzy
P.S: i still havent found a good computer, more pictures coming soon.

Comments

1

Whatever you decide is right, IS right. I think traveling alone must be really hard, but at least you've met a few people along the way! Enjoy whatever the rest of your trip may be. I like reading your blog. I can live vicariously through you a little bit. :)

Elisa Jul 13, 2010 9:38 AM

2

PS. If you are going through France, try to go the French Alps and see Mont Blanc in Chamonix! It was one of the most amazing parts of our trip! :)

Elisa Jul 13, 2010 9:40 AM

3

Reading your blog it seems like you have been very busy and experiencing alot. Try to stay busy during your down times, laundry, read or talk to the hostel operators.Unesco cultural heritage sites, is a site Cara said to check out for off the beatn track site seeing. Let me know if you go to a Dr and what was said. This is your trip and you can do what you want even if it is to come home early. Maybe a trip per year with a friend would be another way to go. You have money saved so you could just add to it over the years. love you very much mom

mom Jul 13, 2010 11:49 AM

4

PPS. If you're home by mid-October, there's always VEGAS! :)

Elisa Jul 13, 2010 12:09 PM

5

if your still in Amsterdam you should go to the Van Gogh muesuem next, its so beautiful....

you know, i bought my very first diamond ring at the diamond factory in Amsterdam (haha i just cracked up at what i said. cuz i WOULD say that) but its true!

i'm so happy for you regardless what you do! keep writing :)

Sandy Jul 13, 2010 1:15 PM

6

Have you managed sleep and get to the Dr? Don't forget that jet lag will also take it's toll if you do not sleep enough to get on schedule. Can you call Lee Anne in Germany maybe she has a friend that is traveling. Just some thoughts. "more" mom

mom Jul 14, 2010 11:00 AM

7

Hey Todd – keep going, trust me – you’ll slip into the Chris McCandless groove shortly. I promise it’ll be worth it because you won’t forget these experiences for the rest of your life. I travelled alone (actually, there were 4 barking/meowing animals with me, but who’s counting) and there were really scary days when I said out loud, what the heck am I doing!!?? Like getting caught in thick fog over a steep mountain pass above Lake Superior – at every turn, I thought we were plunging to our deaths because I couldn’t see 20 feet in front of me!! Then 24 hours later, I was totally relaxed and having the time of my life in Niagara Falls. The point is the ‘ups’ will outweigh the ‘downs’ a thousand times over. Here’s an idea too, which may sound a little wacky, but when you want to meet friendly smart helpful people in a strange town, visit a Toastmasters meeting – go to Toastmasters.org – they have clubs in virtually every country – they LOVE guests, and the people at the meetings will give you great ideas of places to visit locally. Dude, there 55 active clubs in Germany alone! So have fun, and we’ll keep sending good thoughts your way. See ya, Abbecat

Abbe (aka: Abbecat) Jul 15, 2010 7:41 AM

8

Just think how much weight you would be losing without those empty beer calories.

your conscience Jul 16, 2010 1:50 PM

9

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.