Bluejake

7am Woke without aid of alarm after six hours of fairly restful sleep.
8:15am Cab to Paddington Station (8 pounds) and fast train to Heathrow Terminal 4.
9:30am Through check-in and killing time checking email, eating a Pret Tuna sandwich and buying suspenders for the tuxedo.
12pm After talking with an odd Southern backpacker for a half hour, boarded plane after 30 minute delay. Forty-five minute flight to Amsterdam (+1 hour as we enter Holland).
3:45pm Quickly through Shiphol Airport and by taxi to the leafy neighborhood of Oost by Oosterpark, and the Hotel Arena- an extremely hip hotel with bar, restaurant, and nightclub. Somewhat far from downtown, but Eames furniture in the rooms and duplex lofted bedroom area. Extremely cool. Rest for a few minutes and then walk down to city.
4pm-7pm Long walk to downtown through the outskirts, past the university, and down to Rembrandtsplein. Felt much refreshed after beers at the grand cafe on the North Side of square. Down Kloveniersburgwal Canal through Newmarkt, and backup through red light district, seedy as ever. Up past the Dam and Palace back to Rembrandtsplein where we caught a cab back to the Arena. Much better than walking.
7:30-9:45pm Lovely dinner of mussels and lamb at ToDine, the restaurant at Arena. Very Eames/Wallpaper Magazine, and very cool.
10:15pm Back in room, watching CNN. Noticed the toilet is somewhat odd- basically it has a poo platform. A Dutch innovation?

Travelogue