Kicked Out of Amsterdam

Day: 59

So hopeful that I would be able to stay for the Holiday weekend in Amsterdam, first thing in the morning (8:30 or so) I went to reception and hoped for a cancellation.  When I got to the desk there were four other Japanese kids that had the same idea as I.  Unfortunately there was no room for any of us and I just decided to pack my bag and head on over to the train station and pick at random where to go.

A side note, about three weeks ago I had found a ticket on Ryan Air for $1.99 plus tax ($24) from Brussels to Dublin for May 2^nd and since I had so much fun in Ireland last time I went (in Feb. 2005 with Francisco) I decided I couldn’t pass up such a great flight and snatched up the ticket.  So it wasn’t completely random the direction I was headed, but I didn’t really have the intention to spend four nights in Brussels before Ireland but that looked like what was going to happen.  Lonely Planet-less I jumped the train to Brussels hoping I could find some trouble.  (Lonely Planet-less is referring to the fact that I have absolutely no information about the city I was headed, not even a simple map.)

Two hours later, just outside of Brussels the conductor comes around to check our tickets. He looks at mine and says “You need a supplement, this ticket is for the regular trains and this is a private train line”

Great, I thought.“How Much?”

“Eighteen Euros.”

Freakin A! I had already paid thirty just for my regular ticket.

I shelled out the extra $22 and Thought about the good old days last month when I could cross half of Eastern Europe for the same price a supplement to the train ticket in the west.  This part of the world is hurting my budget. I arrived in Brussels and started looking around for tourist information.

Closed. Damn.

I took a look around for similarly lost looking backpackers that might have a clue. Nope. Damn.

Found a little internet café in the train station and searched for a hostel in Brussels and got directions. Sweet, I was on my way.

Eight metro stops later I was checked in and had paid for four nights hoping I would find stuff to do in this city for that much time. It doesn’t really have the tourist vibe that cities like Amsterdam, Prague, and Krakow have.  Maybe it’s just waiting to be discovered.  I took a walk through the park nearby and headed into the old town section (by sheer dumb luck, still no map) and was astounded by what I found. Waffles! On every corner, no wonder I can’t stay skinny.  I had been here before for two nights in 2001, but don’t really recall much of those few days and am already slightly impressed with the city. I mean, Waffles! After my walk and dinner of Panini and waffles, I headed back to my hostel and ordered a beer. “What kind?” the bartender asked.

“The darkest you have.” He gave me a smile and pulled out a bottle “made by the monks” that was 9.2% alcohol. Monks sure are nice.  After a couple of those I was talking with a Californian girl (Nor. Cal.) who was on a school break from Spain.  It was around 9pm now and we decided to go out and see the Brussels night life. She knew of a bar where she had spent most of the day which is in the Guinness book of World Records for the most beers offered in the world. 2004 beers as of two years ago, but the bartender said it was currently around 2200 beers, and he had only tried 900 of them. I didn’t know where to start, I wish Josh was with me for support in this endeavor.  I had three different beers, all spectacular, and we headed out to go dancing.  I promised myself I would remember where the bar is since I have four days here in Brussels.  We dance for a couple of hours to a shitty DJ, and grabbed a cab back to the hostel.

I had my doubts about this city but it looks like I’ll be able to fill my days with something. Most likely Waffles, Beer, and twenty year old Californian girls although that one (can’t remember her name) leaves in the morning so I’ll have to find some more.