I went in to Amsterdam again today, but later than usual. It was interesting. I got there just after 1pm and started down the road to the Rijksmuseum, and in the process found the tulip market and the street with all the antique shops on it. Both were pretty cool. One of the stalls at the tulip market advertised the fact that they send bulbs to different countries so I suppose I could send plants home after all. There were a few bonsai too, which I thought was funny.
Oh, yeah. And for the past week there's been a fair set up in the middle of Dam Square right in front of the palace. Looks exactly like the little fairs that set up in school playing fields at home. It's been rather fun to watch.
I had somewhere between three and four hours in the Rijksmuseum and I didn't even get through the bottom floor. I think this will involve multiple trips. But that's ok, because as a museum card holder I can literally walk straight in! It's awesome! Anyway. The first floor is all the medieval art with a few rooms set aside for the Asian stuff they have. Some of the European wood carvings are absolutely stunning, and the Venetian glassware they have is gorgeous. More on the museum after the second trip.
I decided to hang around for a few more hours so I could check out the Halloween parade, so I settled down in front of the National Monument to read and people watch. I like watching a city flow around me. It's generally fascinating. So far I've seen Amsterdam crowded and slightly less crowded, but it's always busy, particularly in Dam Square. Of course, I haven't seen it stupidly late/early, so there could be quiet, almost empty points but I doubt it's ever completely still. It was interesting watching the people blow by. Tourists from other countries and elsewhere in the Netherlands with their maps and the occasional shopping bag. People waiting for the parade to start, people eating dinner in front of the monument, and then of course the people wandering by in costume. I'm fairly certain that only happens around Halloween and Pride. Watching the look of the square change as it got darker was cool too, especially with the fair set up. Lots of lights and shifting shadows.
The parade itself was somewhat underwhelming. It was the standard "everyone in a costume come be in the parade!" and most of the costumes were zombies. It's been interesting watching Halloween happen here what with my North American preconceptions and all. It's rather a big deal back home, and people go to great lengths to create incredible costumes so there's a wide variety in what you see. Devils, witches, ghosts, demons, and yes, zombies too. The only thing I saw (bar three vampires) were zombies. (the zombie Pikachu was my favourite) To be fair, it isn't actually Halloween yet, but it was the kick off to the week long parties, and I guess I forgot that Halloween is much less of a thing over here. Something else I noted that goes with that was the ratio of people not in costumes to the people in costumes was much higher than back home. Although, again, it could just possibly be because it isn't, in fact, Halloween. And I can't go in on Halloween, so I won't be able to do a proper comparison. Oh well.
I was craving McDonald's (don't ask me why! I don't know!) so I got dinner on the way back, and I arrived home to be reminded very strongly of the trials and tribulations of having room mates. The house was rather full. There have been people over every bloody night since Thursday. Unfortunately it's been guests of separate roommates on two of those occasions. I am, however, beginning to go slightly crazy. I understand if they want to party. It is the weekend. But I'm one of those weirdos who needs a certain amount of space. I've gotten used to one of my roomies 'cause she's here as much as me, but the guy is only here on weekends and this is only the second weekend. I can deal with it this time (I think), but if it turns into a weekly thing I may have to do something. I feel a bit like the grumpy ogre, but oh well. And to be fair coming home to find three people you've never seen before doing their hair and makeup in the bathroom is a bit disconcerting.
Sorry if this was a bit jumpy or rambly. I'm tired. That's all for now. Rock on.
No comments:
Post a Comment