Hollande (Holland)

What a life I live! I’m 3/4ths of the way through with my 3rd two week vacation and just got back from a six day trip to Holland! I went with my friend Sarah, who is from Mexico but like me, works as an au pair in Paris. We set off on our voyage last Wednesday. The train takes only three hours to go to Amsterdam but we had to take a train after that to go to Groningen, a college-town in the north. Why Groningen, you ask? We thought it would be a good idea to go to other cities besides Amsterdam to see another aspect of Holland. Groningen was easy because we could stay there for free with Arlet, Sarah’s Dutch friend who had studied abroad for a year in Mexico. On our way there, there was an issue with the train. It happened like any tourist situation in a country where they don’t speak your language: you’re sitting comfortably in your seat when a voice comes over the intercom and says something that you understand to be absolute nonsense but it propels all of the people around you into action. You’re left clueless and helpless unless you can find someone to translate. Fortunately, practically everyone in Holland speaks English, so we were able to find a translator. The train had some problem and another one had to come in it’s place. Ugh… hiccups like that while you’re traveling can be rough. With no other choice but to wait for a train that “may or may not come”, we hung out in a very cold train station and people-watched. Finally, a woman who worked for the train company told us that we could catch the train on platform 5—it would leave in five minutes. We ran to platform 5. 5a or 5 b??? Ahh! We jumped on a train just before the doors closed. “Is this the train to Groningen?” Yes. Whew!!

After arriving in the station, taking the bus, and meeting Arlet; we dropped our stuff off and went out for drinks. While walking to the bar we saw just how cute this little Dutch town was. Sarah and I both remarked how it reminded us of Holland at Epcot! Spot on Disney! Well done! The next day was explored more of this picturesque place but found that there wasn’t a lot for tourists to do. We climbed (up a very narrow and long spiral staircase) to the top of Martini Tower, the sin-dial tower of the city. It was a lovely view of all of Groningen but it was windy and very cold so we didn’t stay for long. The rest of the day we wandered around and eventually ended up in a coffee shop. Now, in case you don’t know, marijuana is legal in Holland. As is prostitution (i.e. the Red Light District**—which can be found in every city, even Groningen). So coffee shops are actually where you buy the marijuana. You can smoke it there, too. It’s not that we’re opposed to smoking, but this particular day we chose not to as we would be meeting Arlet for dinner and we figured it would be rude to show up super high. But it still turned out to be an interesting experience because we realized that we did feel a little different after a few minutes surrounded by the smoke. No, I didn’t see pink elephants or whatever you think happens when you’re high—we both felt an energy that wasn’t there before— and, typically of course, we were more giggly. So anyway, that was the end of that. We went out with Arlet and had a really great time. The one really astounding thing was that when we left the bar at 3:30 in the morning, everybody and their mom was out and about on their bicycles—going home, going to the next club, wherever. But always on bike. No matter what time of day. I loved it.

The next day we were off to Amsterdam. We stayed with a friend of Arlet’s in Amsterdam, but he was busy with life so we didn’t hang out much. In the end he had to go away for the weekend so we stayed in a little hotel for a couple nights. But Amsterdam is very cute with all it’s canal’s and people on bikes. We did our touristy things during the day—Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank’s House, Sex Museum, and the Hash Museum (Actually we didn’t go in the last one, but we did pass it on the street). One night we strolled through the Red light District. I was surprised by how pretty the girls were. In fact the whole area was very pretty. The road was split by a canal and in this canal were swans! Periodically a bridge linked the two sides of the road and to top it off, the buildings that housed the “ladies” where typical Dutch architecture that is the epitome of charming. Wouldn’t be so bad to work there, right? Mom, Dad; I’m JOKING! Haha.

The weather was lovely except that it was C O L D!!! At night it was below freezing and not too much warmer during the day. The killer was the wind. Ugh, it makes me cringe just thinking about it. In fact, the cold is the only thing keeping me from wanting to live there.

One of the most interesting things that happened while we were there was that I realized my eagerness to speak French. Neither of us knew Dutch and it was almost tiring to hear it because I simply cannot make sense of it. Sarah and I always speak French together, so it was more conflicting to have conversations with people in English. What was the most fun was when we could speak French and no one understood us. This came in handy when we were out on the town and we could discuss the gentlemen who were courting us without worrying about being over heard. Muahaha.

But by the end, we were ready to go home. We’d run out of clean clothes and money and we we’re ready to understand the voices on the trams and trains again. Paris waited for us with warmer weather, our own beds, and normal, non-traveling food (I will not eat another sandwich for a MONTH!). Mmmm… So life is good. Till the next time!

** Red Light District—Arlet told us a little know fact about the RLD that I think I should share with the world. Yes, some girls choose to live this life, but many do not. There are still girls there who are forced to work and are part of human trade. I don’t know what can but done but I think knowledge is power. Now you know.