Ash, volcanic and otherwise

We heard Amsterdam calling a few weeks ago when finding suspiciously cheap airline tickets ... just in time for my big 3-2 birthday celebration. The suspicion, however, turned to volcanic ash and we realized (the morning of) that our flight had been canceled.

Whaaa, whaaaa.

But if ever a rendezvous were to start on that note and continue with a free-falling, wandering adventure of a trip – Amsterdam seems only fitting.

We headed to the airport anyway, shifted through numerous lines, listened to stranded stories of nearby passengers and eventually traded in our cheap airline tickets for overpriced train tickets. Seven hours later (four of which we stood) we were cruising the canals.

As an added bonus for my birthday, Jeremy indulged me in a museum-free, no plans, no Rick, extended weekend celebration – which I deem as the best gift EVER.

Party on Wayne.

We spent the next three days wandering the streets, finding hidden cafes, people watching and getting lost. Amsterdam is a circular city with an elaborate canal system - you sort of have to walk sideways in order to go straight. Getting lost comes easy … for various reasons.

Whaaa, whaaaa.

But whatever street you happen to walk down, you find bicycles shuffling down the lane. We happily joined the peddling revolution.

To say it’s the city of bikes is an understatement. In Amsterdam, the bike is a way of life. (And the most logical form of transportation.)

You see fathers with children, grandmothers toting flowers, business folk bringing home groceries, police officers patrolling the streets, hippies walking their dogs and so on, happily on their bikes. Almost everyone who lives in Amsterdam owns a bicycle.

Not to mention the traditional locally produced bikes allow for the Dutch to demonstrate their superior posture.

The days quickly turned to night and the eye candy of the nightlife kept us wandering for more. We strolled through the red light district and rated prostitutes gesturing in the brightly lit windows, listened to music pour out on the sidewalk from numerous clubs and danced to the chatter of hipsters cruising the canals on boats.

Our Amsterdam experience made the exhausting 10-hour journey home seem worth it.

The highlight of the trip came when Jeremy made my heart go pitter-patter saying, “You know, we haven’t done anything this weekend but wander around. And it’s been awesome.”

That and when he spotted the fat Matt Winfree – which made us both heave with laughter – (we narrowly avoided peeing ourselves.)

Let me explain: 

Okay, that may only be funny to us.

Party on Garth.