Week 2 in Amsterdam
By now, I'm into the full swing of things here... I started classes, opened a bank account, and registered with the foreign police. Now it's starting to feel more like home and less like a frantic place where I run madly around trying to accomplish something. The research methodology class I'm in right now is a lot of review, but it is nice to have the material fresh in my mind, especially because it helps me think about possible thesis ideas.
Outside of class, Amsterdam is certainly a place that's always hopping, just check out the "What's On" section of Underwater Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is really into cleanliness. They have these huge tractors that come around, spraying water on the bridges to clean them. It's rater intimidating to be caught biking behind one of these...
This is a great little park by my house. Many people come with picnics, or just to enjoy watching the boats go by on the canal. You might notice that there aren't exactly any railings along the canal, but I think that Dutch kids learn early to stay out of the water.
The family and I took a dinner cruise, which was surprisingly enjoyable and not as touristy as one would expect. Generally, dinner cruises don't include the constant narration that the tour cruises feature, which in my estimation is a good thing. It is certainly nice to see Amsterdam from the water, especially because you can really go through the entire city on a boat.
This is the Dutch idea of a public works project. They built this replica of an old ship in order to provide employment for people and help them develop their skills. I'm not sure how many modern employers are looking for ancient ship-building skills, but... it's a pretty neat boat, at any rate.
Something you notice as you walk around Amsterdam is that the buildings - especially the old ones - tilt quite a bit. It is rather hard to notice in a picture, but if you look closely, you can see that some of the buildings are leaning forward and others lean to one side or the other. It makes you wonder how the whole city is still standing.