New Years Eve

Amsterdam on New Year's Eve is probably the most amazing single party I have ever attended. During the day Jen and I finally got out for a bit. We were trying to find this café Sophia was telling us about, we think we found it, but it was busy. We walked further up the street and found the MOST amazing Balinese artwork store. Jewelry, tapestries, furniture, and so on. We headed farther west and ate at a little pub on the corner. We had terrific tomato soup and sandwiches.

We headed off to walk around and ended up in Dam Square. There was a stage for bands and it was FULL of young people. It was truly hard to walk around there. We headed west into the thick of the red light district passing coffee shop after coffee shop. We made a right turn and Jen got her first glimpse of the women in trade. Back to Newmarkt and to have a pint. Then back to the apartment to prepare for dinner and a late night.

Fireworks blasting everywhere in the distance. We searched for fireworks, but could not find any. We learned later that you have to go to hardware stores. Next time!

Henri and Sophia and little Tigo came to the apartment about 6. Sophia tried to get cooking but Tigo was a bit people shy and had to keep him entertained while Henri drove 5 miles away to park.

Dinner was a mushroom risotto, lamb, and sauteed spinach. It was really tasty. After a few beers and some wine with dinner, the Möet was opened and a few toasts were made. In the distance the fireworks became more and more intense. I had to get out there. It was pissing with rain when we left the apt at 10min to 12. As we walked into the square at midnight, the rain just plain stopped. There must have been 5000 people in NewMarkt, I dont even want to know what Dam was like!

Anyway, we got blasted by fireworks, hailed on by burning debris, and drank our champaign with thousands of others doing exactly the same.

We decided to walk around and I had to pee. I found a nice canal to exploit with a line of other men doing the same. We then walked to the crooked house and as we walked up to the door the sign in the window read Private Party. As we turned to leave, the doorman (also the owner) opened the door and let us in. Everyone was standing and drinking and laughing and telling stories, all in dutch, so all the tables were free. Now, mind you, this was 2am. We sat, ordered a pint from Jesse, our new bartender friend, and then the place began to fill up. Soon enough coats were all over the chairs and benches and it was standing room only. We met some nutty dutch men and proceeded to get a first hand account of how to roll a joint, dutch style. After Jerome explained he will probably get kicked out for that, we got another round of beers. At about 4am, this guy was introduced to me. He is off to Hawaii to surf. Have Fun!

At 4:30am, we turned in. In the background, fireworks still blasting away and laughs and shouts of merry men and women saw us into daylight.

Amsterdam - New Year's Eve