Moving on to my second day. The first hurdle to me met was how to get access to my suitcase. Which was conveniently locked. Fortunately the guy at the front desk was able to jimmy it open in about two seconds. It sort of makes you wonder. The mini-twist after that came when one of my travel companions managed to twist his back and couldn't really move without moaning in pain. Yeah. Luckily my tylenol wasn't stolen.
The first stop of the day was to be the police station so I could make a statement and get a formal police report. This involved walking down a rather narrow alley. We turn to go down this alley and there are two horses blocking it. HORSES. A few brave soles were squeezing behind them, and a few more were going under their heads. However, as the closest one started pawing the ground as we approached, we decided it was best to find an alternative route. Finally at the police station, I had a long dialogue with a cute little Dutch police officer who was blonde and looked about 18 years-old. It took about half an hour (pre-coffee, mind you), but I ended up with a print-out with a police report number, a brief recap of what happened, and a list of what was in my purse. I think it amused him when I asked him to put down by student ID card, but I didn't want to have to pay for a replacement (and I didn't, by the way). You also get asked all sorts of weird questions (what color was your phone? is the brand name listed on the outside of your wallet?). The process was completed by my signing the police report, and it being signed by little Dutch boy. And I quote little Dutch boy 'you can't read it, but sign here'. By the way, my 'nationaliteit' is 'Amerikaans Burger'. My 'land' is 'Grootbrittannie'. The comedy just goes on from there.
Finally we were ready to take a look around Amsterdam. It took another hour or so, but we finally got ahold of some lunch, some tram passes, found the necessary tram, and made our way over to the Henneiken Experience (we were thinking Anne Frank, but we opted for up for something a bit cheerier). The Henneiken Experience is a good time, and a good deal. For 10 euros you get to learn all you've ever wanted to know about Henneiken, get to go on two 'rides' (one where you get to learn what's it's like to be a bottle and the other where you get to drive a horse-drawn beer carriage through the streets of Amsterdam as everyone waves and cheers), you get 3 drinks (all Henneiken, quarter-liter), AND a free gift!! While the rides were a little bizarre and you don't actually go anywhere, they were still mildly amusing. You use your first drink token about half way through, and there was a barman there named 'Rolf de Groot', which is currently my favorite name of all time. Activities also include sitting in futuristic chairs looking at Henneiken commercials and making little video greetings that you can email to your friends. And the free gift was a nice silver bottle opener that came in a cool tin that looks like a beer bottle. Needless to say, the line to get in was a good half-block long by the time we left. Oh, and the travel buddies got some big beer mugs with their names engraved on them.
After this we went to the Rijksmuseum or however it's called. It's in a really cool massive building, so it looked like it had a lot of potential. It was also ten euros, came with no beer, but there were some nice paintings. Some Rembrandts, I think. But overall it was not very large and not as good a deal as Henneiken Experience. But the building is worth looking at. For sure.
It was nearing six by the time we left the second museum so it was pretty much dinner time. However, as the tales of the evening were quite extensive, they will have to wait another day.
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