We got to Amsterdam at about 9 pm and got lost looking for the hostel, but that gave us a chance to see a little of the city. It seems pretty, but is just about the most touristy city I have ever been in -- at least the areas we saw were. The area around the station was unbarable. The canals are fascinating, and it is a very historic city, but when we go back we will really have to make an effort to get out from the truly gross touristy center of town. Besides, with all the connection to dope smoking, I kind of don't even really want to bother!
The hostel was huge, but very attractive and comfortable -- very European feeling. We went into our room, settled down, showered, chatted with our Candian, American and Korean roomates and slept.
In the morning we had to figure out how to get from the big city, out to this tiny town called Makkum. Which it turns out there Sneek are two of! Luckily we knew about where it was and were able to correct the ticket seller when he started to sell us a ticket to the wrong place. We pointed on the map. I love maps.
After a number of short train rides through the Netherlands of The Netherlands we arrived in Sneek. (Pronounced Snake.) This is in Freisland - a province of The Netherlands that thinks of itself as a separate country. We saw more Freisland flags than Netherlands flags, They even speak a different language! Although the mosquitoes were bad, the people were friendly and the hostel was a pleasant place to spend a quiet evening, despite being called Wigledam! Most of their traffic was bicyclists (and very few Americans come through there!) and we got some VERY strange looks walking with our backpacks from the train station that evening!
We spent the evening doing laundry, playing Yahtzee and eating at the hostel in Sneek. We were the only people there.
