Sunday, August 14, 2005
Flying Saucers
Overall, my weekend was pretty good. As usual, it began Friday. I awoke, spoke to the parents, and set out for Almere. I had some relatives to visit. I managed to successfully find my way to Almere Buiten via Amsterdam and back without wandering the streets of Rotterdam and getting lost. I think a congratulation is in order. Congratulations Mar. Err, thanks.
After arrival in Almere, I found my cousins in the Albert Heijn. It began raining profusely; therefore, my hair turned into curly head of old woman. I had some of my favorite cheese at lunch: Old Amsterdam. Caroline always buys this when I’m around and I love it! I bought a different kind of cheese over the week just to vary it up a bit and try new things. This week, I think I will have to revert to old and purchase some Old Amsterdam yet again. So good! So, so good!
Tante Rees, Caroline, the kids, and I went bowling. This bowling alley was super-cool. It was like entering the bowling alley of a spaceship. The seats at the lanes were comprised of semi-circular red leather booths and the TV screen was controlled by a joystick. (I have pictures and will post them at some point.) After bowling and becoming completely frustrated with my lack of bowling game, we went to the game area. I beat Nick at a game of air hockey, my favorite. Nick beat me at a game of race cars. Rose beat me at a game of something similar to dance revolution. I was in shock from watching the people prior. Addicts. Wow, the seriousness people have towards this game is amazing. At one point while awaiting our turn on the machine, I was suddenly surrounded by kids not playing the game but imagining they were playing the game and moving their feet with the arrows. All I could do was stare at the kids and bear the thunderous stamping of all the feet while trying desperately hard not to bust up laughing.
I was forced to really hold in my laughter when at one point, the players started mixing up their feet shuffle while jumping in circles, touching their knees to the ground, and playing the game facing the opposite direction. Memorization of the games steps: addicts. I would like to see them pull out those moves on the dance floor on a Friday night at Hot Pink. I ventured home in the evening around 10:00 in the evening for Rotterdam.
I awoke Saturday to visit the Dance Parade. The dance parade consisted of about 40 “floats.” The floats were moving stages with people dancing, a dj mixing, and enormous speakers blaring out at the crowd. As the stages pass, people either keep waiting for other floats, or join the stage along the route and dance through the streets of Rotterdam. During the beginning of the afternoon, I enjoyed the Dance Parade from the center of Rotterdam. The bridge was closed to traffic so I was able to walk across it in the middle of the road. Since the floats move extremely slowly, I battled the crowds and made it back to my apartment in plenty of time to view the parade some more from the intersection at my apartment.
I went up to the 5th floor where I live and waited as the parade neared. My apartment was in prime location as you will be able to see when I finally post some pictures. I went back downstairs and enjoyed the parade from the street for a long time. Later, I went upstairs to take more pictures of the massive sea of people overtaking the intersection.
A party followed the parade. To go to the party, a ticket must be purchased. The party consisted of different areas playing different types of music. I walked down to see some of it during the evening but did not attend.
Next weekend, I shall attend Lowlands. I am sure I will write plenty about that. Today, I may go on a bit of a bike ride and explore and will by my groceries for the week at the Albert Heijn in the Centrum.
After arrival in Almere, I found my cousins in the Albert Heijn. It began raining profusely; therefore, my hair turned into curly head of old woman. I had some of my favorite cheese at lunch: Old Amsterdam. Caroline always buys this when I’m around and I love it! I bought a different kind of cheese over the week just to vary it up a bit and try new things. This week, I think I will have to revert to old and purchase some Old Amsterdam yet again. So good! So, so good!
Tante Rees, Caroline, the kids, and I went bowling. This bowling alley was super-cool. It was like entering the bowling alley of a spaceship. The seats at the lanes were comprised of semi-circular red leather booths and the TV screen was controlled by a joystick. (I have pictures and will post them at some point.) After bowling and becoming completely frustrated with my lack of bowling game, we went to the game area. I beat Nick at a game of air hockey, my favorite. Nick beat me at a game of race cars. Rose beat me at a game of something similar to dance revolution. I was in shock from watching the people prior. Addicts. Wow, the seriousness people have towards this game is amazing. At one point while awaiting our turn on the machine, I was suddenly surrounded by kids not playing the game but imagining they were playing the game and moving their feet with the arrows. All I could do was stare at the kids and bear the thunderous stamping of all the feet while trying desperately hard not to bust up laughing.
I was forced to really hold in my laughter when at one point, the players started mixing up their feet shuffle while jumping in circles, touching their knees to the ground, and playing the game facing the opposite direction. Memorization of the games steps: addicts. I would like to see them pull out those moves on the dance floor on a Friday night at Hot Pink. I ventured home in the evening around 10:00 in the evening for Rotterdam.
I awoke Saturday to visit the Dance Parade. The dance parade consisted of about 40 “floats.” The floats were moving stages with people dancing, a dj mixing, and enormous speakers blaring out at the crowd. As the stages pass, people either keep waiting for other floats, or join the stage along the route and dance through the streets of Rotterdam. During the beginning of the afternoon, I enjoyed the Dance Parade from the center of Rotterdam. The bridge was closed to traffic so I was able to walk across it in the middle of the road. Since the floats move extremely slowly, I battled the crowds and made it back to my apartment in plenty of time to view the parade some more from the intersection at my apartment.
I went up to the 5th floor where I live and waited as the parade neared. My apartment was in prime location as you will be able to see when I finally post some pictures. I went back downstairs and enjoyed the parade from the street for a long time. Later, I went upstairs to take more pictures of the massive sea of people overtaking the intersection.
A party followed the parade. To go to the party, a ticket must be purchased. The party consisted of different areas playing different types of music. I walked down to see some of it during the evening but did not attend.
Next weekend, I shall attend Lowlands. I am sure I will write plenty about that. Today, I may go on a bit of a bike ride and explore and will by my groceries for the week at the Albert Heijn in the Centrum.
