Short and sweet

After three days of procrastination, I have finally arrived at the Stayokay hostel in Maastricht, Netherlands. I made it to the train station yesterday with all the intentions in the world of going to Maastricht. I met an Irishmen in line and decided to postpone the trip for a day, I just figured these things happen so I went with it . The train stations in Amsterdam are similar to a American DMV. You receive a slip of paper with a number and then you wait. The Irishman and the American, tramping about the city. We headed first to a local bar called the 'Hill Street Blues' pub, where the atmosphere was inviting and the staff was friendly. The stickers on the wall and the American music playing gave it a nostalgic feel. We walked around the city for an entire day, I did most of the leading. Eamon, the Irishman, was impressed with my ability to traverse the city. It seemed that he never quite made his way away from the red light district. He had just arrived from a three year stint in Boston. By the end of the night we were discussing plans of meeting up in Paris, but after closely looking at my funds I thought better of it and headed south. So this morning I make it out of town before 10 a.m. and the streets are calm and mellow, almost ghost town like. I left with most of the essentials, lap top, tooth brush, a few items of clothing and a need for adventure. I have to say.. the trains in Europe and more luxurious, bigger seats and more room. It was a 2.5 hour trip which I barely felt. But in mid train ride I remembered that I had forgotten to take down the address of the place I was staying. I wasn't to worried because I had a computer on me, the only trick was finding an internet cafe. I stepped out of the train and into the complete unknown, I knew really nothing of this city except that it had more pubs per capita than some other place, at least goes the story that the peculiar lady mumbled to me on the train. It was surprisingly warm and I had to use the restroom. Out on foot I go, no idea where to go. I just marched forward until I came across a mcdonalds, where I made a pit stop but didn't eat the food, I have yet to eat any kind of fast food since I've been here. My next goal was to find an internet cafe where I could check my email and find the address to my hostel. It took a few trys, one gentlemen refused to speak to me, but I finally made my way to my hostel, all from the directions and visuals I remembered from the net. I was walking across a bridge where I thought it may be, simply from a good vibe, low and behold off on the left was a building that looked identical to where I was suppose to be staying. This whole process took a good hour and a half. I was stoked at my ability to remain calm and find the place. The hostel is nice, the staff is friendly and the rooms will keep me out on the city til the early morning hours, that is to say, it's a few beds and concrete but nice. I must go now, it cost me 5 euro to rent the wi fi for an hour and I have to get a few miles under my belt, time is a wasting.