In Amsterdam

So it's been an adventure with my bike this week!

First, somehow I've begun a trend of completely forgetting to lock it when I get somewhere. This is a bad habit for many reasons, but especially because it ends with me emptying out my purse trying to find my bike keys and looking for nearly ten minutes before I realize they're still in my lock. I'm not sure which I'm more thankful for...not having my bike stolen, or not having actually lost my bike keys. 

Also, for about 3 weeks it had been tricky to turn. In fact, sometimes my front wheel wouldn't even turn so I'd have to just shift my weight hoping my bike moved with me. But this week the front of my bike started making an awful squeaking sound any time I got on. Mostly out of embarrassment I decided it was time to get fixed. Luckily, there was a sweet man at Waterlooplein who was able to fix it pretty cheapily. I guess I was missing some piece on the handlebars...which proved to be a necessity.

So yesterday with a new and improved bike, I was riding home from class listening to my Ipod, feeling really peaceful and enjoying the few minutes of sunshine. There was a guy in front of me on the road, and I had the choice to either pass him or slow down and just ride behind...so enjoying the peacefulness of the ride I decided I'd just slow down a bit. But at the same time, he stopped completely. Next thing I knew I was practically on top of him. I'm not really sure what's the best thing to do when you've just ran into a guy on his bike (who also happens to be good looking) and you have your ipod in and earmuffs on, so i just kept saying "sorry" which conveniently is also used by the Dutch and threw off my earmuffs and ipod to make sure he was okay. He awkwardly said he was, and not really knowing how to make conversation out of the situation, I just said "okay, good" or something similar and rode off. whoa! so embarrassing. 

I came home from the incident and decided to eat some lunch and sleep a bit. In the afternoon I headed to the Pickerill's to do some baking with Julia, Rachel, and Amanda. Yet again, same as in the morning...listening to my Ipod, wearing my earmuffs, enjoying the peaceful ride...and this time laughing to myself about what had happened in the morning. All of a sudden a construction guy is standing in the bikepath saying something to me. After about a minute of me removing things from my ears yet again and communicating that I don't know dutch, he asks if I'd ride on the tram path, as they're doing some work in the bike path. I'm thinking, "why not?". Literally 30 seconds later I'm laying in the middle of one of the biggest intersections in Amsterdam having slid several feet after slipping on the tram track. The tram tracks are infamous in Amsterdam, as nearly everyone takes a fall at least once due to getting a tire stuck. I guess after 3 months it was my time. Luckily I'm still alive as Leidseplein is also a main intersection for cars, taxis, busses, trams, pedestrians, and other bikes and scooters. 

Needless to say, my ego (and right leg) is a bit bruised. 

Besides all the bike craziness, I've had quite a busy week (and missed Brooke the past several days)! I stayed up until 8am for the election, which proved to be worth it after hearing the incredible speech our President-elect delivered (I cried for hours after)! I finished my first end-term paper (finally). I traveled to Brussels over the weekend (and ate lots of chocolate followed with beer). I visited the Bureau of Research and Statistics for the city of Amsterdam. I did a make-up presentation for the class I skipped due to still being awake at 8am the previous week. I ate nachos with Luke. I had a sleepover at the Pickerill's and greeted Brooke at the airport this morning. And tomorrow I'm heading to Antwerp for a class outing! I wish I could write entire blog entries about each of these things, but I just don't think I have it in me.

Starbucks at Schiphol!

Hard to tell, but it's the European Paliament in Brussels.

Rue Royal.

Parc de Bruxelles avec Anais

Grande Place in Bruxelles.