WELCOME 2006!!!!

Happy New Year to everyone!!

On the 31 I had a nice cozy breakfast with Rina and Cohen and then I headed straight to find accomodation for the night. I got to the tourist office, stayed in the "cue" for a long time and finally booked a bed. There was NOTHING, better, nothing in my budget, was not prepared to pay 400 euros for a night, so I got a great deal (??!!) of 45€ for a bed in a 10 bed dorm sharing with 9 italians so I took it. I got to the place and it was the biggest, must horrendous dump ever - the washrooms were fine though -. The room was a royal mess and stunk like feet and drugs so I openened the windows. Cecilia was supposed to join in Amsterdam but at the last minute decided not to so I took the room, I had thought about roaming the streets until 11 am when my train left, but by myself ....well, I should have done that. The dump at least was in a good spot, 1 minute off the Damrak in the thick of mariguana cafe land with a few "red windows" just around the corner. Full of men, but most probably 18. I treated myself to a nice New Year dinner by the Rembrand plaine where I met a really nice couple, they treated me for coffee. Then I went to the dump, got changed and headed to the Dam Square where the party was going to be.

It was a big concert, w/ DJ, dancing, music, drinking, the place was absolutely packed, i was right at the front and met all the people around, mostly dutch , we sang, danced and drank plenty of beer. We were on the big screen TVs all the time as we were right in front. When the New Year arrived they had big balloons and massive confetti guns and it was the most fun. For a second there it was magic and I was sooooo happy, by myself, but not feeling alone at all, it was great!!! The party there finished at around 2 and it continued at Leidesnplein, I went back to the dump at around 5 after calling my sisssssters in San Diego. I danced all over the Dam with people from all over the world, got kissed by all sorts of drunk guys, sang and danced typical Dutch songs with the dutch and drank from their Champaingn bottles. There were people from 176 countries. It was AWESOME!!! I did think about everyone of you, and sent you good vibes maaan, hope you have a real fantastic 2006.

Eventhough it was a dump I'm glad I had a bed, I went there and basically died when my head hit the pillow. Then I woke up, had a shower, took my things and went for a last stroll around town. The place was a mess, no way they would ever allow that in Vancouver!!! but it was really fun and safe and mostly people behaved. I caught the 11:13 train via Berlin to Prague. I will go back to Amsterdam any minute, I hope it's soon!!!