^ haha, none with me in them, please. :D
Same here - and if a group pic must be posted with me in it (don't recall any such thing) then please blot me out. Thanks. I don't mind people meeting me, or even sharing pics privately, but I abhor the thought of my face becoming public fodder.
A thoughts upon reflection of returning:
Thur: Eh, old city....not too impressed. Solid transit, but I can't understand a lick of it...so I'm walking, and walking, and walking, and...
So by the afternoon, I'm beat (been up for 30+ hours straight...sober...). Leave the gang and head back to the hotel (10 min by bus, maybe 45 walking) .... about 1.5 hrs later I'm still walking since I missed the hotel by 3 blocks and ended up in Rembrandt park. Good thing the GPS on my blackberry could accurately locate my position on the google maps to within 3-4 blocks...sometimes.
Fri: More walking, exploring the city, check out the red light district a bit more. Decent tourist day, but the topper was time spent in NEMO - the children's science museum. Good company, but for a geek like me, I love those places. A bit flabbergasted at the sex center in there, but hey! I learned some new sex positions and kept my token for the 'Teen Peep Show'. :D Also, completely enjoyed the robot section.
Sat: Determined to fly to AMS and go to DV, so dammit, I went to DV. Had some help from friends trying to relieve me of my sobriety, but alas, it didn't work. Still enjoyed the music, however. Got to see over half the acts I wanted to - a big plus over my usual ability to find music I'm after (usually too fucked to know what time it is or where I am, score one for sobriety). Again, quality people there with us, but missed some of you as well
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
Perhaps the best part of the day was getting out ahead of the mass exodus from the main area (impressive gathering there....but I was very pleased with the huge layout of the overall event). Perhaps the worst part, how thoroughly trashed the entire place was, with debris lying within 2 feet of the largely labelled trash bins. Rubbish....truly.
Sun: Recovery day, still plenty of walking around (my feet fucking ached), and made the meetup for a bit, then bounced bar to bar. Good company, though I'll have to admit, I didn't talk to all I wanted to; and those I did speak with, I didn't get into the depth I really wish I had - missed opportunity, but sometimes, when people are getting drunk or stoned, that happens. I guess I'll just have to make the trip again :D
Mon: A day at the park ... quite a beautiful day, indeed. Again, good company. But I will have to give a gentleman's tip of the hat to the bloke that hooked me up with some acid for the day - a legend, and one who has my great appreciation. Shrooms didn't do much, but that acid gave me the kind of time I'd been looking for for years. Peaceful, entertaining, awesome. And spending the time in Vondelpark, my lord what a beautifaul place (sober or otherwise). Now THAT place made me think I'll have to come back to AMS at some point in the future.
Tue: Fucking sucked. Made it home safe with no problems, but it meant my vacation was over.
.
Much love to those I met. Though I'll have to give my 'Hero' award to That_Guy's buddy for a) investing a long justification for ordering a Pinot Grigio ... when nobody really challenged it; b ) offering a solid explanation of American politics to Loco, knowing full well and good that none of it would be remembered; and c) playing the willing Trip Sitter....though his credentials explained before hand ought to have scared the bejeezus out of us.
Last thing (yeah, I know, this is a long post...sue me) - I am Scotch-Irish descent. Sometimes when I get too deep into my drinks I start speaking in my ancestral tongue, out of control, really. So I owe Felix and Kate my thanks, in that I kept my mouth shut long enough to understand I sound nothing like Scottish, despite my delusions I am much closer to Irish with my drunken tongue. Which brings me to Red Arrow and his friend, who then showed me that I'm not really close to Irish with that drunken tongue at all. Sometimes, it's better just to sip your beer and keep your mouth shut....duly noted.
