4th of July in Amsterdam

Had some fireworks, American BBQ, and general American awesomeness at Westerpark on the 4th.

What I Learned From Hitchhiking Europe

I’ve always been very scared of hitchhiking in America. I’ve been told that it is really dangerous and something horrible would probably happen to me if I went in a stranger’s car. I’m not really sure if that is the case in America but in Europe, hitchhiking led to one of most friendly encounters I’ve had with people. A couple of weeks  ago I joined a hitchiking contest where 40 international students hitchhiked from Amsterdam to the Ardennes in Belgium for a weekend getaway in the countryside. I didn’t know what to expect but I did not expect that all 40 of us would make it across borders into a tiny village town all by hitchhiking within 12 hours. So based on what I have learned hitchhiking in 14 cars back and forth to Belgium, here are few tips when hitchhiking Europe.

1. Go with another person if you are a female but try not to be more than two total, there’s just not enough room in most cars.

2. Carry cardboard and markers to write your destination.

3. The best places to start and be dropped off are gas stations. It is a lot easier to walk up to someone and ask if they are heading in the same direction and join rather than hold a sign on the side of the highway.

4. Make sure you are being dropped off somewhere safe with lots of people. It can be a nightmare trying to find another ride if you are dropped off in the middle of nowhere so be clear about where you want to go before you get into a drivers car. We made that mistake in one car and it got us off track about 2 hours.

5. Leave early and don’t plan to be somewhere by a certain time. Hitchhiking is all about luck, it might take 3 hours or 9 hours to get to a certain destination based on who picks you up so don’t expect to be somewhere within a certain time frame.

Yeah thats about it. Hitchhiking in Europe is really really easy and fun! Here are some pictures from my trip.

Pumping gas with a trucker on the way to Maastricht.

Got stuck at a rest stop until..

We rescued by drunken Belgian footballers!

Our final destination, the beautiful Ardennes, Belgium

World Press Photo Exhibit Amsterdam

World Press Photo has announced the winners of their 2010 contest and they are currently exhibiting their photos in Amsterdam from now until June 20. The exhibit is held at the Oude Kerk, Oudekerksplein 23 Amsterdam Monday - Saturday 10.30 – 17.30 and Sunday 13.00 – 17.30. Below are a few of the winning photos.

The first picture below was taken by Italian photographer Pietro Masturzo as the World Press Photo of the Year 2009. The picture depicts women shouting in protest from a rooftop in Tehran on 24 June.

Craig Golding, Australia took this photo of competitors taking their positions for the start of the mens over 80’s 200 meters.

Adam Ferguson, Australia took this photograph where a woman is rushed from the scene of a suicide car bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan on 15 December.

Oliver Laban-Mattei, France took this photograph of an opposition supporter shouting in Tehran on 13 June.

Queens Day 2010

Wow, didn’t realize a holiday celebrating the birthday of your old queen while selling junk on the streets and wearing orange could be so fun! Far surpassed my expectations! I highly recommend partaking in Queens day if you ever get a chance.

Boat parties all over the Jordaan

Friends!

Live concert out of a canal side window

hangin on the houseboat

ORANGE

Spring Westerpark Amsterdam

Loving the weather, loving Amsterdam.

The Dam Biker #4 Granny on a Not So Granny Bike

Reflections of Amsterdam

Amstersam specializes in beautiful photographs of reflections in Amsterdam. Many of the photographs are taken of puddles with people, buildings, and bicycles in the reflection. This is such an interesting way to incorporate all of the water in this city.  Even though I’m constantly splashing my legs with water on my bike,  I’ve never really thought of Amsterdam as a city of puddles until I came across this.  Check out his flickr profile for more Amsterdam reflections.

The Dam Biker #2 Biker Family

Also took this photograph a while back. A picturesque family taking a bike ride through Vondel Park look the little flag on the little boy’s tricycle .

Going Home

I’m taking a little break from this overgrown village and going back home for tacos and swimming! I will continue to post about the Dam via Texas and New York. See ya when the tulips are in full bloom!

Lomography @ FOAM

If you are reading this with no plans for this evening, go check out the LOMOGRAPHY FoamLab happening right now! Unfortunately the website is all in Dutch, but the basics are:

Friday, March 5 (TODAY)

from 20:00 to 00:00 at Foam

entrance is 5 euro.

There will be a screening of “The Lomo camera: Shoot from the hip” by Alex Graham, a Lomography playground (sounds fun) and some slideshows.  Also, make sure to check out ‘Kako da ne’ spinning some hysterical balkan beats in the Foam Cafe.