The last ride on my journey from Bremen to Groningen told me where I could find a hostel. I quickly found the place, which was an independent hostel (i.e. not a Hostelling International member). It was run by some very nice young people and was also very cheap. I had trouble getting money to pay for it though, but finally on my fourth attempt I found a bank machine which would accept my card. I had a bed in a large 20 bed dormitory where I met some Canadian guy working as a museum display co-ordinator or something. After checking in I went out for my first Dutch night life experience. The bars were quite full and the atmosphere was great. Each place was lit up on the outside with neon signs. I didn't stay out too long though as I quickly became bored having only myself as company. Here is a daytime shot of some bars in the main square. I was in the "Drie Gerusters Pub", although here the bars are all inter-connected. The next day I made a very brief visit of Groningen, buying some food in the market and looking at Dutch "Grachten" (canals) for the first time. I found Dutch people to be very friendly and for the most part good speakers of English as well (even though I knew it would sometimes work, I decided not to use my German). Here I am crossing one of the main canals (with my lunch on the ground in front of me). I made an interesting discovery when I started asking for advice on how to hitch-hike from Groningen to Amsterdam. The Dutch are not as adverse towards hitch-hiking as the Danes and Swedes; I found it was much easier to get rides in Holland. In fact, in Groningen there is even a designated stop where hitch-hikers are expected to stand (and where they can expect to get a ride). This "Liftplaats" even has its own road sign. I felt the Liftplaats must be there for a reason (i.e. I could get in trouble trying to get a ride somewhere else), so I made a sign for Amsterdam and began to wait. I had competition at the Liftplaats when I first got there, but he soon left. After about 20 minutes of waiting I was picked up by a van of five or six guys my age on their way to work as bartenders at a football (that's soccer) match in Arnhem. The match was a warm-up between Scotland and the Netherlands for the European Cup to which the Netherlands and Belgium were playing host. From Arnhem I found a ride to Amsterdam, and I was downtown early in the afternoon. Back to the Main Page - Zurück zur Hauptseite