Sav: we woke up this morning, ready to get going to Amsterdam, but our train wasn’t till the afternoon. Instead we leisurely explored more antique shops and got some great breakfast bagels at a popular little pink restaurant called ‘Gingerbread Tea House.’ We stopped by Oliviers to get some sweets for the train, knowing SADLY that we weren’t going to experience Belgian chocolate again.

Backpacks on and chocolate in hand we set off for the last major train ride of the trip. Surreal that that’s already happening. The last big train ride… We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into.

It wasn’t one single train ride. No. We instead got kicked off the first train at a random stop because there was construction. Next train coming says it’s going to Amsterdam. Perfect! We hop on and then one more stop later are told to get off because this is the terminus. AGAIN we hop on a train that says it’s going to Amsterdam.

There was this one point where I hopped off the train and the door closed between Meaghan and I. Picture this: We’re both frantically pressing the button to open the door, sort of whining and looking confused and scared. The train is leaving and Meaghan is inside. I am outside. She is inside. I am outside. PROCESS THIS INFORMATION AND DO SOMETHING WOMAN. Oh my god oh my god. I gesture wildly for the other door and tell her to run. She turns away from me and sprints (as fast as one can sprint with a giant backpack) all the way down the train cart to the next door and she hops off. Phiew! 25 second crisis averted.

SIX TRAINS, one bus and one very helpful man later, we finally made it to Amsterdam, four hours later than planned. The funny thing is, except for the almost losing each other thing, we laughed the entire time and it turned into a hilarious night.

M: For the record, we aren’t (complete) idiots. This whole construction and transfer thing was not explained to us in English until about train five, just after the near-separation incident.

We met up with Shivani (a few hours later than planned, mind you) and grabbed some food. We met Shivani during Budapest round two and she happened to be in Amsterdam at the same time as us! Wok inhaled and stories exchanged, we decided to walk around the city a bit as we hadn’t had the chance yet, Amsterdam is very beautiful, packed full of bikes, Christmas lights and canals. We had some very good laughs over our last night together in Budapest while walking up and down the streets, and up and over the bridges.

A first-night walk around Amsterdam had to naturally involve a stroll through the red light district. We steeled ourselves and dove in, not knowing what to expect or how we would feel. Safe to say one thing, it was quite a sight.

S&M