Spent the last 16 hours on the train from Vienna to Amsterdam, heading out to enjoy the beautiful albeit a bit overcast day in Amsterdam.
Travel tip for ya - I took the CityNightLine hotel train, where you get a room kinda like a cruise ship, with your own shower and dining area too. Trains folks are the way to go... One day America will wake up to that reality, maybe at $10 a gallon. How those airfares doing these days btw?
Post some interesting housing stuff here (use tinyurl, keep it short), and I'll see what I missed and get back to it tomorrow. Any Amsterdam tips appreciated (keep it clean!)
26 comments:
Keith sez...
"Trains folks are the way to go... One day America will wake up to that reality,..."
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The reality is that many train routes have been ripped out, thanks to the "Rails to Trails" programs.
The train tracks are gone and they ain't coming back.
I hope the bozos who are responsible for this fiasco are enjoying their 30-mile one-way bike commute from their suburban McMansions to their downtown job in the pouring rain!
-Mammoth
LA Times:
"GM Closing 4 Truck and SUV Plants in North America"
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gm4-2008jun04,0,6352198.story
Keith - Are you working in Europe or did you just decide to take some time off?
Read "the 4 hour workweek"
it's possible in today's knowledge-based economy to work and live where you want, thanks to wireless phones, wifi internet, skype and a global opportunities
people used to live and work in their city or village only. then they started doing business state-wide. Then nation-wide. And now, it's world-wide
And if you're not thinking globally, you should be. Because in many cases, someone in China or India is thinking about taking your job, for a fraction of what you make.
Get ahead of the curve
I'll be in Amsterdam this weekend too. And then working in N. Netherlands next week.
If only we had "HousingPANIC" T-shirts.
Hey! There's an idea. Keith, put a link for HP gear on the blog.
"We believe Congress should jump-start demand for new homes with an initiative that will bring buyers off the sidelines and into the market, and thereby stop the downward spiral of home prices," said Robert I. Toll, chairman and chief executive, in a statement. "Once home prices stabilize, Congress could then more successfully address mortgage issues; however, without stabilization of home prices, trying to address mortgage issues may be difficult at best."
http://tinyurl.com/5uvmyb
F#ck you very much Bob Toll, we'll get along just fine without you and the rest of the homebuilder scum...
And if you're not thinking globally, you should be. Because in many cases, someone in China or India is thinking about taking your job, for a fraction of what you make.
Get ahead of the curve
I don't think American workers have to worry about being priced out of the market by third world nations any more. America is on the fast track to becoming the new third world nation.
I was just reading about the GM plant closings from one of the local newspapers in a town affected when I cam across this comment.
http://tinyurl.com/4zzalt
Hmmmm.... I wonder if they're a HP subscriber?
One day America will wake up to that reality, maybe at $10 a gallon.
Stay out of the muslim area of Amsterdam, you infidel dog. One day Europe will wake up to the reality that they are 3rd class citizens in their own country...
go to Vondelpark
go to Museumplein
get out of the city centre, it is nothing but touristy crap.
Rent a bike. Try not to get one from Mike/Mac's bikes (they stick out as touristy)
ride your bike around the canals and just stop every now and then for a coffee.
Keith,
Eat some pankoeken (Pancakes). There's plenty of great bakery's there.
Also, the best french fries (Fritjes) in the world are for sale just down the train station on the Damrak (right side).
"And if you're not thinking globally, you should be. Because in many cases, someone in China or India is thinking about taking your job, for a fraction of what you make.
Get ahead of the curve"
Ahead of the curve, indeed. It's not India anymore, it's The Philippines...but I'm sure that was just a test on your part.
it's possible in today's knowledge-based economy to work and live where you want, thanks to wireless phones, wifi internet, skype and a global opportunities
I make stuff. It's getting expensive to ship it.
The pancakes and crepes are sooo good in Amsterdam. Walk along the canels. Rent a bike. It's a great city.
The one negative I noticed when I was last there was the Dutch are very attractive, but many have black teeth from smoking heavy tobacco. Just sayin.
Ive taken a few of those overnight train trips myself, you have GOT to lock your doors. People wait until others go to sleep and go through your luggage.
Keith,
Just chiming in to say that I agree with you on train travel. When I visit the Northeast U.S., where we actually have a decent rail system, I love taking the train between cities. Europe is pure heaven for trains.
We have limited passenger train availability here in Texas, but it takes 6 hours to ride from Austin to Dallas due to all the small town stops it makes, whereas you can drive the same distance in 3 hours. Therefore, to travel between cities for a business meeting, rail is not a viable option. Metroplex-wide commuter rail in the south is simply a joke.
Any tips for Amsterdam? Here is one: Do what ever the heck you want, as almost nothing is illegal in that country!
The one negative I noticed when I was last there was the Dutch are very attractive, but many have black teeth from smoking heavy tobacco. Just sayin.
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good think i don't have taste or sense of smell on my .....
Keith - I'm with you on the trains.
I've spent a lot of time travelling on Europe's rail system - it ROCKS!
OK, so Amsterdam-Paris-Madrid-Santander takes about 40 hours.... but with couchette, a good book and a window seat, what more could you want?
Wish the US would revamp its passenger railways. Wasn't the West Won by railroad?
Piet de Leeuw if any of you are ever in the area
Excellent
oh heck, is that one hit wonder, sasha cohen, still running around acting silly and getting paid for it? good grief...
Anonymous Anonymous said...
The one negative I noticed when I was last there was the Dutch are very attractive, but many have black teeth from smoking heavy tobacco. Just sayin.<<<
which is worse? black teeth or hairy legs?
Anonymous Donald said...
Any tips for Amsterdam? Here is one: Do what ever the heck you want, as almost nothing is illegal in that country!
June 03, 2008 7:10 PM<<<
what do you mean? can we snort blow and smoke fatties over there without being hassled by the cops? did you hear that new jersey denizens?
Keith,
Amsterdam? Yeah enjoy "drinking" those "beers".
I was just there last month and I smoked.....I mean, "drank beers" and had mushroom pizzas,light in the pizza.
Stop by the Bulldog and tell em I said hi! As mentioned Vondelpark is a must!
Amsterdam...
Rent a bike first thing.
Get the Time Out guide to see what's going on.
Go to the Van Gogh museum early in the day - it gets packed.
Go to the Stedelijk modern art museum next to the Van Gogh - much more interesting than the Van Gogh if art is your thing.
Spend very little time in the Rijkmuseum -check out the Night Watch if you must, but the rest is boring.
Check out the big central park near the Leidseplein on a nice day.
Eat some Indonesian food - it's their equivalent to Chinese food (it's a holdover from their imperialism).
Bring an umbrella, it will probably rain at some point.
Check out the Melkweg (Milky Way) and Paradiso clubs near the Leidseplein for fun things to do at night.
Global Chillage is one of the better local, cough, cough, "coffee shops" if that is your thing.
Take in all the cool design elements of the city.
Try some of the chocolates at the local street market behind the Heineken museum.
Enjoy.
Robert Precter (not sure of spelling...the Elliot Wave gloom and doom guy) wrote a few years ago that America would have tons more railroad capacity and canals if the feds hadn't started the massive amount of highway building to subsidize the auto and oil industries back in the 1950s. You get what you pay for, and our government started paying big time to build just what the auto and oil industries needed.
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