I Truly Never Expected This...

About 18 months ago when I had the crazy notion of moving halfway across the world to pursue my dreams of building an online business while seeing the world, I had considered a plethora of places to move to but Germany had not once crossed my mind.

The only reason Germany even came into the picture was due to my Aunt Anne and Uncle Ken who regularly had come to my shows at local breweries. They reminded me that my wonderful cousin, Mandy was stationed in Germany and flying for the Air Force. I promptly reached out to Mandy to see what her situation was and she graciously told me she had room for me.

I would like to say I pride myself in having a wide perspective of the world and I do my best to not let shortsightedness get the better of me. That being said, I hadn't thought much of Germany at all and wasn't sure what to expect. 

Now having spent nearly three months in the country, I found that leaving has been one of the hardest things I've ever done. I know it is nowhere near the end of my journey, but the love I found while being in a small yet powerful part of this world will never leave me.

Those of you who know me know that I don't believe in a God in a religious sense but I know there is something bigger than us out there. I know this because I've experienced the beauty of the universe time and time again in various stages of my life.

When I was in Germany, I could sense the overwhelming feeling that the universe was on my side almost daily. I believe this also has to do with my inclusion of a daily meditation of 20 minutes to help be more mindful of everything I am doing and perceiving. Either way, the culmination of many different habits I have included in my life have truly lead me down a path to becoming my best self and although there is much work to still be done, I know in my heart that there are great things in store for me ahead.

Final Weeks in Deutschland

My last couple weeks in Germany were very rewarding. I visited a few different Christmas Markets around the country, spent some amazing time with the best of company and truly believe that I have discovered an incredible amount about myself and who I am in this new stage of my life.

The Christmas Markets are truly magical as it is not just about the holiday itself, but a sense of coming together as a community. It's a melting pot of sweets, food, gifts and of course hot Glühwein (mulled wine) to keep you warm as you walk around and experience the atmosphere.

Although it didn't snow while I was in Germany, the childhood memories of Christmas came flooding in like a tidal wave and I couldn't help but feel merry. You feel so included in the festivities and there are no pretenses about how one can celebrate their holidays. Although it is a Christmas market, all are welcome and there is plenty of food and wine to share.

I indulged in some of my favorite foods I had learned about including the dampfnodl with weinsoße which is a pan-fried and steamed bun served with white wine sauce that I had tried before. I also tried a hearty and delicious version of a German potato pancake called a “kartoffelpuffer“ that was dipped in apple sauce. It was absolutely amazing and put a pep in your step as you walked through the cold.

The different types of glühwein were also quite interesting. You could have your standard red mulled wine, but they also had white mulled wine and you could mix either variation with a variety of spirits to make your own holiday concoction. Apple cider was also being served in a few different ways of which my favorite was with whiskey and spices.

I also had the pleasure of eating some great brats and frikadellen that were roasted on a wire cage over an open fire. The quality of everything was superb and the prices are just too good. The drinks seem expensive up front but that's because you need to put a deposit on the glass that they serve your drink in. If you wish to keep the glass, you forfeit your deposit and you've got yourself a little souvenir to take home.

Heidelberg

I had visited the Christmas Market in the bigger, local city of Kaiserslautern but I was also fortunate enough to take a day trip to Heidelberg to see their Christmas Market along with a castle the city is very famous for.

The Christmas Market in Heidelberg had even more food and wine to offer and it was separated into several different pockets of activity. You could experience one section and then walk down the street about 200 feet or so and be at a completely new section with different food, goods and sights. Like I mentioned before, there was truly something magical about the setting.

After seeing the Market, I made the hike to get to the castle which was erected around the year 1214. It was known for having the biggest wine barrel in the world at the time (it still is) and the ruins are beautiful.

You can see the castle from the city below and it looks quite eerie especially at night. Once you get to the castle itself, you get a stunning view of the city below and I managed to catch it at sunset which was even more breathtaking.

The history of the castle is fascinating and it was well-made and well-maintained. Seeing history in the flesh is always something that makes me become more aware that life was well underway before the United States of America even became a sovereign nation. It reminds me that America is such a young nation and we have much to learn moving forward. I hope that we as a nation manage to stay humble and be mindful of the fact that countries and even empires have risen and fallen before we were even on the map. Hopefully we can learn from their experience.

Neighborhood Bonfire

My good friend Frank had told me the second or third time we met that he loved having bonfires during the wintertime. It's a great reason to have people over, drink some beers and enjoy a dry, cold winter night. He specifically planned one for a day that I would be free before leaving and I was very grateful that he would do so on my account.

In Germany, I discovered a love for a basic pilsener beer. I hadn't previously given them much thought as I hadn't learned to appreciate the flavor. In Germany, the main beers to be had are pilseners and weizen (wheat) beer. They are both solid choices and very drinkable at any time. I will be exploring more "pils" when I return to the states to see if I can find something comparable.

I had been telling Frank and Melanie about different styles of beer that we enjoy in America including my father's favorite, IPA. Frank was intrigued as he was a pils man himself so I told him I would buy some and bring them to the bonfire.

When I got to the bonfire, I was met by many familiar faces including that of Melanie and many other regulars from my local neighborhood bar, Sascha's. The host, Frank's cousin had anything and everything one would need including cold beer, hot glühwein, snacks and a raging fire. It turns out that it's illegal to have a fire in Steinwenden, but they said their neighbors are all cool (and are mostly comprised of their own family members) so they weren't worried about anyone calling the police.

We were all chatting and having a great time when I pulled out several bottles of IPA to share with the crowd. Frank wanted to be the first so I popped a bottle and handed it to him. He took a big swig and this was his reaction:

Needless to say, Frank was NOT a fan of IPAs and couldn't stop talking about how terrible it was. The bottle was passed around and nearly everyone had the same reaction. There was one person who quite enjoyed it so I gave her another bottle or two and told her that she was welcome to them. I reminisced about the first time I tried an IPA and to be honest, I didn't care for it either. It definitely takes a bit of an adjustment to the palate but I think the reaction from Frank and Co was about as good as could be expected.

Landstuhl Castle

One thing that had been on my list that I never got around to doing was going to the nearby town of Landstuhl (where I played my gigs) and visiting their castle. It's a bit more modest than the castle of Heidelberg but they have a restaurant next to it where you can enjoy some delicious homemade local food while getting a great view of the city below.

I had looked up the menu before and knew that I wanted to try a sampler platter of different meats with sauerkraut. There were three types of meats included: Bratwurst, liver dumpling and saumagen of which I was most interested in trying the liver dumpling.

I wanted to order the sampler platter because I wasn't sure if I would like the liver dumpling but it ended up taking the cake! It was quite rich in flavor and when combined with mustard and some sauerkraut, it opened up into a myriad of flavors that were sensational. Washing it down with a dark wheat beer was the cherry on top.

The saumagen was a mix of pork and onions fried in a patty and was also stellar. The bratwurst. although quite standard, was no less delicious than the others. Considering I had hiked up to the castle, I consumed it all with gusto and made the trek back to the train station with a full belly and a happy feeling that I wasn't wasting my last days in Germany.

Final Days

I got quite a bit accomplished my last few days in town. I grabbed lunch with Mandy's neighbor, Michael who has been an amazing friend and local guide. We continued our previous conversations about geopolitics and he told me that he really enjoyed the way that I am always willing to meet and talk to anyone. He said it's a trait that more people in this world need and I felt very honored that he held me in such high regard.

In fact, not to stroke my ego too much, but I've been told by many people on this trip that I always bring charisma, happiness and love to those around me. I've never thought of myself as being “special” in this regard, I just do my best to be myself and to be genuine. I guess it's working because I've made friends and connections that will stay ever-present with me for the rest of my days and I am so, so grateful for them to allow me into their life.

You never know who you're going to meet, when, and under what circumstances. Never take that for granted because you might surprise yourself and have someone enter your life who changes it forever. I had such an experience in Germany and it will always be a part of my life no matter what happens moving forward... but that's a story for another day.

My last day in town I made plans with Frank, Melanie and Co to meet at Sascha's for a last hurrah of sorts. We had some beers, I stuffed my face with döner for good measure and we played several rounds of the dice game “16 or Dead.” 

As closing time came around, I found myself teary-eyed and in denial that it was coming to an end. I shook hands with some, gave hugs to most and Melanie and I embraced for at least 3 minutes without letting go. 

 I later contemplated how I could be so sad to be leaving people I had spent so little time with.

A realization I've had over the past decade is that if you want to make meaningful relationships, you have to put yourself out there. Whether it's with friends, family or a partner, I always put my heart on the line 100% knowing that sure, it could get the absolute crap beaten out of it and I'll be hurt, but I can recover. But when you put your all into a relationship and open yourself up to the possibilities, imagine how full your heart can be. When you really put yourself out there for the world to see, you have the opportunity to experience happiness like you've never felt before.

That's why I know it's OK for me to be sad that I'm leaving people I've only know for a short amount of time. That's why I know it's OK for me to consider Germany a home I can always return to. That's why I know that this is not the end of the journey, merely an exploration of a path not yet forged.

I never truly expected to fall in love with Germany but here I am, headed home with a head full of memories and relationships that will forever help define who I am.

My Last Sunrise in Germany

I wish you and yours the happiest of holidays and challenge you to work on becoming a better version of yourself in 2020. I know I will be working on my self day in and day out. Here's to change and leading your best life.

Cheers,

Tony G

P.S. I will be taking a break from my blogging activities until January 2020 when I will be exploring Thailand and Vietnam with my good friend Scott. Until then, be well and keep an open heart.

I can't Believe This!

Ladies and gentlemen,

I can't believe that my time in Germany is coming to an end in less than two weeks!  It makes me quite sad already to know that my time has come and gone but I don't regret a single second of it.  I have given this place my all and I have unexpectedly fallen in love with Germany.  Not only is it full of wonderful sights but the people are great and the sense of community is heart warming.

It's been awhile since I've posted so in this blog, we're going to cover my last trip to Dublin as well as some local adventures I have been undertaking.  Here are the headlines:

• Pubbin in Dublin
• Exploring Ramstein Air Force Base
• Local German Festival
• A Visit from a Good Friend
• Thanksgiving in Luxembourg

Pubbin in Dublin

My buddy Tommy and I go back to our time in China.  He's a really, really nice guy and has remained a great friend over the years.  

As soon as I arrived, he picked me up and we went out for a quick pint of my favorite beer ever, Guinness (in Ireland).  I know I've mentioned this a million time before, but the Guinness in Ireland is just unrivaled by any other beer I've ever had and it's COMPLETELY different than anywhere else.

After a pint or two, we were watching some horse races on the TV in the bar and he showed me how to bet on them.  We would look up the odds, talk about which horses we were feeling and then I would run across the street to the sports book and place the bet.  We kept the stakes really low but it was fun to make the bet right before the race and then come back and watch the race on the TV.

Needless to say, we weren't very successful but it's the experience that counts!  We headed back to his place afterward so I could meet his girlfriend and see his roommates that I had met last year while visiting.  We made some food and then one of his roommates and I passed a guitar back and forth and sang some songs for everyone.  As they say in Ireland, it was a "craic" which means it was a blast!

Over the next few days I mostly just wandered around on my own and enjoyed the city.  I have been to Dublin a few times now so I've already done all the touristy things.  This trip, I just wanted a relaxing few days and that was exactly what I got.  Tommy had to work a few of the days I was in town so I would look up what kind of food I was feeling, walk to a spot that I had found and took it easy.

I must say that beyond the food and beer, the Irish people themselves are very lovely.  Everyone is very nice and their accent is comforting.  I would strongly urge everyone to go visit at least once and see the magic of the Emerald Isle.

A Visit to Ramstein Air Force Base

Ever since moving here to Germany, I've been staying with my wonderful cousin, Mandy.  She is a badass pilot of the C-130J Hercules and let me tell you, these planes are awesome!

I was ecstatic when Mandy told me she was going to take me on a tour of the air base and it really blew my mind!

I initially thought that it was a smaller air base with a few hangers and some planes but it turns out, it's almost as big as the main town (population 100,000) that is nearby!  It not only has countless military buildings, but it has housing for military personnel, clubs for the officers and enlisted, a mall where you can do everything from getting a haircut to seeing movies and so much more!

Mandy drove me around pointed out things as we passed.  They afford a lot of comfort to the military personnel stationed there to make it feel as close to home as possible.  They have restaurants such as Chilis, PF Changs, Subway and many others to give the sense of being home.  

I am the type of person to embrace a foreign culture in its entirety when I travel so at first I didn't really understand the appeal of having all of the American amenities available.  However, Mandy explained to me that there are many military personnel who have most likely never been out of the country before and it can be an overwhelming experience.

I had to reflect on this a little bit but it makes a lot of sense.  Some of the personnel that are enlisted are around 20 years old and it can be quite scary to be stationed in another country.  The Air Force base has all of the amenities it does to create a buffer between the different cultures.  It allows people to dip their toes into the local culture while being able to maintain their creature comforts at the same time.

Although I'm the kind of person to dive into anything head first without looking, I could completely empathize with this sentiment.  There have been times when I've been home sick and want nothing more than to be back with my friends and family in the states and I can see how a very American experience abroad can help relieve that anxiety.

Like I mentioned before, the sheer size of the base just blew me away and it was incredible to see Mandy's work up close.  It was a very interesting cultural experience and one that I'll never forget.

Local German Festival

Around this time of year several German festivals pop up.  There are several different types of festivals and I'm going to be honest and say I don't know what the reasons are, but I'll never pass up an opportunity to hang with the locals!

My local friends Frank and Melanie invited me to a local festival recently and it was held in a town that has a population of 400.  However, they get something like 10,000 visitors during the festival which is insane!  It was so cool because as we were walking around, Frank knew one out of every few people we passed.  It really says a lot about the local community because everyone who lives in a village knows people from other villages nearby.  

I really think this is something that we take for granted a lot in bigger cities.  It's common to not meet your neighbors, walk outside and avoid eye contact with strangers, and even ignore regulars that you see at your favorite restaurant or bar that you frequent.

Out here it's quite the opposite.  Every time I go for a walk, I say hi to everyone and everyone smiles and returns the greeting.  Every time I'm in the local bar and someone walks through the door, the crowd erupts in a very Cheers-like manner and greets them by name.  Even now, when I enter or leave, everyone says hello or goodbye to me.  It's a really good feeling to know that people actually care about their neighbors here.

Back to the festival, we got ourselves a beer and hung out near all of the food vendors.  I looked around at all of the names of the food and Frank and Melanie took great delight in the way I absolutely butchered the pronunciations.  My current favorite German word to say is "grumbeerwaffel" which means "potato waffle" but the word for potato is specific to this part of Germany.  It's a SUPER guttural sound at the beginning of the word and after a million tries I finally got it.  

I practiced a few more times and then went up and ordered one and it was delicious! It was savory and had bits of bacon and onion inside of it.  It really hit the spot.

I also saw people eating what looked like steamed buns and I was intrigued.  I asked Frank and he said they were "dampfnudel"  which is also a little savory yet sweet snack.  If you've been following this blog, you know I absolutely LOVE a mix of savory and sweet flavors.  This is what they look like.

It's a steamed piece of dough but they salt the bottom and pan fry it as well.  The best part is the "weinsoße" which is pronounced "vine sauza" kind of like the brand of tequila.  It's a semisweet sauce that is made with white wine and it was absolutely delicious.  After eating the grumbeerwaffel and a couple dampfnudel, I was stuffed!  We went into the main tent to warm up a bit and in typical German style, it was packed with people of all ages and the party was going down!

I really enjoy the fact that everyone comes out to celebrate together during festivals like these.  It really helps confirm the sense of community that I mentioned before and it hits me right in the feels.  

I think more of us need to show the same love we have for our family and friends to our neighbors and even to strangers.  The world would truly become a better place if we all made the effort.

Guess Who Came to Town?!

I've been doing a bit of traveling while I've been here but I was ecstatic to hear that my good friend Mannat was coming out to visit for Thanksgiving! I didn't have any Thanksgiving plans so it was nice to have a good friend to spend it with.

Mannat came to Germany to hang out and so naturally I had to introduce her to my experiences.  We started off by going into the bigger city, Kaiserslautern for some good German food and then I wanted to show her the town of Landstuhl where I play my gigs.

Oddly enough, right before we got to Landstuhl, the owners of the Irish Pub I've been playing reached out to see if I would play the following night and I hastily agreed! I actually met Mannat through playing music about 6-7 years ago and she's been not only a great friend, but a huge supporter of my music over the years.  I was very happy that I could play a gig while she was in town.

The next day before the show, Mannat and I each did some work so we could make sure to relax for the rest of the week.  I showed her around other local areas for a bit and then we headed down to Landstuhl for the gig.  It was a really fun night and although the crowd wasn't huge, it was a fantastic time! In comparison to Denver, the local bar scene here is fantastic as people really get into the music and sing along to almost every song.

After the gig was finished, we called it a night in anticipation of Thanksgiving the following day.

Thanksgiving in Luxembourg

Mannat had told me that Luxembourg was only about an hour and 45 minutes away by car and she always wanted to go.  I've never been before so we made a plan to go to a nice restaurant for lunch and have our own version of Thanksgiving.

The drive was beautiful and quite easy.  We listened to music and caught up as the sun was shining down on us.  When we got into Luxembourg, we were very interested in seeing what the main city was like.  It's a mix of old and new architecture and everyone there was dressed SUPER well.  We were dressed... "casually" I guess you would say and as we walked towards the restaurant we had picked out, we could see a waiter at the door give us a look of... "intrigue."

We walked in and they sat us at a great table with some windows and we proceeded to have our own Thanksgiving feast.  We got a glass of wine, oysters, salads and some amazing main entrees.  The food was to die for and we followed it up with dessert and a cheese platter.

We ended up staying there for 3 hours talking about anything and everything in between and I'm very grateful to have friends like Mannat.  It was only the second time in my life being away from home on Thanksgiving but I still think it was one of the best Thanksgivings I've had.  It's hard being away from friends and family during the holidays but there was a sense of comfort being across the world and still having a feeling of being home.

After lunch we drove through the city a little bit and then hit the road back home.  When we got into town it was around 5:30 and I figured that Frank and Melanie would already be at the bar.  Mannat has been reading my blogs so she wanted to meet them and learn how to play all the games they've been teaching me.

We played some of the same games and then Frank taught us a couple new ones that all involved dice.  It turns out they had a bunch of dice and even some cups so I taught them how to play my favorite game, "Shaizi" which I picked up in China.  Melanie wasn't a fan but Frank absolutely loved it! We played several rounds and then called it a night.

The next day we hit a Christmas Market which is very popular in Germany.  I am going to save the Christmas markets for my final blog next week but let's just say that they are quite the cultural experience.  

Early the next day, as Mannat prepared to leave for Berlin to visit family, I couldn't help but feel that it didn't seem like a weird experience to be hanging out with a good friend from back home in a foreign place.  It felt very natural and I think that just goes to show that maybe it's not the place you are in, it's the people you are with.

I was so happy that I could show Mannat what my life is like out here and I was so happy that she came to visit.

Final Thoughts

I still can't believe that I'll be stateside in less than two weeks but I know for a fact that I'll be coming back to this part of the world in the near future.  The amount of humanity I've found restores my faith in this world and its potential.  That being said, as I write this, there is a light dusting of snow coming down and it reminds me that Colorado is waiting with open arms.  

It makes me feel even better to know that wherever I am, I'll be home.

Cheers,

Tony G

Winter Time in Amsterdam!

Good day to you! I hope that you're week has been eventful and full of joy.

This last week I had the pleasure of hanging out with my good friends Folkert and Else in a city that has a rich cultural past and an alluring tourist scene as well. I'm talking about the beautiful city of Amsterdam.

In this week's blog, I will be telling you some stories about the following:

• Seeing my first ever European soccer match
• Blokarting on the beach (and getting a face full of sand)
• Eating pancakes for dinner
• Eating raw meat for a snack
• Eating ALL the seasonal treats all the time
• Eating, eating, eating

Ok, contrary to what you might think, this blog won't be ALL about food but it would be remiss of me if I left out the amazing local fare I had while I was visiting Amsterdam.

Good Friends Make the Difference

Before we get started, I want to tell you a quick story about my friends Folkert and Else who live in Amsterdam.  They are both Dutch natives and I first met Folkert over a decade ago while playing online video games.  He and I played the same game on the same server and got to know each other through the gaming community.  As luck would have it, my sister, Jen was studying abroad in the Netherlands so we went on a family vacation to Amsterdam and I got to meet Folkert in the flesh!

He showed my siblings and I around to some local bars so we wouldn't get caught in the tourist traps and it's where my famous line, "Zes la chouffe alsjeblieft" (six la chouffe please) came from that my siblings remember so fondly.  Anyway, we spent some time together that trip and it was a wonderful experience.

About 5 years later, I was fortunate enough to be able to go back to Amsterdam on my first European trip and Folkert and Else showed myself and my buddy Sean a wonderful time in the city!

Fast forward another 4 years and Folkert and Else embarked on a 3 week road trip through the states that ended in Denver.  I showed them the same hospitality they had shown me including taking them to a speakeasy (even though explaining why alcohol was banned to Europeans was quite silly) and showing them some of our local food and beer.

I told them about my upcoming European adventure and they told me I should come pop by Amsterdam again.  I gladly obliged and here is the result!

Testing the Local Hospitality Factor

When I first arrived, Folkert came to pick me up at the train station. I was armed with my trusty backpack and my guitar and ready to rock!... except I couldn't figure out how to get through the gates in the train station.

I had an electronic ticket so I tried to scan it on the machines that control the security gates but my phone would switch to Apple Pay each time I tried which was very frustrating. Luckily a local saw me, scanned his travel card and let me sneak through the gates when they opened for him. It was a bit silly but hey, I was just getting a feeling for the local hospitality and it didn't disappoint.

Speaking of local hospitality, as soon as I got back to Folkert and Else's apartment, Else was making pannenkoeken which is Dutch for “pancakes.” The dutch like making thinner pancakes than we're used to and in fact it's almost quite crepe-like. It's a bit thicker than a crepe and it's much larger but the best part is that you can really change up the flavor to satisfy your need for sweet or savory.

The batter by itself is relatively bland but it's the toppings or the ingredients you mix with them that really take them to the next level. We started off with a couple sweet ones and topped them with “Basterdsuiker” which literally translated to “Bastard Sugar.” I don't know why it's called that but you know me, I just go with the flow!

I topped my first pannenkoek with syrup, sugar and cinnamon and then Folkert showed me how to roll it up to make it a little easier to eat. Here is a picture of my pancake before and after rolling it.

When you roll it up, you can slice through it and get these nice full bites of deliciousness! It makes them quite easy to eat and before you know it, we were a few sweet pannenkoeken deep so it was time to switch it up to a more savory flavor.

Folkert took over the cooking duties and started frying up some bacon. Once the bacon was done, he poured in the batter into the frying pan. As the batter began to cook, the bacon effectively became part of the pancake and the batter had mixed with the grease of the bacon making it even more mouth-watering. To finish it off, he threw some cheese on top of the pannenkoek and then flipped it to get the cheese a little crispy.

The end result is a delicious pancake with bacon and cheese mixed in. The best part though was in order to satisfy my need for savory AND sweet, I poured syrup on top and tore into it. Talk about the best breakfast-dinner I've ever had! Folkert and Else had made a double batch of batter so they kept making them and I kept eating them until I was ready to burst.

After a few beers and some catching up, we decided to call it a night as we had a big day planned starting the following morning!

Rotterdam

The next morning I woke up to the wonderful aroma of coffee annnnnndddddd MORE PANNENKOEKEN! We didn't finish off the batter from the night before so Else started up the griddle and made several more. I stuck with the sweet ones for the morning to go along with the amazing coffee. Again, I'm begging you to try these if you ever get the chance. They are so good!

After lounging for a bit, we jumped in the car and Folkert started driving us to a city about an hour away called Rotterdam. Rotterdam has a different feeling than Amsterdam because it was bombed in World War II so the architecture is a lot more modern and has quite a few more skyscrapers. It's a beautiful city and we had plenty of time to explore it.

We walked around the city stopping in some cafes along the way for some beer and one of my favorite Dutch snacks, Bitterballen. They are essentially fried balls of a meat mixture with a crunchy breading on the outside. They are typically dipped in mustard and it's a perfect snack to have along with some local beer.  You can see them on the table in the picture below.

I learned that every bar has a standard “house beer” which is not made in house, but is a pilsner from one of the more famous brands around the Netherlands. For instance, many cafes or bars had Heineken on tap and when you go in and order a “little beer” they know to pour you a 25cl pour of Heineken. It was really fun to stop into different places to try all of the beers on tap. Other notable brands that were common (and delicious) were Hertog Jan, Grolsch, Jupiler and Amstel.

They are really easy drinking beers but it was really cool to try them all and compare the differences. I think my favorite overall was Grolsch but like I mentioned, they were all great.

After some food and beer to fuel us, we took a nice long walk around the city and passed some notable monuments such as the Swan Bridge, some art installments and a train rail that is no longer in service but still iconic. We continued walking awhile stopping here and there for coffee or beer and some snacks.

After walking quite some time, we grabbed a water taxi to take us back near where the train station was. It was a quick journey but a lot of fun to see the lights around the city as we trudged along the river. The following video is a bit dark but it's from inside the water taxi with a 360 degree view.

First European Football Match

Once we made it back to the train station, Else grabbed a train to head back to Amsterdam. The reason we had come down was not only to spend time in the city, but to also support Folkert's favorite soccer club that is based in Rotterdam. We grabbed a beer and headed for the stadium so I could experience my first ever European soccer match!

When we got to the stadium, there were plenty of food carts outside selling some delicious local treats and we decided to indulge in some fries. If you didn't know, the Dutch LOVE eating fries with mayonnaise. It's a bit different than a standard mayonnaise back home as it's a bit sweeter and not quite as thick. I really recommend that you try them because even though it sounds a little weird, it's really delectable.

Now because it was match day, Folkert explained that there is another way to order your fries. You can order your fries with “War Sauce” which consists of mayonnaise, peanut sauce and chopped onions. It was a no-brainer! I got a large order of fries with war sauce and got ready to dig in. Luckily for you I was able to control myself just long enough to grab a photo.

They were some of the best fries I've ever had and I devoured them with gusto. After I finished, I felt the fires of war building in my stomach (it was probably just indigestion) and I was ready for the match!

The club Folkert supports is called Feyenoord and they were playing a Swiss club called the “Young Boys.” Let's just say there were a lot of interesting things being said about the Swiss club due to their team name and leave it at that.

As we sat down in the seats to prepare for the match, I took in the scene. It seemed pretty much like an American football game setting with people grabbing drinks and food before finding their seats. However, there were a lot of “fight songs” being played for Feyenoord and many people were singing along. Here is a photo of Folkert and I sporting our Feyenoord gear.

One of the biggest differences I noticed between European soccer and American football is that beyond being connected by simply rooting for the same club or wearing the same jersey, you learn songs and chants that are club-specific. This provides for an electric atmosphere when the entire crowd is singing or chanting in unison. It's a feeling that's hard to explain but the energy that is flowing through the stadium at game time is other-worldly.

Here's a video of the hardcore fan section of the stadium.

As you can see, there are fireworks shooting off, flares being lit and a huge sign behind it all. This is all from the crowd! The fans bring in torches and fireworks to shoot off in honor of their team which is dedication! Of course, you're not allowed to bring in fireworks or flares but that doesn't stop a lot of people from finding a way. At the end of the video you hear Folkert say, "They're definitely getting a fine for that" which is apprently pretty typical.  You can also hear me say, “the game hasn't even started yet” which was crazy! The game hadn't even started but the crowd was ready to cheer on their club with everything they had.

Feyenoord played pretty well and got a penalty kick pretty early on in the first half. They scored to take the lead 1-0. The crowd went wild!! The hardcore fan section started a chant in Dutch saying something along the lines of, “Where are you from?!” And then the rest of the crowd responded with, “Don't you know?! We're from Rotterdam!” It was really awesome to see the interaction between the entire fan base for Feyenoord.

Later on in the game, Feyenoord had plenty of chances but just couldn't quite capitalize on them. With about 20 minutes to go their defense fell apart and the Young Boys took advantage of a great chance and scored to tie the game 1-1. The game ended in a draw which was disappointing but better than a loss!

Folkert and I made our way back to Amsterdam via train and his car and got in around 12:30 am as the game hadn't started until 9pm. We hit the hay and got ready for another great day in the Netherlands.

Enjoying Local Fare and the Company of Local Friends

When I woke up the next day, Folkert had to go to work but Else had the day off so we enjoyed some morning coffee with some delicious seasonal treats called “Kruidnoten.” They are very similar to a ginger snap and they have a delightful crunch and a rich flavor. They are pretty small and make for a great coffee companion.  It was a little too easy to eat handful after handful of them.

I had made plans with another local friend for lunch so Else walked me through the city as I made my way to the meeting point. We walked by a local outdoor market that is setup most days of the week and it's a great place to buy fresh produce and other fresh foods.

We found the spot where I was meeting my friend, and Else and I parted ways. I went into a “Food Hall” which is exactly like many marketplaces that are becoming popular in other metropolitan cities. It's a big food court with several different stalls to buy food from. They're generally local and serve artisanal food. Of course there's also a bar and a specialized beer bar in there too so you can enjoy a good craft brew with your food.

I was drinking a “little beer” at the bar when Cat and her husband Cameron showed up. I know Cat from our time in China many years ago and every time I get the chance, I always try to hang out with her and Cameron. They are good people! Here's a picture of Cat and I.

After grabbing some food and some beers and catching up for awhile, I started making my way back to Folkert and Else's and took in the local scenery along the walk. I was crossing a bridge and then bells starting going off signaling that a boat was approaching and they were going to raise the bridge. Although it's a standard everyday practice for the locals, I was in awe and so I took a video of the whole affair.

One thing I really love doing in new cities is going for walks and exploring the everyday life and culture. I think it's always fascinating to see how people lead their day-to-day lives because everyone's goal in life is to survive and if they can, thrive. 

There are a million different ways to make a life for yourself and I love seeing how others do it because I learn so much! Keeping an open mind and seeing new perspectives is always a great way to expand your horizons and make positive changes in your own life.

Once I got back, Else and Folkert were ready to head to a local brewery where they had reserved a spot for us to eat some snacks and drink some beers. It was a cool spot called “Troost” which means, “Comfort.” It was a really cool brewery that had some delightful brews. Here is a picture of the brewery along with a picture of Folkert and Else enjoying their first pour of the night.

I tried a few different styles including Bochs, honey blondes, pilsners and a wit. My overall favorite was the honey blond and they said that for every pint of it they sell, they donate some of the profits to help save bees around the world.  Because that was the case, I had two of them to show my support for the cause!

We took a nice walk through a local park on the way back to Folkert and Else's and needed to call it an early night because the next day we would be doing an activity that I never knew existed! It's called, “Blokarting.”

What the Heck is Blokarting?!

Blokarting is basically "wind sailing" and it is really fun!  Here is a video of what it looks like from afar.

You get into a cart with three wheels that has a sail, a rope to control the sail and a steering wheel.  The sail is your gas pedal as the tighter you pull on the rope, the more the sail catches in the wind and propels you forward.  The tricky part is to catch the wind just right around turns to make sure you have enough momentum to get back into the wind stream.  Here's a picture of the three of us just before we started.

Here are our "chariots:"

"Luckily" for us, it was quite windy (and a little rainy) which made for good blokart conditions.  We took off going around and around the course learning a little more every time we finished a lap.  An hour passed by really quickly and when we finished, we noticed that we had gotten just a little dirty.

We walked into a local bar and got some stares but the staff was used to seeing the same thing day in and day out.  We went into the bathroom to clean up a bit then ordered some hot drinks and food.  Unfortunately, Folkert missed a little sand in his beard so his sandwich got a little bit of an extra crunch at the end.

We headed back into town for some hot showers and a nap as we had a long night ahead of us.  Folkert headed off to a reunion and so Else and I hung out and she made one of my favorite local dishes, stamppot!

More Deliciousness

Stamppot is a dish that consists of a lot of boiled vegetables with a potato base and then you mash it all together and serve it with meat.  Else's homemade stamppot was delicious and she served it with sausage.  Here is a picture of the amazing yumminess.

Another very popular way to spice up the dish is to add nutmeg to it.  As I'm a leaf on the wind, I went with the flow and grabbed the shaker to pour it on.  It was the perfect dish after a day out in the cold and a perfect dish to absorb some beers! Else had bought some of her favorites at the grocery store so we could try them.  My favorite was a dunkelweiss (dark wheat) by a local brewery called Texels.

After filling our bellies, Else and I took off from their place as we both had different groups of friends to meet up with for some drinks.  Coincidentally, I had some American friends in town from Germany so I met up with them for a beer and then we headed off to meetup with Else's group at a 90s throwback party.  The DJs were playing some great tunes that everyone knew and it had a grungy and fun vibe.  We hung out for several hours and then trekked back to the apartment around 2am.

When we got back, Folkert had just gotten home as well so we chatted for a little bit and then crashed hard.  I had a few more things to check off my Amsterdam list and only one day left to finish them!  Did I do it?! Let's find out!

Final Day in Amsterdam

On my last day in Amsterdam, I was greeted with two specialties. #1 consisted of some botterkoek (butter cake) which is really easy to make but so amazing to eat and #2 was a visit from Sinterklaas!  

The recipe for botterkoek is easy: 1/2 pound of flour, 1/2 pound of sugar, 1/2 pound of butter and 1/2 an egg.  You mix it all together then put it in a cake tin and push it down.  Cook it at about 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes then let cool.  Needless to say, it's very dense but very comforting.  Here is a picture of it with some "pepernoten" which were like the "kruidnoten" except they were soft and chewy instead of crunchy.  They also had a nice strong anise flavor.

When I went to put my shoes on for a nice walk around town, I discovered I had gotten a visit from Sinterklaas! He's the Dutch Santa Claus and he brings treats to put in peoples' shoes instead of their stockings.  His holiday is actually December 6th but it looks like he came a little early for me this year which was nice of him (actually her haha).  I found these chocolate coins in my right boot (before I put it on) and I kind of felt like a little kid on Christmas day.  It was a really nice surprise from Else.

Since it was such a beautiful, sunny day, I wanted to head to the city center to visit a nice beer store to pick up an amazing beer called Westvleteren.  It's a delicious Trappist Belgian quadruple and it's one of the rarer Trappist beers.  A Trappist beer is brewed by monks and in this case, they only make enough to support their monastery and that's it until the next year.  It's also a huge pain in the ass to get a hold of some as they only open their one phone line for an hour here or there to take orders.  Lucky for me, the beer store I went to had plenty of them.

At around €15 each they aren't cheap but hey, when in Rome right?! I recently learned that my cousin Mandy absolutely loves Belgian quads so I made sure to get her a bottle as well! I'm looking forward to drinking them together.

Another thing on my list was to try some other house beers and so we went to a local haunt that Folkert used to go to all the time when he lived closer to the city center. Luckily they had a local beer I hadn't tried yet so I got the chance to finally try some Grolsch on tap.  While we were enjoying the beer, he suggested we try a common snack called "ossenworst" which is good quality ground beef that is served raw with pickled onions and mustard.

One bite and I was sold! The pop of the onion mixing with the nicely spiced meat and mustard was heavenly.  Washing it down with a nice gulp of delicious beer was the icing on the cake! I know you're probably thinking, "gross!" But you never know until you try :)

Folkert and I headed back to catch that day's Feyenoord game on TV but as we were walking back, we stopped for one last seasonal treat called "oliebollen." The literal translation is "oil balls" and I would say it's pretty accurate haha.  It's basically a big fried doughnut and you can get them plain or with raisins and apple inside.  Folkert and I wanted some fresh oliebollen with raisins and apples so the guy told us to come back in 45 minutes.

Oh no! What were we to do for 45 minutes! Wait... is that a sign over there? A sign for another house beer I haven't tried? Oh darn, looks like we'll have to kill some time in there hehe.

Folkert and I went into a local bar to drink some Jupiler on tap and had a great conversation about linguistics.  I ordered the next round in Dutch and my pronunciation was getting there.  It's a great language but involves a lot more guttural sounds than we're used to in English.  As always, I tried my best!

When the 45 minutes were up, we walked back to the oliebollen stand for some fresh doughnuts and ate them with relish.  It was a huge gut bomb as it's just eating a big fried piece of dough but I loved every second of it.

We got back to watch the Feyenoord game (they won 3-2 this time) then we headed out for one last nice meal together. 

Indonesian Food

The second time I visited Folkert and Else in Amsterdam 4 years ago was a great trip.  On the first night they treated myself and my friend Sean to an Indonesian meal so we could try some great food.  Indonesia was a Dutch colony which is why they have a lot of great spices and of course some great Indonesian food.

We decided to go back to the same restaurant and we all ordered the exact same that we got last time.  All three of us ordered the sampler platter at different spice levels.  Else went with mild, Folkert medium and as for myself, I went spicy all the way! It's a good thing I was raised eating food with my father because I have to say it was quite spicy but I made it through.  Even though I made it through no problem, I'm sweating as I write this just thinking about it!  It definitely wasn't anywhere close to the spicy wing challenge from last week's post though.

I devoured the whole platter along with some fried rice and then called it a night.  I had to leave in the morning and was ready to take it easy before a long travel day.

Just Like Arnold Said...

"I'll be back" to Amsterdam again for sure.  It's one of my favorite spots in Europe and it's always a pleasure spending time with Folkert and Else.  I would strongly recommend that you visit the city should you get a chance and see all of the amazing experiences Amsterdam has to offer.

I'll leave it there and I hope you've enjoyed reading about my trip to Amsterdam.  Next week is going to have some fun gems such as visiting the local air base, visiting Ireland and hitting a local German Festival.  I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Peace and love,

Tony G