Rotterdam
Rotterdam – Ballarat, Drug dealers and more canals...
Having managed to extricate ourselves from Amsterdam having only lost two of party we were happy to come to Rotterdam the Ballarat of The Nederlands. An auspicious title but a well deserved one.
Here to visit Kir we looked at what Alex described as the worst hostel she has ever seen and she has just come from Turkey... With no redeeming features bar the (insert quote marks that i can find on these ridiculous german keyboards) Gorgeous Russian boy (see previous brackets) we decided on sleeping on the streets because at least there we didnt have to climb four flights of stairs to sleep in garbage. Not to fear we found a clean and reasonably priced one not far away.
Rotterdam, spacious, clean and with some of the friendliest and inept drug dealers on the planet. On the first evening met three of these nice gentleman:
1) English?
Yes I speak English I replied.
You follow Arsenal? he ventures,
No.
Liverpool?
No.
Man U?
Look I am going to make this easy I follow North Melbourne.
(Confused Look) Ahhhhhhh You want Hash?
No Thanks.
You want Marijuana?
No Thank you.
Ohhhhh ahhhhh Can I have 1 Euro?
From high and mighty business man to common street begger in the blink of an eye. I felt so sorry for him that I had to walk away quickly as not to laugh in his face (That would have been rude).
2) The second guy was a young guy named Malik. A very nice young man very curious about Australia and after a long discussion he put to me that he was a businessman with many interests and he was interested to know if maybe he could help me out? I got his drift and politely declined explaining that we were just here to relax and enjoy the sights.He then asked if when I was going back to Australia that maybe I would like to take something with me Big or Small he could arrange it. I assured him that drug running wasnt my chosen profession but if I changed my mind I would come back to see him. He then wished me a pleasant stay in Rotterdam. What a guy!
3) The last guy was a bit sneakier, while taking photos of the canal at night, I was walking along looking at my camera when walked over this uplight that was lighting up a tree (go figure) and became dazzled. Staggering along with large spots in my vision I was joined by a rather insalubriuos character. Perhaps it is the high amount of care I put into my personal grooming that explains why I attract such people? Regardless, this bloke starts talking to me in Dutch, I explained that I didnt speak Dutch, so he cut to the chase. Columbian very good 50 Euros one gram. No thanks I say, OK 40 Euros, no really I am not interested, OK OK 20 Euros please, No, Alright 15, NO, Ok Ok please for you only 10 please, Nah Nah really I am not interested (I am starting to laugh a little at the desperation in his voice, probably not a good idea but what can you do?) Alright alright 8 Euro`s for you please. It was at this point that Alex noticed that I was again in discussion with some one I shouldn´t be and called me over. Man I should start a career in purchasing I reckon.
We met Kir and her boyfriend Jay and had a relaxing couple of days doing SFA. We all then said goodbye to one another, Nick and Rex headed to Brussels, I was off to Hamburg and Alex was staying on an extra day in Rotterdam.
Thanks for the hospitality and free internet Kir and Jay,
See you in a month or so!!
Having managed to extricate ourselves from Amsterdam having only lost two of party we were happy to come to Rotterdam the Ballarat of The Nederlands. An auspicious title but a well deserved one.
Here to visit Kir we looked at what Alex described as the worst hostel she has ever seen and she has just come from Turkey... With no redeeming features bar the (insert quote marks that i can find on these ridiculous german keyboards) Gorgeous Russian boy (see previous brackets) we decided on sleeping on the streets because at least there we didnt have to climb four flights of stairs to sleep in garbage. Not to fear we found a clean and reasonably priced one not far away.
Rotterdam, spacious, clean and with some of the friendliest and inept drug dealers on the planet. On the first evening met three of these nice gentleman:
1) English?
Yes I speak English I replied.
You follow Arsenal? he ventures,
No.
Liverpool?
No.
Man U?
Look I am going to make this easy I follow North Melbourne.
(Confused Look) Ahhhhhhh You want Hash?
No Thanks.
You want Marijuana?
No Thank you.
Ohhhhh ahhhhh Can I have 1 Euro?
From high and mighty business man to common street begger in the blink of an eye. I felt so sorry for him that I had to walk away quickly as not to laugh in his face (That would have been rude).
2) The second guy was a young guy named Malik. A very nice young man very curious about Australia and after a long discussion he put to me that he was a businessman with many interests and he was interested to know if maybe he could help me out? I got his drift and politely declined explaining that we were just here to relax and enjoy the sights.He then asked if when I was going back to Australia that maybe I would like to take something with me Big or Small he could arrange it. I assured him that drug running wasnt my chosen profession but if I changed my mind I would come back to see him. He then wished me a pleasant stay in Rotterdam. What a guy!
3) The last guy was a bit sneakier, while taking photos of the canal at night, I was walking along looking at my camera when walked over this uplight that was lighting up a tree (go figure) and became dazzled. Staggering along with large spots in my vision I was joined by a rather insalubriuos character. Perhaps it is the high amount of care I put into my personal grooming that explains why I attract such people? Regardless, this bloke starts talking to me in Dutch, I explained that I didnt speak Dutch, so he cut to the chase. Columbian very good 50 Euros one gram. No thanks I say, OK 40 Euros, no really I am not interested, OK OK 20 Euros please, No, Alright 15, NO, Ok Ok please for you only 10 please, Nah Nah really I am not interested (I am starting to laugh a little at the desperation in his voice, probably not a good idea but what can you do?) Alright alright 8 Euro`s for you please. It was at this point that Alex noticed that I was again in discussion with some one I shouldn´t be and called me over. Man I should start a career in purchasing I reckon.
We met Kir and her boyfriend Jay and had a relaxing couple of days doing SFA. We all then said goodbye to one another, Nick and Rex headed to Brussels, I was off to Hamburg and Alex was staying on an extra day in Rotterdam.
Thanks for the hospitality and free internet Kir and Jay,
See you in a month or so!!
posted by Samuel L Jazz at 6:55 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home