Dispatches from Amsterdam
On the lam in Amsterdam, the voice of reason speaks. They keep telling me I can get a good cup of coffee here but I go into coffee shops and I notice two things; they smell funny and coffee is not a top priority. Where the hell is Starbucks when you need a mediocre cup of mud.
Work has been great. I've been impressing my comrades with some dynamic presentations on the twin topics of process globalization and European boondoggle maximization. All the while I've been staying in touch with HQ via a high speed internet connection at my hotel that I somehow figured out how to work. These 16 hour days are tough but I'm taking one for the team.
The accomodations at the Amsterdam Marriott are lovely. The only problem I've encountered so far is the fact that they only provide five pillows. To be comfortable, a guy like me needs at least seven. I did wake up one morning with chocolate all over my face and got concerned until I realized that this was simply a product of that perk of all perks: turndown service. I'm not sure how people got a good night's sleep until that was invented. I missed that lovely chocolate wafer the first night and managed to melt it by snoring on it all night. Things worked out anyway because Monday is my shower day.
I've been eating well and seeing the town. The chow at the company cafeteria is better than it is at HQ. And we've had some good evening meals as well. We went to a steakhouse the first night. The street it was on had about five steakhouses. It puzzled me as to why they were all named Rancho but I'm not one to question foreign cultures, as long as they give me a good steak. We went to an Irish pub the next night. I had some great fish and chips and a few pints of Guinness. Last night was a place with a good prix fixe menu close to the red light district. I went straight home after the meal, honest.
I took a long walk around the town when I got here. I asked a nice young man sitting in the plaza rolling a joint for some directions. Unfortunately he was unable to help me. So I wandered about. On the way back, I noticed a casino right across from the hotel. I need to go make a donation.
Work has been great. I've been impressing my comrades with some dynamic presentations on the twin topics of process globalization and European boondoggle maximization. All the while I've been staying in touch with HQ via a high speed internet connection at my hotel that I somehow figured out how to work. These 16 hour days are tough but I'm taking one for the team.
The accomodations at the Amsterdam Marriott are lovely. The only problem I've encountered so far is the fact that they only provide five pillows. To be comfortable, a guy like me needs at least seven. I did wake up one morning with chocolate all over my face and got concerned until I realized that this was simply a product of that perk of all perks: turndown service. I'm not sure how people got a good night's sleep until that was invented. I missed that lovely chocolate wafer the first night and managed to melt it by snoring on it all night. Things worked out anyway because Monday is my shower day.
I've been eating well and seeing the town. The chow at the company cafeteria is better than it is at HQ. And we've had some good evening meals as well. We went to a steakhouse the first night. The street it was on had about five steakhouses. It puzzled me as to why they were all named Rancho but I'm not one to question foreign cultures, as long as they give me a good steak. We went to an Irish pub the next night. I had some great fish and chips and a few pints of Guinness. Last night was a place with a good prix fixe menu close to the red light district. I went straight home after the meal, honest.
I took a long walk around the town when I got here. I asked a nice young man sitting in the plaza rolling a joint for some directions. Unfortunately he was unable to help me. So I wandered about. On the way back, I noticed a casino right across from the hotel. I need to go make a donation.
posted by DJ @ 10:18 AM
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