Well it's finally here... 2007. Is it everything you expected it to be?

I managed to run off to Berlin for new years.. which is in fact from where I type this. (my favorite cheap flights are with Transavia, by the way. 55 euros round trip, pretty good!)

But tomorrow morning I return to Amsterdam, to face all the wonders and challenges of my favorite city in a new year.

Here on the blog I shall write about these experiences, along with some wonderful other trippists.. like Janelle, and Michael.. whenever he's done recovering from final papers and new years celebrations. There will also be new trippists of course, new American arrives in Amsterdam ready for a new semester, a semester abroad.

So stay tuned. It often takes students at least a week to recover from new years. Thats a mighty powerful hang over.. but this is no ordinary town. Happy New Year trippest readers... now begins the new adventure.

Attention, returning students! This year, as possibly every year, the NS has raised train prices. Again. Possibly to justify this increase, they have also changed all the train times, so whatever sense you had made of train travel in the Netherlands will now have been thrown into oblivion.

OK, it's not that bad, but don't be surprised at all the changes that will present themselves when you head into the Centraal Station.

One thing remains constant, however: The gobs of construction. Happy travels!

Just came back from a two week family visit in Holland. A home visit for me always includes a trip to the local supermarket Albert Heijn as I try to eat things I haven't tasted in a while; which brings me to the following: what have I missed most? Well, my top 3 is pretty steady:
1) cheese (any kind)
2) fries with dutch mayonaisse accompanied by a kroket or frikandel
3) dairy products (especially vla)

But as I visited during the holidays season I enjoyed another Dutch "snack" I hadn't eaten in a long time: the oliebol. Around the holidays oliebollen can be found in pretty much every Dutch home and can be bought at specially "decorated" stalls on markets and in city centers.

Ah well, it's probably better for my diet that my home visit has come to an end..never been good at restrictions..but for all of you out there: enjoy while you can!

I've returned to the Netherlands countless times, but almost always by plane or by train. For the first time I've realized that the insulated life perpetuated by car travel in the U.S. - well, it holds for this side of the world, too.

I saw the "Nederland" sign zip by on the dark highway, and that was my only indication that a border had been crossed. No unsmiling passport control officers greeted me; no hoards of Dutch tourists fought with me during luggage retrieval. In fact, I didn't even hear Dutch spoken until somewhere in the next few days.

When the sun rose again, and I found myself on the street, I was caught off guard by the red, sloppy remnants of firework celebrations. I blinked in surprise and realized that I had completely forgotten about what time of the year it is. This never would have happened if I had struggled with my luggage through the Central Station and into the heart of Amsterdam.

Car travel has its luxuries, but it certainly doesn't help with re-acclimation. It even took me some time before I was able to gaze at the beauty of the canals, spectacular even in the dead of winter. If you're new to the Dutch way of life, I'd heartily recommend mixing up your travel options, in order to compare.

This weekend, I took a trip to IKEA. I've probably visited the Amsterdam branch of this global chain at least 20 times, so I've learned several important lessons about improving the success of your visit. Pay attention, unless you crave frustration.

First, never go to IKEA on the weekend, unless you plan to get there within minutes of the store opening. Really. If you sleep in, just wait until next week. It's not worth it. I did it correctly this time, and was walking the aisles by 10:15 am, with only several hundred - as opposed to several thousand - other shoppers. It's much more peaceful this way.

Second, don't expect the website to match what is available in the store. And if (when) you find a discrepancy, please refrain from pointing it out to the IKEA employees. They will just stare at you blankly.

Third, as in many large organizations, if you're not happy with the first answer to your question about location/pricing/color availability, just go to the next uniform. Be persistent. I'm sure, with time, you will find the correct answer.

Four, prepare yourself with some deep breathing, a nice bottle of wine, an anger management seminar - whatever works best for you after you've made the journey, dragged your purchase home, fully assembled it, and then realized that there's one crucial screw missing. And IKEA doesn't have a replacement. This step is very important.

Five, even though it's tempting to visit more often, be sure to spread out your trips. A few times a year is more than enough. Going too often is not recommended for one's health (see "four").

My most favorite Austrian girl called and asked to get together. Hadn't seen her since before all the holiday hoopla, so I immediately asked "dinner?". To which she responded "Zaal 301?"

301. Overtoom 301. Also known as the former Film Academy; a squat, of course. Interestingly the squatters raised enough money to actually buy the building themselves.

I've travelled near and far and wherever I've gone, nowhere do I feel more relaxed than at 301. So naturally I responded "yes".

Now, you can only have dinner at 301 on select days, and I'm a veteran of the Amsterdam scene so I know the days and the times and what time you have to call to reserve. (4pm) My Austrian girl knows the drill as well, so she was well prepared for the mountain of vegan cuisine as the super cool Australian accented bartender-volunteer places our meals in front of us. After paying somewhere around the suggested price, we fill our stomachs while discussing how nice it is to be back at 301 after all the holiday fuss and all the annoyingly hip cafe's and restaurants the city is now littered with. We finish the evening off with some homemade choco-nut cake, mint tea, and chit chat with the regulars... and their dogs. - Thats what I call an evening.

And PS, it doesn't hurt to have a devastatingly beautiful and interesting Austrian friend to join you.

Remember a few weeks ago, when both Bicyclemark and I mentioned the fireworks culture in the Netherlands, particularly surrounding New Year's Eve? Well, I've discovered a summary of "events" from this year on Expatica, described as a "relatively peaceful" celebration.

In case you didn't believe us, here are some examples:

"In Limburg, a 38-year-old man was seriously injured when 21kg of fireworks exploded in his face. The man tried to light the fireworks with a cigarette."

"A 26-year-old resident of Nunspeet who initially thought he had been injured by fireworks later appeared to have been injured by a bullet. Police have no idea where the bullet was fired from."

"Some 1,500 people at a nightclub in Raalte in Overijssel escaped unharmed after a fire broke out."

Well, we all have our unique way of celebrating. Just remember to be careful!

I know, everyone immediately thinks tulips when they imagine the Netherlands. Tulips, windmills, cheese, and weed, right? Well, there's a forgotten treasure that can be found in almost any flower shop: The orchid.

In the U.S., this beauty here would be at least $60. I bought it here for less than 10 Euros. So go wild! The blossoms are breathtakingly beautiful, and it's a plant, too - so you can care for it year-round until it decides to grace your presence with its next round of beautiful flowers. They make great gifts, too.

The fire department issued a warning today: If you don't have to go out, then don't.

Which is an odd warning. Cause I only heard about it once I had braved the unbelievable winds to ride over the Oost. And if I had followed their advice I would have missed hanging out with my friends on Javastraat, crashing a staff party at the U of Amsterdam, and bagels at my favorite bagel shop.

Actually the funnest part of all this insanity.. are the numerous umbrellas that mystically fly out of nowhere and almost puncture my leg. It makes riding more exciting then the normal adventure. Also there's that feeling you'll be blown into a canal or a tram... I had that a few times today... very exciting.

If you've ever visited a bar frequented by Dutch people, you'll notice that the later it gets, the more likely it becomes that those present will break into drunken song, swaying and hollering strange, wistful-sounding lyrics. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, try visiting Cafe Nol on the Westerstraat. You'll get the idea very quickly. Or just visit their website - the music is right there waiting for you.

But what is the history behind this passionate hobby? The Amsterdam Historical Museum is currently hosting an exhibition called "Singing in Amsterdam" which details this, er, charming culture of song. It should help to provide insight into a uniquely Dutch and overwhelmingly Amsterdam-focused tradition.

Singing in Amsterdam is in the Amsterdam Historical Museum until 18 March 2007.

It's that time of year where everything is on sale. Clothes, furniture, vacuum cleaners, you name it. So if the shopping bug has bitten, now is the time to get out and flex your consumerist muscle.

My stop yesterday? Bijenkorf. You know, that ritzy department store right on Dam Square. Everything's marked down. And along with throngs of frenzied shoppers, they were even holding some type of reception, right there in the store.

I stayed until the bittersweet closing time, and exited with a huge group of half-drunk merry makers. Because of my great finds, I was almost as happy as they were.

As mentioned recently the NS has increased their prices and changed train times. But we recently discovered that the Dutch rail road company has added another feature: the human at-seat cart service! NS employees serving you tea and coffee from a backpack while carrying snacks...

There's a channel here in Amsterdam called AT5, and let me tell you, it rocks my socks.

Fortunately they replay their programming at 2am for night owls like myself, so last night I got to watch a very good segment I wanted to tell you about.
The focus was mom & pop grocery stores versus the big-powerful supermarkets like Albert Hein, Edah, Dirk, Super de Boer.. etc.

They were doing that thing where you walk the streets and ask folks on the street where they go and what they think of the two kinds of shops.

One old woman said she only goes to grocery stores, because there she buys tons of extra food so that she doesn't have to go often and she always has extra food if she can't go out for some reason.

A young cutey Dutch student said that she loves going to Nightshops, which are kind of minimarkets that are (obviously) opened late. She said they have a great selection and she likes the people who run them, the charm of the clerks.

A middle aged aspiring Dutch suit explained that he goes mostly to supermarkets that have late closing times because he is very busy and he likes the prepackaged meals they had. When asked about the future of mom and pop shops, he said he was more concerned about himself and that it's tough cookies for mom & pop shops. --- what a jerk.

I sat back and thought to myself... what are my habits? Organic/alternative grocery store once per week. Ten Kate open air market once per week. And one of the big supermarkets once per week.

Then I start to wonder... am I hurting mom and pop? I pretty much only see them at the market once a week... and I really do like their stuff better. I may need to start changing my market habits... to help keep mom and pop shops going and enjoy the great treatment and quality they have.

As for the rest of the city, as much as I love this town, most of the people would probably side with the suit.... tough cookies.. gotta take care of number one. hmfff.

The International Film Festival Rotterdam is almost here, and definitely worth attending. Not only is it an incredible opportunity to see life-changing films, but if you haven't made it down to Rotterdam yet, you also get to explore the city and see its fabulous film venues. And even better: Most films are shown are screened in the original version (language) with English subtitles.

The festival is on from January 24 through February 4. All exhibitions/events/etc. will be available online starting January 18.

I've celebrated (or not) the Superbowl in Amsterdam over the years, but never have I heard of a party like this one. Boom Chicago is hosting an all-out bash, with a game screening topped off with an Admiral cheerleader performance. It will almost like actually being in the U.S. for the big day, except...more Dutch.

The only downside is that it costs 55 Euros. It includes a "Super Bowl Menu" and an "Unlimited Dutch bar," whatever that means. If you're into it, it's on Sunday, February 4, starting at 21:30. Tickets are available on the Boom Chicago website.

AMSTERDAM FASHION WEEK
January 20-28: Amsterdam International Fashion Week. Check out Laundry Days: Amsterdam Fashion Week’s public “off-schedule” inspiration program, accessible to every fashionista in town!

Visit the Modefabriek fashion trade event and see presentations of more than 425 labels, watch the spectacular fashion shows, the parade and don't forget to visit the superstore.
Amsterdam RAI - Europaplein 22
January 21-22 10AM-6PM. 15 Euro

EXHIBITION
Beauty and the Bead - from Madonna to the Maasai'. First exhibition ever to focus on beads as a worldwide phenomenon.
Tropenmuseum - Linnaeusstraat 2
Until May 13. 7.50 Euro

CONCERT
The Mighty 8, hip hop & soul from a ladies perspective. Part of the unsigned project for talented undiscovered artists.
Melkweg - Lijnbaansgracht 234a
January 20 at 9PM. 8 Euro

Today was one of the longest days of my Amsterdam life. When making my way across town actually became a matter of, not life and death, but, fairly close to it.

I live on the ground floor and I sleep through much of the morning, so perhaps I don't always notice if there are severe winds tearing through the city outside. As I hopped on my bike to head to the international school for lunch, I admit I noticed the wind was making pedaling quite difficult. But at that point, I had no idea what I was getting involved in, by leaving the house at all.

By the time I crossed through Rokin and fought my way by the main university area near the beloved student cafe: CREA, I started to notice this wind was unlike any other wind before.

What made me notice? I think it was when this deafening gust which just about blew my backpack off my back and suddenly forced my bike in the direction of the canal and oncoming traffic. As I tried to fight back by clenching my leg muscles and pushing back at the wind to win my balance, another gust pushed the bike from under me and as I tried to plant my heals on the pavement... the bike, my heals, and me went sliding for several meters.... closer to the canal. A local driver, no doubt fighting the wind from inside the car, stopped to look over at me in pity, but as soon as he tried to open his door the wind decided to slam it shut. He waved and drove on. - thanks buddy.

I hobbled alongside my bike the rest of the way. Pausing before turning any corners, to watch the mist which the wind had swept up from the canal, spraying everyone who dared walk in that direction.

When I finally did arrive at lunch, an hour or so later, the internet tells me that the the main train station has closed, as pieces of the roof are falling and the trains are blocked by fallen tree's. As I slowly made my way home again, stopping often and rarely bothering to try and ride, I snapped pictures of huge fallen trees, debris that resembled roof tiles, and boats that had snapped free or sunken.

One newspaper mentioned it was the worst storm in 10 years. One person is thought to have been blown off a pier into the ocean. The wind caused an ship to crash in the Rotterdam harbor, triggering an oil spill!

Back in my little world, all I kept thinking, as odd as it may sound, was to simply get home in one piece and not get hit by a falling tree or a flying piece of metal from some construction site. Oh.. or fall in a canal.. that was a big concern as well.

Things I saw yesterday in Amsterdam that I’ve never seen before:

Whitecaps on the canals. It was incredible, like a raging river was running through the city. The poor ducks were totally shocked by their new environment.

Tree debris lining the streets. If the trees managed to stay upright, they still lost most of their baby branches. And if there were any straggling leaves left from the summer, they’re definitely gone now.

The Centraal Station shutting down. No trains. I’ve never seen that happen before. Those poor, poor commuters, especially the ones with nowhere to crash in A’dam.

This weekend, I spent a few hours at De Herengracht with a group of friends. The bar/restaurant, located just off the Koningsplein, is decked out with great art and a fantastic atmosphere. We hung out in the lower-level bar. It was busy but not terribly so, the music blended into the background and the drinks were served promptly. My only complaint - which holds for any A'dam drinking establishment - is the massive amount of cigarette smoke that follows you home and through the remainder of your weekend. Someday, they'll change the laws...

So at some point you arrive in Amsterdam, be it in late August or late January, ready to do the school thing. Eventually you make it past all the initial issues: housing, class schedule, residence permit, bike, grocery store, and local pub. The essentials.

But often you'll start thinking, "dam I'm poor, and I've got time on my hands. I want to join the workforce!"

Now what are the options, one might wonder?

Well, the average administrative type at university will tell you "its complicated". They love closing doors in your face.

However, I've lived it. and complicated or not, even with all the so-called rules about how many hours an American student can work, I'd guesstimate about 50% of American students get part-time jobs over here. Most of those might be under-the-table. But a job is a job - right?

One thing you can work out, and its the best place to start, doing side work for your professors. Filing stuff. Writing stuff. Correcting stuff. All kinds of stuff. When I first arrived I found myself staring at a TV screen every afternoon, watching TV news and answering questions about it. Might sound boring to some, but all I heard was the sound of money landing in my pocket.

Which reminds me of a very common demand here in the Netherlands at Universities. Paper editing. While the scholarly types might use English for everything, most are not native speakers, and even the very fluent Dutch seek out native English speakers to correct their papers on underwater basketweaving in antarctica. Again.. it's money, and as a bonus, you learn new things.

I'll mention one more for today, and that is the job that you can always get all over the world for under-the-table money: bar and restaurant business. Although many eventually quit out of frustration and exhaustion, Amsterdam has plenty of bars and restaurants in need of young suckers like us, who need money and have the nerve to deal with drunken tourists. Irish pubs, I've noticed, are legendary for how fast students quit.

There you have it, useful tidbits on how to raise some Euros in between classes and parties.

The wind has faltered, the clouds have left and the Netherlands is now sunny and calm. And cold, cold, cold. Bikers, beware: In this weather, you need special gear to survive your trip.

In September, I wrote briefly about getting ready for winter biking. Of course, we haven't seen any snow, but now that the temperature has dipped to almost zero, it's wise to be aware of a few specifics:

Gloves. Two pairs. One preferably leather.

Hat. Pull it over your ears. Don't forget this one, or you probably won't make it to destination. Honestly.

Scarf and coat. Make sure that your neck is covered, or your friends will forget the sound of your voice.

Sunglasses. Sounds funny, but you will be blinded by the unfamiliar light. Plus, they somehow stop the cold as well.

Groningen is definitely not the largest university city, but it is one of the most popular ones. And I should know as I grew up there.. Due to the large number of students, nightlife is great and most bars stay open until 6AM on weekends.

The medieval center has lots of sights, including the Martini Tower, City Hall and the canals. The Groninger Museum is set in the middle of a canal and the building is considered as one of the most modern and innovative museums in the Netherlands.
Just a 2,5 hour train ride north of Amsterdam...

I realized today that I have a ton of websites bookmarked for the Netherlands (I call them NL links). Having collected these over a five-year period, I guess it's high time that I share some of them with all the readers out there. Who knows, maybe something will come in handy:

Believe it or not, the IND (immigration department) has an English version of their website. If you've had questions (or problems) concerning your residency, here's a good place to start. They even have some fun-to-read propaganda promoting their policies.

If you haven't experienced a Dutch sauna, do it immediately. This site provides a comprehensive listing of spas in the Netherlands. I could say so much on this subject, but for now, I'll just mention that clothing is frowned upon in these unisex establishments.

And for students or aspiring scholars out there, Nuffic has a website called "Study in Holland." It's full of information about coming to the Netherlands for study, and writing about expenses, food, politics, you name it.

Happy surfing!

Here's an important Dutch word to learn: NAT. It means: Wet paint. If you see this sign on a door, or a wall, or a bench, do not brush up against it with your nice black coat. Or your new leather gloves. Or your freshly washed jeans.

MUSIC & DANCE

2007 is the year of Amsterdam, Feel the Rhythm - music & dance. Throughout the entire year, the city offers a great number of events, from classical to dance, pop and world music. Check out the website for a complete listing of events.

CONTEST
The final of Visual Sensations, THE VJ-contest of the Netherlands and Belgium. In a live performance with a maximum length of 20 minutes the VJ's will show their work to the jury and the audience. The winner will get cash and will also perform during Club Transmediale in Berlin.
Paradiso - Weteringschans 6-8
January 27 - 9PM. 10 Euro

EXHIBITION
Studio Apart is hosting Boxie. Boxies, as the artist calls them himself, are creatures with elongated limbs moving quickly and fluidly over the canvas. His work has increased in popularity, even Nike has used his designs.
Studio Apart - Prinsengracht 715
Until March 16. Free

Not being one to resist a chance to travel somewhere for a few days, especially when I'm invited to give a workshop on podcasting, I find myself in Zagreb, Croatia at this very moment.

If you have the means, and perhaps you're in the Netherlands, definitely make the trip down to Croatia... it is lovely here. Being that it's winter, i was pleased to find snow on the ground. The circa 0º C adds to the charm, kind of reminds me Im just about in the Balkans.

I confess I've never been this far east in my life, and it is exciting, because even though Im still in Europe.. it feels like some kind of gateway to somewhere else. On the outskirts of Zagreb... huge apartment complexes from the socialist days, long streches of roads, and circa 1950 tram cars. All of it is beautiful in my eyes, including Croatian women, but thats a whole other blog topic.

For now, I'm jetlagged. almost 2 hours of flight!! stop laughing. Back with more tomorrow.

Expatica is at it again. This time, they're trying to make love connections. There's a Valentine's party ("A Valentine's Affair") at the Zebra Lounge on Friday, February 16. Tickets are 15 euros and available online.

Or if a night of one-on-one is more your specialty, sign up for the "Meet your Valentine" SpeedDate. It takes place on Friday, February 9 at the Amsterdam Marriott Hotel. Women's places are already sold out, so this one's just for the guys. Of course, there's still room for both sexes in the Valentine's Day SpeedDate, held on - you guessed it - Valentine's Day (that's February 14, for all you unromantic fools out there).

I wish I could give you names of the clubs and cultural centers I've been to, all around Zagreb, but frankly... I can neither remember nor spell many of the names.

But I can tell you what a crazy and large creative scene this city has. Between the computer hackers, the political activists, the digital artists, non-digital artists, dj's musicians, dancers, and old men who like to play chess; Zagreb has plenty going on, any night of the week and in the strangest of places.

Last night I found myself at an old factory-turned-nightclub along the River Sava. What a place! no annoying dress code or hostile bouncers or any of that whole stuck up nightlife tradition that exists is so many places. Inside, a collection of old, young, and middle-aged, all mingling together, all dancing the night away. Plenty of elbow room too, cause hey, it's an old factory.

On the way out I gazed out over the Sava... fog prevented me from actually seeing water, so it was just this vast and wide avenue of rolling fog. And since the river flows to Serbia.. that is where my friends and I shall venture next.

Yesterday, I braved the cold temperatures to explore the bustling streets of Den Haag (The Hague). The afternoon began with an early trip to Dudok, an huge café that served delicious apple pie. Looks great, right? Next was a tour through diverse architecture followed by a few crowded hours on the shopping streets. We ended in Den Haag's version of De Bijenkorf and enjoyed an impressive lunch at their self-service restaurant.

A pleasant fact about Den Haag: Although you still have to pay to use the toilet in every conceivable establishment, the charge was only 25 euro cents, half of its Amsterdam equivalent. The open spaces are great, the trams are painted differently that the North Holland variety, and the expat community is huge. In sum, not a bad place to spend a relaxing Sunday.

What day is it? What time is it? These two questions I rarely have the answer to lately, but I can always tell to WHERE I AM, with great excitement: Belgrade, Serbia.

It is especially fun if I get a phonecall or an email and someone asks "where are you" and I can respond "sorry, I can't talk long, Im in Serbia".

If you've never been to Belgrade, well it should come as no shock to hear it, but YOU NEED to visit this city. Why? Because it is special, of course.

It may look and smell European, but there is something else going on here. Maybe it is the heavier effect of recent wars, bombings, and economic sanctions. Or perhaps it is just the choice of paint colors, as everywhere I look I see shades of grey. Regardless of the reason, the result is actually something very interesting and very pleasant.

As I'm giving workshops on podcasting on this trip, I find myself in a residential/working class neighborhood. I start to feel like the only non-Serbian speaking person for miles... but somehow it is never a problem. The lovely ladies at the bakery greet me with smiles and seem to enjoy getting to speak english. Others rely more on simple words and smiles to explain whatever needs explaining.

Tonight.. I shall dine at some fine Serbian restaurant. Rumor has it we will experience traditional cuisine and now-cliché traditional clothing. Just what a little tourist like me desires.

FABCHANNEL was already a great site if you like watching Paradiso and Melkweg concerts online. But now it's even better as you can create your own video player for your blog, site or profile. We tried to please all of you readers with our very own fabplayer below..

A few years ago, the Netherlands introduced the concept of the "age coin," a coin that must be requested from the bartender and inserted into a cigarette machine before cigarettes can be purchased. The idea is to ensure that the person buying the cigarettes is of legal age. In other words, curious six-year-olds cannot steal change from their parents and then secretly purchase them from the vending machine in the corner.

A restaurant I recently visited has apparently given up on this concept. Next to the cigarette machine I found a pile of age coins neatly placed on a small white plate. Anyone care for a smoke?