Matt & Mike's EuroTour 2011 - AMSTERDAM and the birth of a new Otepka

From Sunday - Sunday, Jan 16-23, I traveled to Amsterdam and then the Czech Republic with my youngest bro Mike. It was an incredible experience.

To start, we rallied up at Schipol Airport in AMST on Sunday at the "Airport Meeting Point" (genius idea, see below).

After we hooked up in the airport, we took the train into the city and caught up on each other's trips (Mike's coming from St. Louis was considerably longer than my hour-long flight from Lux). The trip nearly got off to a bad start when an extremely cunty old woman on the train told us "thank you for letting all of us in on your private conversation" and then proceeded to repeat that sentence another six times. Apparently, she only whispers to her friends when on public transportation in AMST. When we got off the train, one of the only other two guys in same passenger car with us looked at me, gave a wink and a grin and shrugged as if to say "sorry for the old wench." That made me feel better. I guess there are loud Americans and bitchy old women everywhere.

Our hotel was on the opposite end of the city from where the train dropped us off and Amsterdam Centraal Station, but was nice walk and good way to see a bit of the city. Once we got to our hotel we unpacked and did exactly what you'd expect -- we went for a jog. 

Hotel -- the NH Amsterdam Centre

So I know the idea of a jog sounds a bit off for me, but it was actually a pretty good strategy -- better to get a lay of the land before it's too late and you're a few too many coffee's into the evening. Plus, Mike had been on a plane for about 10 hours so a good stretch of the legs would be good for him. 


We ran all thru town and it was a good recon exercise as we planned how we would attack the city. We ran thru parks, found the Red Light Dist, the Van Gogh Museum, Heineken Museum, Amnesia coffee house (thanks for the rec Bill T.), etc, etc, etc. 


We got back to the hotel famished and decided to walk to a nearby pub and grab an early bit to eat. Since we went straight from our jog, I didn't have my camera with me. Food was really good -- we split a burger and warmed up with a couple of traditional homemade hearty soups that were phenom. It also marked the cracking of our first, but not last Amstels and Heinekens. 


Headed back to hotel, cleaned up and then went out to Amnesia for some herbal tea and to chill out. Amnesia is a very mellow place not in the RL District and was definitely good to us. Super nice staff, pretty good tunes (lots of Jackson 5) and nice atmosphere.

I highly recommend this place.

After Amnesia we wandered around town and eventually got our bearings enough to roll through the Red Light District for the obligatory nighttime stroll. It was eye opening. Women for sale in windows. Very, very strange (and not as great as you'd think, though better than the afternoon merchandise that was on display during our jog earlier in the day). 

After laughing our way through the RLD we stumbled to the Temple Bar and had a few beers celebratory shots after learning that our brother Jim and his wife Meg had just graced the world with another Otepka -- Jane Elizabeth Otepka was born on Sun, Jan 16 in Milwaukee, WI. 

J.E.O.!!! Welcome, young lady!

Left Temple Bar to wander again and what do you know, we found ourself back at Amnesia where we sat down to some old school Coca-Colas in the mini glass bottles and played chess for an hour or so and closed the place down. 

Woke up the next day and had a big breakfast and promptly headed out to the Van Gogh Museum. Spent an hour or two there and saw some great stuff. They also had some Monet on exhibit which was an added treat Then headed back to the hotel to pick up our bags and make the trek up to Centraal Station via tram. 

Next time, we may even go inside. 

We got up to the station early so we headed to a nearby bar to have a couple of pops before flying out to Prague to begin the "real" part of our trip. Since we were in Amsterdam, we walked into an Irish bar. I believe it was called Blarney Stone. 

Mike in the Bullshit Corner per the small plaque on the wall behind him.

It was right across the street from a hilarious looking coffee shop called Double Reggae which had a front window adorned by Jim Morrison and great message to potential shoppers (see caption if you can't read it here)...

"UNDER 18 NO ENTRE"
("and don't fuck around")

After a few beers we jumped on the train, headed to the airport and as usual got there 2 hours early so we sat down in the airport bar called Rembrant's and ate liverworst and what can only be described as deep fried gravy balls (heavenly) and couple of pitchers of Amstel. 

Gravy + Breading + Deep Fryer = Destruction

Next up, Prague then Zlin and then Bzenec and then Prague again... Got off to a great start.