Oranje hangover

I can't put up pictures or video, but I will soon and tell you when I do, attach them to previous posts. I also realized that I don't have to number my posts.


Damn you paul the octopus!!! 4 and 1/2 hours of standing in a mosh pit for that!

A grey cloud has hung over Amsterdam for the past day and a half, not black, but grey. I mean this in both a figurative and literal way. Post finale the weather has been a constant shade of hazy grey, much like you see in many of the coffee shops....where they serve coffee. The sun hasn't been out much since sunday night, and although its become dark and rainy (figurative and literal) at times, the cloud coverage has been pretty consistent. Much like the way the dutch and city of amsterdam feels. Obviously crushed in heartbreaking fashion sunday night left the entire country very deflated, it failed to slow down the city. The party wasn't as crazy, and canals were still filled with bikes instead of people, but the extravaganza went on nonetheless. Then we found our room. Maybe I should back track a little though, back when it was still sunny.

Let's start at Museumplein. 120,000 screaming lunatics with flags, vuvus, and a wide assortment of fireworks that could wound farm animals and small women. The place was rocking and there was still an hour and a half before the game. It was as if the Netherlanders were storming the bastille, and the crowd was electric. Find a spot stay in it, take it all in, moving was not an option. So of course I immediaetly went to get beer. An hour later and 3 worried (probably 1) girls later I made it back. It was both awful and exhilarating. Walking a human maze with a tray full of beers was like finding a ditch in a corn field at night without a flashlight. (You can either make out or sleep in that ditch once you make it there)

After hydration the party was on. With Dutch rally songs blaring, two helicopters dropping flowers on us, fireworks and flares, 1 girl who couldn't see above anything*, and a sea of orange, it was finally time of the national anthem.

* this is our friend Kate, she is short, which is fine, but not when you are in the tallest country in the world. When both men and women avg out to 6'1' the 5 foot girl doesn't stand a chance. You were a real trooper though Chism.

Nedeland o Nedeland.....

And that's all I knew, but the entire crowd was in unison and euphoric. Game time.

Once the ball was kicked off hysterics throughout the hundred thousand plus around us and then focus. It was an ugly game, some have said shameful but I disagree, dominated by the refs playing way to close the vest. If the dutch could have just survived those last 7 minutes with a man down I really think they could have won it. The crowd was in a frenzy the entire game, lots of screaming and throwing of things after all those yellows and bad calls. The techtonic plates shifted up and then down on Robben's breakway, which was a big uh-oh doom is on the horizon moment, and that crazy save by the keeper. Robben has got to put that home, and isn't it ironic that one of the king of flops in the sport chooses not to on the second breakaway when the refs were calling everything. I have never loved Robben, neither in this cup nor 06, but as skillful as he is, he is also such a dirty player. I don't think you see him in the next cup on this team. My favorite players from this years team will be Wesley Schneider, Dirk kuyt, and Van Bronkhorst. The funniest name was defiantly robin van Dervaart. After that goal by spain though, it was a mass exodus onto the streets.

Here is where the grey set in. Instead of dejection, they were proud. As the thousands upon thousands fleed the field, they join in one last "Holland" chant that filled streets with pride. Instead of the dejected fans after a superbowl loss*, they acknowldeged that they were the 2nd best team in the world, almost the first, and that is something to hang your hat. Then they filled the streets mardi gras style and partied till the next day.


*This game felt a lot like how a Jets Superbowl will go down.


Grey had set in the next day as well, as the streets were filled with orange remnants of immortality. It had poured the night before, rained down tears (u know your liking these metaphors) of missed opportunities. It also really helped wash away the grime of broken and spilled beer bottles and paraphanalia. Did you know tears could do that? Neither did I?

When our night ended with greeted our hostel for the second time, first was just to throw our bags in, and was horrified. I can go into great detail here about how it was a celler for dying drug addicts, or how lower class prostitutes shared STDs here but ill just show you what the website offered instead. Don't stay in "leidseplein hotel" ever! You are better off in the street, which at the time was an option weighed. Were fine mom.

Hostelworld:leidseplein
Offers:
Free airport pick up - nope
Rooms cleaned everyday - nope
Free linen - nope
Retaurant - nope, unless 2 pieces of stale bread counts.
Bar - nope
Lounge - aka the room where luggage is kept.
Internet - nope
24 hour reception- more like 12
Clean towels - yes!!!


At the end of our endless screaming match with the "mother of the manager" we made a deal, told her never to come to "oosa" and that her hostel was a disgusting joke. Her reply "young people like their rooms that way."

Awesome hostel.

After mondays hangover, and subsequent spell of grey, tuesday has brought back sunday's enthusiasm. One last party, for the soldiers of futbol, who brought the country that no one expected to near greatness. The canals are filled with people as the parade makes its way down amsterdam for one last hurrah and another major party at museumplein. It looks like the sun is coming out too.

"Oranje is de kleur van gekte" - vincent van gogh.

(Orange is the color of insanity)

Tot ziens




Ps: I thought about converting in 8th grade, and even considered talking to a priest, I think I was high on andrew mcardle. Couldn't be happier to be a jew....or Dutch.