Welcome To Amsterdam

It’s always smile-inducing after a long haul flight that when the pilot lands the plane safe and sound, the cabin bursts out into applause and hoots of appreciation.

We arrived at Schipol airport early. The flight was smooth overall, what with us climbing to 41,000 ft and flying over the north arctic, where it’s currently sunshine 24 hours a day. There was no darkness at all during the whole flight. When we landed, Amsterdam was already 13C at 745am.

Cleared immigration without any problems. I think all I was asked was what’s the purpose of your stay here? And how long are you staying? Easy peasy.

Got my train ticket from Schipol to Centraal station. From there, caught the #42 bus to Java Eiland, a mere 10 minute bus ride from central Amsterdam where I’m staying.

Okay, this is RAD. How I found my accommodations for my trip is through this awesome website called AirBNB. With a slogan of “travel like a human”, the website has been praised by Time magazine, New York Times, CNN, Newsweek and Wall Street Journal.

Called the “Ebay for space” by Time Magazine, Airbnb is an online marketplace allowing anyone from private residents to commercial properties to rent out their extra space. The reputation-based site allows for user reviews, verification, and secure online transactions. Listings include vacation rentals, private rooms, entire apartments, bed and breakfasts, boutique hotels, castles, treehouses, and many other traditional and non-traditional accommodations.

A castle, treehouse and other non-traditional accommodations like an off the grid house, solar house, lighthouse, boathouse, igloo, dome cabin, an airplane fuselage suite? Right on.

As a single traveller, this option is much attractive to me and my pocketbook than paying as a single in a hotel room. I’m paying $57.25 CDN per night at the Art-Hotel. For what I’m paying for with my AirBnB accommodations in a private home, that would get me a dormitory room with shared bathroom in a “hostel” in Amsterdam.

The host is friendly, welcoming and helpful. He opened up his 2 story home since last summer. Robert is an artist, interior stylist and a financial analyst with a private bank.

Java Eiland is a newly (12 years old) developed island, just outside Amsterdam. It reminds me False Creek or Granville Island in Vancouver, but bigger, more green space and bikes everywhere.

The apartments here are very modern; no gable rooftops. Most buildings have their own huge front lawns, where residents can picnic outside. The streets are all cobblestone and houseboats are moored on the river.

My sizeable bedroom has its own balcony, overlooking a canal and a view of Centraal station over the water.

What’s included in my stay is wifi, cable tv, breakfast on Saturday & Sunday only, washer/dryer and use of the kitchen.

After I got here, I crashed. What was suppose to be a 2 hour nap turned into a 6 hour sleep. When I awoke, I walked to a Chinese restaurant nearby to get some dinner. Then got some groceries.

Taking it easy tonight and getting on Amsterdam time. Tomorrow I’ll head into central Amsterdam and start my adventure!