Europe JUMP Trip - Amsterdam

The second leg of our Euro Trip... Amsterdam.

See the first leg in Paris with an intro to the trip here.



Yes, we would be staying in the famous Red Light District, only cause the best and cheapest hostel is located there.


How appropriate... Hostel Meeting Point.


And see... it was ranked as a top 10 hostel in the world.


A room with a view...


We stayed in these big dorm rooms and had huge barrels as a safe-keep locker.


Getting fiesty...


The coolest thing about drinking beer in Europe is that each beer has its own unique glass to enhance the aromas and the style.


Local Beer Menu


With a new friend that we met in our hostel, Gideon, from Australia, who was traveling around the world on one of those Round-The-World airline tickets.


Little Black Riding Hood...


Gideon, The Crocodile Hunter. He was thrilled that Mike was wearing a cowboy hat around...


Caitlin with a cat in a store with Mike's hat.


Dollar Bill Art


I wonder what kind of plant these seeds grow into...


Oxygen bar...


Mixed feelings about a sex shop. Actually, we never went into a single porno store the whole time that we were there... We behaved.


Naughty polar bears


Intricate glass pipe - Devil on a cruiser


The traditional dutch shoes


Cowboy hat picture...


How cool... Big Chess


We joined the Dutch in their favorite mode of transportation - bicycles. They were quite cheap to rent and were excellent transportation.


Locking our bikes safely before heading into the van Gogh Musuem.


Navigator


Cycling away. We knew there was more to Amsterdam than the Red Light District, so we got on our bikes and just headed straight in one direction out of town to see what we'd come across. We were told that we could put our bikes on a train and ride back from the dykes, which would have been very cool, but would have needed a full day for that.


A beautiful canal away from the city center.


Critical care for boats. These little guys looked damaged and were probably being fixed or salvaged.


A typical Amsterdam street with a one-way lane on either side of a canal.


Mike and Caitlin on a canal bridge. Amsterdam was really a beautiful city, especially since I like water a lot.


Having a bite to eat by the canal.


At Anne Frank's house.


The cowboy hat with an old Citroen.


Yes, the famous Sex Museum, which was more freaky than sexy.


Waving to Marilyn in the Sex Museum.


At the bar in our hostel. The cool thing about this hostel was that you could only enter and leave through the bar on the ground floor, which was open 24 hours. So, we'd just hang around and meet anybody that was passing through... have a drink with them or go get something to eat.


We got drinking with these Italians who couldn't speak English, but one of them learnt French in school, just like me. So, we communicated in broken French. I knew it was good for something. And before you knew it... Mike was arm wrestling their toughest guy.


The Italians, Gideon and us with the Amsterdam flag. Wonder why it has a triple-x on it...?


Good times...


One of them came back down looking for something and didn't bother with any extra clothing...


Mike playing chess with another hostel guest... this was about 4 in the morning.


Caitlin with a kitty in the hostel bar.


Cowboy hat at the Stones Cafe Coffee Shop.


Mmmmm... french fries. We ate a lot of those. These were the only kind of shops open late at night... when the munchies kicked in. It was super expensive too. That serving of fries was about 6 Euros.


Having some fantastic Belgian Duvel beer... more than 8% alcohol by volume, compared to 4% or less back in the states.


Walking the streets of Amsterdam...


I remember Mike describing eating this pastry as orgasmic...


Zed, Gideon's friend with the Hot Dog guy at a food stand.


Relaxing by the canal


An Amsterdam Canal


This was our fantastic Home Sweet Home for a few days...


On the train to Gent, Belgium.


Getting ready to mix a few drinks.


Mike and I settled for Coke with our vodka (i know, i know.. but we had no other mixers), but Caitlin went with soda water and tried to sweeten it with sugar we swiped from the dining car.


Chillin on the train


That's a pretty big glass of vodka there...


Leaking water damaged Caitlin's camera.


And that's how she felt about it...


Amsterdam lived up to its reputation, but we were glad that we got to see parts of the city away from the Red Light District. It's definitely worth another visit...

Europe JUMP Trip - Paris

The great about being a part of IAESTE was its global-ness. IAESTE chapters around the world were doing the same thing as us in our Local Chapters; finding internships, getting new members, welcoming the international interns and making global friends. It only made sense that there should be a conference where members from local chapters around the world could get together and share ideas and help each other become more successful.

This is where IAESTE's JUMP conference comes in. JUMP stands for Join Us to Motivate People as that was its basic purpose - to motivate IAESTE members to fullfill our organization's goal. It was completely organized by students for students. The conference was comprised of seminars on how to effectively run your organization and also some personal development stuff, along with some sight-seeing and mingling with students from around the world.

The conference is usually held in Europe and IAESTE US grants about three travel scholarships to its US members. I applied and got it, after being with the organization for only a year. The two other people who got the grant were Mike Sanguineti from the U of Houston chapter and Caitlin Roberts from the Penn State chapter.

This year's conference was to be held in the Belgian city of Gent (north of Brussels) and it would run about four days. Now, why go all the way to Europe for only four days? And besides, I hadn't been there before, so after discussing with Mike and Caitlin, we took a week off before the conference to visit Paris and Amsterdam. Mike and I would meet Caitlin in New York before flying across the pond to Parri. I had us staying in hostels and taking the train and in the end, our cost for a 10 day trip to Europe was fairly low.

The coolest thing about this trip was just how easily us three gelled with each other. We didn't know each other before the trip and we instantly become good friends. All of us were easy going and had the same mentality about the trip; seeing some sights, eating some good food, partying, relaxing, trying new things, etc...

Our itinerary had us flying into Paris. After about three days there, we were to take the train to Amsterdam for another three days, then head to Gent for about four days for the conference, then returning to Paris for our flight back.



Our first group picture at the Newark airport. The reason why we're all wearing cowboy hats is because there was going to be a country-themed party one of the nights of the conference and each delegation had to bring items representing their country. These items could then be traded. Along with the cowboy hats, we were bringing a bottle of Jim Bean, Sticky Buns from Pennsylvannia and Yuengling Beer (the oldest beer in America).. oh and also some pumpkin pie. Instead of packing the cowboy hats, Mike decided we should wear them all over Europe. I was not so enthused about being a walking US target in Europe... (this was only a year into the Iraq war).

We tried to cut costs where we could as we were all still college students. So, we bought sandwich stuff from grocery stores and to save on booze, we stocked up on duty free liquor from the Newark airport that sufficed us throughout the trip. Each person is allowed two liters... so, we had about 6 liters of booze between us: a handle of Absolut for like $18, Baileys, Jamaican Rum, the Jim Bean, etc... That was one of the best decisions, cause booze was quite expensive over there.



Our Continental Boeing 777 for the trip over there. Great flight by the way and Continental's service is the best among US carriers, in my opinion.


On the streets of Paris


The Montmartre steps heading to Sacre Coeur... Ronin fans definitely recognize this location.


Mike and I in front of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, dedicated to the sacred heart of Jesus, representing divine love for humanity. This is also the highest point in Paris with a view of the city.


The Artists Square right next to Sacre Coeur, where local artists display their work waiting to be discovered for the big time. Caitlin knew a bit about art but everything there was quite expensive and we settled for buying prints. It was very cool just to walk around and it felt very Parisienne...


Mike with a kid near Sacre Coeur


Streets of Paris


Buying grapes at a small Super Marche (market). They display their colorful fruits outside to attract customers inside. The tactic's worked for centuries. Usually these stores are really cramped with tiny aisles and shelves packed to the ceiling. But, you can get just about anything there.


Streets of Paris with buildings lined right next to each other and usually not being more than five stories tall. Since there's no space for separate street signs, they just afix them to the sides of buildings.


Go right for Electric Vehicle Recharge... and don't forget to Park your Posse.


Taking the Metro, which was very efficient and not that expensive. All the stations had a circular tube layout to them... I think Washington DC's subway stations take inspiration from Paris'.


Caitlin with the Eiffel Tower. Having studied French since the sixth grade, I had always wanted to come and visit and the Eiffel Tower is certainly one of the big symbols of France and no matter if people say it really isn't that grand, it had an awesome impact on me. Walking around this musuem and suddenly seeing the Eiffel Tower there was quite a sight.


Mmmm... getting some fresh French crepes, filled with Nutella, made right in front of us.


Bird Market


No Holding Hands. ?? A sign board at the entrance to Notre Dame...


Caitlin and I at the famous Notre Dame de Paris on the tiny island of Ile de la Cite.


Stained glass. No flash allowed inside, so excuse the blurry pictures.


Very tall ceilings


Lighting candles


Boat on the Seine River


Artistic shot by Caitlin


Mike, being a messy sandwich eater (half of it's on his shirt) in our hostel before heading out. We usually just got the basics: some good bread, salami and cheese... good stuff.


At the Republique Square


Mike, the Camerman.


What happened in Paris... stays in Paris...


The Olsen Twins


At Le Barrio Latino, an awesome club that the locals hit. Mike managed to sweet talk some cute pharmacy girls in letting us know where the locals party. He doesnt speak French...


Having a great time


Hanging out with some locals that we met.


Besides paying the 10 Euro cover, all we bought was a glass of water. We managed to chug a 20 oz bottle of Absolut on the way over from the hostel... we were lit for the night. Now, that's called economical partying.


Party people


We met some great friends at the Barrio Latino. They were very cool and we hit it off instantly. This is Olivier and his friends.


We invited them to our hostel to chill for a bit... walking around Paris in the wee hours.


Olivier and Caitlin in our hostel room


Olivier's friend said she was "trying" to quit smoking... not doing a great job.


Mike sleeping soundly with his Joe Boxers.


A little Parisienne patisserie (pastry shop)


Mmmm


Enjoying some good breakfast


That's a genuine pastry shop smile.


Mike with a kid wearing his cowboy hat.


At the Pompidou Centre... a modern art gallery/musuem where all the ducting is exposed.


Caitlin with a Classic Mini and a Smart car. Parking is real tight in Europe and small cars are definitely the way to go.


Naughty girls


The cowboy hat at the Louvre Pyramid.


Group at the Louvre


Roller-Cops... how seriously could you take these guys.. but I'm sure they're fast on the pavement.


Big constrast with the new-age glass pyramid. We didn't go inside, as we were short on time and just wanted to walk around.


Sailing in the fountain near the Louvre


An old couple in a park near the Louvre enjoying a sculture of a couple fornicating... it truly is the City of Love.


Hands sculpture


Inspired by the old couple, we also decided to chill on a bench and enjoy the sculptures.


La Tour Eiffel


The Eiffel Tower and its intricate metal trusses.


Caitlin climbing the Eiffel Tower - Asian Godzilla in Paris... would make a great movie...


Mike, the Cowboy, relaxing against the Tower. This is not a photo-chop.


Behind the scenes of the above pictures...


Enjoying some pastries and juice in front of the tower...


Walking up the Champs D'Elysee...


This guy's Mercedes G-wagen had a very welcoming little plate mounted on the grill...


Olivier invited us to his house for dinner and being an excellent French host, he wanted us to learn how to flip crepes.


I don't think any of us dropped one on the ground... not bad.


Our lovely hostel


Caitlin passed out on the train to Amsterdam. We almost didn't make the train as our subway car to the train station stopped due to a suspicious package at the next station. We had to bolt with all our luggage across town in a cab to the out-going train station.

This was a fantastic start to our trip and we felt we got a good glimpse of Paris.