Sorry I've been awhile

Samantha don't worry, we made it in and out of Amsterdam in one piece. Your help was perfect, even if I was screaming at you. Thank you. After trying to catch our breath, Amsterdam took our breath away. It was the first time for me, but for Mando, it was like an old friend. Dashing from airport to train to hostel through crowds of screaming English crusaders was like an episode of the Amazing race...but really we were just THOSE lame American tourists. Which, to be fair, is understandable out of me, but for Mando, what a jerk. Once checked in, the second wind came on strong, along with beers, snacks, and football. Not much was said between us at first, but the company was well appreciated. It was a lot to take in. Even more to take in when your mind is a bit altered. Couldn't resist. We met a man named Rob that could not stop talking about his love for Bill Clinton, which immediately sparked a connection to prostitutes, don't ask me why. You know exactly why. I've never seen such a widespread feeling of wonderment or as our English friends would call it, "society's greatest tease." A nap at 10 pm and ensuing third wind would bring us to Cafe Mokum, where hooligans made every song a sing-a-long, drumming on the bar, and endless pitchers just had to happenbecame irresistible. As did adventures around Leidsplein. Great job on the after hours drinks Eduardo, the old man who apparently thought Amsterdam was his town. We only dented our wallets like a crater hit them. However, it was good to get that release out. And, what better place to do it, like Mando said it's Europe's Las Vegas. It's clearly more than that though. The city is balanced between old world customs and future modernity; an eternal transition both of the external and internal. Quite a way to start this whole thing out.