Leaving Rotterdam

  Rotterdam, Netherlands
Tuesday, March 4, 2008

So, where to begin...
at the moment im sitting in Allon's house in the suburbs of Rotterdam.  How I came to be here is quite a long story of events.

We left Athurs place and headed for the city center, we wanted to find a place we could crash more central, and save money by not taking the metro.  We walked the city looking for a fabled coffee shop where "hippy/squaters" often inhabit, although to no avail.

Rotterdam

After we were given a "budget guide" to Rotterdam, we sliped into Sky High coffee shop just near the canal to study the map and plan our day.  We marked all the places of intrest and had our first look as to the scale of the city.

Street

Rotterdam itself seems rather small, everything is within 20-30min walk away, and its streets are full of bikes, cars and trams, not always a good thing when leaving from a coffee shop!

Rotterdam

Our first destination was to be a art gallery called via kunst, quite close to the central shopping district, it provides a place where homeless and other people can paint and sell their artwork.  Quite an intresting place, outside we bumped into two guys Milka and marcel who told us of a local jam session going on close by.

They agreed to take us to the center, which was a homeless shelter and every friday and tuesday hosted a jam session for anyone to come and play or just listen.  We all sat around the circle and joined in with the music, with about 14 people around playing instriments we had a great time.  we broke for a coffee and a smoke, and then planned our next stop on the list, we had earlyer bumped into someone who gave us a flyer for a new squat opening.  A meal was being prepared for a lot of people for 7pm. 

We left the shelter and headed east as the rain started, after walking around for about 30-35min for an Afrikan cafe, we found it but decided against it, on account of the price.  the squat was about a 30min walk away so we set out (still raining slightly).  I should add since the beginning of the trip, i secretly wanted it to rain a little so I could test out Andrea's jacket, which held up great, not letting a drop in, and quite wind proof.  A fact of which I pointed out to Paz and Cimi. 

After a few wrong doorbells we found the squat and entered.  We were the first guests of the night, and picked the prime spots in the back on the sofa's.  After a beer and a smoke we awaited more people and the food, soon another person entered, Jaap.

Table

Jaap had brought both his parents to the meal, who had come to town to vist him before he started back studying.  More and more people began to filter in, Co and Ronda who sat opposite Cimi and I and Shyra who was along side us.  We all shared the meal together with many others in company,  the meal itself was wonderful, a tradional vegiterian turkish dish, cheese, baked sticks rolled with fetta cheese, yogurt, and a pasta (i think) side, the red sauce was great too, a slightly chilli oil style.

Squat cafe

After talking with Jaap we exchanged numbers and he promised to put us up in his house, about 5mins from the central station!  Although he wasnt the only one to offer us their homes, we had many offers, but went with Jaap :)

Jaap and Charlie

Leaving the squat early we had to get back to the station and the last train to Athurs home.  We encountered some pritty heavy winds on the walk back, quite a feat to stay standing when mildly intoxicated and swaying to our own beat too.

While sinking into my seat on the metro we encountered Allon, sitting opposite us smiling.  Conversation started and soon he whiped out a small djimbe and started drumming with Paz, passers by were heard to thank them for the beats.  Before we jumped off at our stop (Hesseplats) we exchanged numbers and decided to meet again.

The following day we packed and left for Jaaps house.  Fully ladden we once again took the metro to central station, and met an old lady who walked with us towards Jaaps road, she had lived in Rotterdam nearly all her life, and loved the city.  She told us about visting buildings foundations or openings when new ones are put up, which she enjoyed.  She spoke of Japan to us too, she had lived there for a short time, and enjoyed herself claiming it would be the one other place she would want to live (besides Rotterdamn of course). 

We found Jaaps house along the main street next to the canal! 

Jaaps Front door

a one bedroom studio flat, with strange angles, almost out of the old batman sets, quite hard to navigate while tippsy.  We left the bags, and chilled with Jaap for a time, before not to long he had to leave for work, and us in tow to see the market.  We made it as far as the first corner!  We turned into one of the main shopping streets and walked past Rythem bar, only to spy Milko and friends jamming outside. 

Jaap walked on to his work, and we pulled up chairs next to the guys and listened to their music for some time.  Paz gave Allon a call and he appeared, we set out walking the streets towards Pluto coffee shop for some Hash and had soon found a small street we could sit in and smoke.  We started to break out the music but some people living in the homes near didnt like it, so we moved :)

We found a great doorway, an archway with good sound and well shielded from the wind.  

The nice archway

Paz placed his hat in front of us and we started to play, waiting for Allon's friend to arrive (who worked to the same scale of time as my brother, that is 10mins = 20-25mins real time).  Milko walked past and joined in the jamming, 

Milka and Allon

later the police arrived, the law works so that we cannot play music on the streets for some reason, although most people just move on and set up at a diffrent place. 

Although the police worked as a good alarm clock, since we had to meet Jaap after work at his, so with 15mins left we set out towards Jaap's place. After sitting at his door for a time, we remembered we said to meet him at bar rythem,  although we missed him, so just poppped into the coffee shop centrum (just round the corner from him). 

We met with Jaap and entered his house, chilled and decided what to do that night, we had options of a Drum and Bass party, a Techno squat party, a Reggae sound sytem and did'nt know. Although what ended up happening was none of the above, slowly more and more people entered Jaaps house, and a party slowly began to take form,  drinks and joints circled to groundation music (amazing sounds).

Jaaps bed

a slow morning followed, coffee and gingerbread toasted, as neil young floated through the room.  The day followed the same trend as set by the morning, the music changed but the vibes remained constant.  Paz and Cimi left for a trip to the park with Shyra and from what they told me, took a trip incased in a massive inflatable ball which they rolled about in.

Allon at Jaaps

Jaap and Allon

The Sitting incense

The evernings events were planned, another semi-squat/community center was hosting a meal, about 30-40mins walk away, over the main bridge over the river.  After the brisk walk, we entered the building, situatated under a bridge,  Allon, Jaap, Shyra, Cimi, Paz and myself entered and we met some of Shyra's friends inside.  Once again the meal was great, although special mention to the dessert, a very sweet cherry almost crumble.  A great building, coloured lights in green and red highlighted painting on the wall, and after a box of chalks were passed around Allon, Cimi, and Paz preceded to draw along and up the blank walls.

We walked back slowly, once again in a haze of intoxication, but comfortable.  We walked the streets and I could have imagined myself in Japan, the street lights at even distances, not a yellow glow but a bright white light, with cycle paths and the odd tram in the distance turning a corner.  I had the same feeling later while watching passing lamposts in the night on the metro.  Like a anime I had watched, but real.

We spent another night at Jaaps place, and had a great time, Co and Ronda came round again, and we spent the day over many cups of tea, music and conversation.  It seems every city we come to so far we have met wonderful and friendly people, and there is always an exchange.  although thats only two citys so far, im sure we will have great times in all places and unexpected!

We awoke to the sound of Rotterdams air raid siren sounding at 12, they sound at the start of each month to test them, although for a moment i had imagined somthing worse :0 we dozed for a time and decided to move our bags to Allon's house in the suburbs near the motorway.  so after rather a long and relaxed morning, lasting to the modest time of 6pm we packed and essembled ourselves.

Saying our goodbyes to Jaap, Co and Ronda we pilled out onto the street, after three attempts to exit, i made it out only forgeting my towl in the end.  We took the Metro out to Allon's house, and dumped the bags in his room (the top floor loft conversion).  We chilled, and then decided to say our goodbyes to Athur who was living just a 15min walk from Allon's home.  When we last left Athur the only photo we had we of his flat with Paz in, and not of Athur.  We got to Athurs and said our goodbyes and got the photo :)  Although you should also be able to find stuff about Athur on Google, since he is a top class Disk golfer too!

Arthur and us

He gave us a frisbee to take with us on our travels, and we parted ways.  Pritty tired by this point and crashed out in Allon's room to wake today to leave, although at the time of writing its 1:45pm and we are just eatting breakfast and getting ready, not to meantion typing this, since missed out loads of days without net access....:/

anyway....untill next time