krokets; Amstel; dinner with Bainies

Went in search of the finest krokets in Amsterdam. Krokets are the Dutch equilavent of our hot dog in the sense that they're delicious but no one needs or should see the inputs or the process, just the end product. This item is the popular fast food or diner food, and is such a homerun that it is still a common snack item in Indonesia from Dutch colonial times. Anyway, every country does this differently but the Dutch take some kind of mystery meat, mix with mashed potatoes, encase in dough and deep fry; then slather a couple of those with hot mustard and place in a bun. This place called Van Dobben is supposed to have the best, so I set out on foot and walked clear across the city for this place. It's nestled in a side street and I saw only Dutch folks inside, affirming the authenticity. I was so excited (and hungry) that I burned the roof of my mouth on it. It was so delicious that I ordered up a second.


After this indulgence I went to the Red Light District (which is a bit tacky and sad and unfortunate, probably especially during the daylight hours) to see the Oude Kerk ("Old Church") which hails from the early 14th Century and is, in fact, Amsterdam's oldest church. It is plain, but that is consistent with it being from the Late Middle Ages--although also to it having been looted throughout its history. But the original ceiling paintings are still visible on the wooden roof, which is the largest medieval wooden vault in Europe. The floor is all gravetones, one laid right into another, because this place was built on a cemetery (2500 gravetones, I think!). Rembrandt was a parishioner: children baptized here and his wife buried here as well. After Oude Kerk, I went to take the train to Amstel (a first tier suburb where Bain's offices are) to meet Sara and her colleagues for happy hour at the Blooker.


A fun time followed by dinner with three of her friends. Then Sara and I managed to drive her bicycle home, with me pedaling and trying to steer and her trying to balance and not fall off while sitting sidesaddle on the back.