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Post date: Sep 07, 2017 12:51:8 PM
Another year, another ESEB. This used to be my favorite conference when I lived outside of Europe, and now since I live here it has become THE conference. Plus I hate Portland with an all consuming passion (where Evolution is being held this year), so there’s that. And, not everyone gives a talk at ESEB, and I was selected to talk about my research! Finally, to top it all off, Jen just finished her PhD and she and Jose were coming to Europe for a little travel after the conference to celebrate.
Hence, I packed my bags, and my research and headed to the Netherlands.
The best part about conferences is that they are like a big family reunion. You run into friends from past degrees, or conferences, and then proceed to get really drunk and sing karaoke with them until the wee hours of the morning like you’re undergraduates again. No but seriously, Backstreet Boys are like my karaoke gateway drug, I’m physically incapable of hearing them without singing and dancing along.
But anyway, I digress, at this particular conference it overlapped with an anthropology (evolutionary medicine?) conference and allowed me to see my old and dear friend Dan! We met my first year of my PhD and he remains one of the coolest people I’ve met in grad school. YAY DAN!
The other cool thing about ESEB is that the conference usually schedules Wednesday afternoon off, so people can relax, recoup and explore the city we find ourselves in. While Groningen is nice (I don’t think I’ve mentioned before now that we were in Groningen… it’s like a Dutch college town), we wanted adventure! I noticed on the map that the north sea is nearby, but there doesn’t seem to be a way to reach it by train. Ben noticed that we could rent bikes. And so we set out to ride 30 km to the sea!
We made it 19 km, stopped and had a beer, turned around and came back. ADVENTURE!
The dutch do not mess about with bikes. They are meant to be comfortable and sturdy and they are my favorite bikes in the world to ride.
And Jen wanted to try. Which was adorable.
After a week of conferencing, we headed to Amsterdam for a weekend of fun.
Ok, it should be obvious that I have traveled extensively across Europe. Recently, the intensity and frequency of travel has resulted in a bit of slump. All European cities have started to look the same (blah!) and I wasn’t as excited as I could have been about this trip. But then I got to Amsterdam and let me tell you. Amsterdam is really quite different.
The part I liked the best was when we went to the Jaardan, which isn’t the touristy area. I kept reflecting that I’d like to go to Amsterdam in the off season, because there are way too many people. But the Jaardan was like Amsterdam without the crowds. Lovely.
We went and visited Van Gogh. Turns out I have been saying that name wrong… my entire life.
The entire role of the guards in the museum is to run around telling people not to take photographs. But I was apparently allowed to take this one. Evidenced by the dozens of people taking selfies with Van Gogh.
Amsterdam does not hide it’s interest in sex, which is awesome. I was looking at these penis salt and pepper shakers, and Jen came up behind me and exclaimed "That's the symbol of Amsterdam" I responded "No, that's a penis". She meant the three Xs. I maintain my point was also valid.
Apparently, Rick Steves has a walking tour of the Red Light District (or RLD as Jen kept telling us it was called). This condom shop of hilarity was the first stop.
This boob being groped was another. It’s embedded in the sidewalk right next to a church! Which is interesting…
Jen was adamant that she didn’t want to do anything too sexy. So getting this photo of her walking by the SEX SHOP ATM is worth every penny.
I do not know what this advertisement is trying to sell me but I would like to buy it right now. All of it. Jen is also interested in the goods.
Amsterdam has a microbe museum! Which is so very cool. But you know what was almost cooler, this 7 foot tall tardigrade. People really think they are cute and I’ve never seen it… but I’m getting it a little now…
Jen looking stunning, clutching her Rick Steves in Amsterdam.
A memorial to homosexuals killed in World War II. Given that homosexuality was illegal in most of the world at that time this is remarkably progressive and generally really awesome.
We did not go to the Anne Frank house, because the line is 3-4 hours long. You can book ahead of time, but it sells out months in advance. I read the book, saw the outside of the house, and didn’t need to experience the most overrated attraction in Amsterdam.
Rick Steves did direct us to try the cheese at this shop. Not only was it mouth watering, they did cheese tastings! So I splurged and did it. All that cheese is for me… it was so good.
Fun fact: in the Netherlands all the cheese is made in one central place in order to control the milk market. The baby/fresh/newly made cheese is then shipped to the various cheese makers around the country. The variation in gouda is in the aging… and now you know.
After a weekend in Amsterdam we were off (on a VERY early morning train) to Berlin! I have now done this city with so many friends it’s starting to be an embarrassingly large number. Still much to see...
You’ve seen this before.
This time though we did something new and went to the Reistag! It’s the German government building and has a glass ceiling to demonstrate transparency.
Alexanderplatz! I have been here many times and still don’t know why it’s important/noteworthy. Seriously, does anyone know?
Jen doing the things she most enjoyed while traveling, reading Rick Steves.
I found this in the German history museum! It’s an allied snail. Given that I was traveling with my fellow snail friend, this seems very appropriate.
Also, this was an advert in Berlin. You stay weird Berlin, I’ll be back.
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