Thursday, August 2, 2012
Caught up on email and Halloween in Mexico plans. Checked out the hotel's gym and pool. Late brunch by myself at Kam Kee: noodle soup with pork dumplings. About 8.50 euros ($10.50). Did a lot of walking around and taking photos. Bought a local sim card at Phone Point. Shopped for umbrellas but bought none of them. Basically every umbrella in the area is between 5 and 9 euros and of very low quality and sometimes has a hokey design. Met Chris and Nate at the hotel. Did more wandering with Nate and Chris, this time in the neighborhood of Jordaan. Lunch with Nate and Chris at Espressamente Bâton aka Brasserie Bâton: Chris had a sandwich with buffalo mozzarella and tomato, I had a chicken bacon sandwich and mango smoothie. 18.90 euros ($24). We walked back to the hotel. I did some shoe shopping on my own and finally found something I liked and which met my insole-removable requirement at Front Runner: Pantofola D'Oro Loreto Low Men in olympian blue, size 40: 95 euros ($117). At the purchase, the man helping me said that these shoes just came in today and that I was the first person to buy them. I had no idea I was such a trendsetter! Hotel. Chris stayed in to sleep, and I had dinner with Nate at Dante. Nate and I shared a margherita pizza and polenta with hot goat cheese. Nate had merlot, I had Chardonnay. While we ate a man played violin well in the street, and after several songs he came around requesting donations and we came him some of our coins. Neil joined us at the end for a glass of prosecco, and Nate and I had another round of drinks. 42 euros ($52). Drinks at Prik with Nate and Neil.