Day 70: The Day of Hyperinflation

Sunday 25th September

Feeling emotionally and physically battered by the scenes in Amsterdam we packed up and headed over to the overnight car park where Marigold had spent the night. Assured by Alf that we had gotten away with an absolute steal of only €5 for the night, we jovially sauntered up to the parking meter with what little cash we had left ready to pay. Either Amsterdam had the highest rate of hyperinflation since 35 quadrillion Zimbabwean dollars bought you a pint of milk, or Alf’s dyslexic brain had mis-read €5 for €60. Unsurprisingly, it was the latter. Somehow we had to come up with a way to fork out the now extortionate fee with what little scraps we had left to our name. Faced with returning to the Red Light District to sell our bodies for money, thankfully we scrambled together enough cash to save a red-faced Alf. Never change mate. 



Just outside Amsterdam we stopped by Leiden to visit Alf’s best bud from uni Niall. Skint, exhausted and in need of a decent shower, Niall’s place gave us the perfect respite we needed. Boasting the second largest Dutch city centre after Amsterdam, Leiden is a place to enjoy the more sedate pleasures in life without having to contend with hordes of tourists. The gorgeous canals, biking trails and world famous university allow residents to escape the chaotic cosmopolitan vibe of the capital city and enjoy a life of relative tranquillity. It was so peaceful we conked out on his living room floor barely minutes after the sun went down.

Posted by: Rich