Hi everyone, I'm sitting in the main lounge of my youth hostel in Amsterdam. I'm picking up my good friend, Alan, in about 3 hours from central station...Amsterdam is of course a crazy place...I had a flight at noon and railed into the city and took a tram to my hostel...its very cool and I will give better details when I don't have to pay for internet time...I smoked a nice joint, had a great coffee at another coffeeshop, walked through beautiful neighborhood following the canals, had a few pints while watching some football, and will now sit down to read and do a little writing in the journal before walking back to the station to meet my friend. Its certainly a bit tough to be in a big city alone, but I'm finding my way about as well as I can I guess, and I am haivng a great time, though at times it feels like I'm just trying to tread water!!! All's well though...I miss you all, and feel a happy warmth when I think of you. Love you, Zach. --