Who's Driving - Amsterdam Adventures S2E40

Wesley is back from Amsterdam and Steven sounds bitter. Join us as we recount the wonders of Amsterdam, from its rich history and stunning architecture to the seamless biking culture that fills the streets with more bicycles than you'd believe. We'll share stories of the charming Dutch countryside, complete with a flower farmer's tour, and dive into the ease of communicating in English there—making it an English speaker's delight. There's also a delightful comparison with language quirks in France and Spain that you won't want to miss.

You'll get a taste of Amsterdam's vibrant food scene and a candid look at its infamous Red Light District. We'll recount amusing anecdotes, from discovering the Dutch love of mayonnaise to the local's inventive ways of dealing with disrespectful behavior in the district's alleyways. Join us for an episode brimming with fun travel tales, humorous observations, and entrepreneurial insights, exploring how different cultures offer surprising blends of old-world charm and modernity.

We want to hear from you give our hotline a call or text at 864-982-5029. Happy listening! And remember to leave us a rating and review.

We mentioned The Nested Fig App in this episode. You can Tap Here to get our app and join our live sales on Sundays and Thursdays at 8pm est.

Follow Steven on Instagram at @Keepinupwithstevenand follow Wesley on Instagram at @Farmshenanigans.  Shop our online store at TheNestedFig.Com  Find The Nested Fig on Instagram at @TheNestedFig 

Transcript

Small Business Entrepreneurship and Travel

Speaker 1 0:00

I'm back , I'm back , I'm back , I'm back . Are you here ?

Speaker 2 0:06

Yeah , I'm still here .

Speaker 1 0:08

Get in . I guess I'll drive today . I feel like you're worn out . I'm more slap out , haggard , because you just had to take care of everything . It's time for another episode of who's Driving . Welcome to who's Driving . I'm Wesley Turner .

Speaker 2 0:36

And I'm Stephen Merck .

Speaker 1 0:37

We're two best friends and entrepreneurs who's Driving and offer a wide range of informative topics centered around running small businesses , social media and all things home and garden .

Speaker 2 0:46

Buckle up and enjoy the ride . You never know who's driving or where we're headed .

Speaker 1 0:51

All we know is it's always a fun ride and on this week's episode I'm back from the Netherlands , from Amsterdam , and we're going to talk all about it and catch up , see what's been happening , see what's going on . So you survived . Did anything big happen while I was gone ?

Speaker 2 1:08

Same old , same old . We had a good event at the store .

Speaker 1 1:12

Yeah , you had to do the open house at the store without me the first time in 16 years , but they did everything they did . They did everything you said . It turned out and people showed up .

Speaker 2 1:22

It was great . They did everything you said . It turned out and people showed up . It was great . They did a great job . Literally , I dropped off a few things and then I just showed up .

Speaker 1 1:29

Oh , is that all you did ? I should have known .

Speaker 2 1:33

Well , that's all you've ever done . That's all you do . You're late when you do show up . Yeah , I get a phone call like well , how's it going ? People there , yeah , yeah , are you ? Yeah , I'll stop by in a little bit . I'll be there in a minute , but yeah , it went really well . It was good .

Speaker 1 1:58

The team did a great job . You held down the fort while I was gone . I think he's still a little bitter about it . We're not going to talk about it , but he's a little bitter about it .

Speaker 2 2:06

You know I went into it with a great attitude and you came out with a different attitude . No , I'm just . You know it's not , honestly . It's not that it has nothing to do with you , it's just the normal holiday rundown . Yeah , you start getting tired , I feel recharged day rundown .

Speaker 1 2:24

Yeah , you start getting tired . I feel recharged . I told Daniel . I was in the middle of Amsterdam and I feel like , oh , christmas season hadn't even started yet . I got a break in the middle of it and I even texted you . I said next year you need a long weekend break . It gets you revived and ready to go . You were like hell yeah , I'm leaving in the middle . I'm like just a long weekend . I think we each need a long weekend .

Speaker 2 2:49

I think I could do a long weekend .

Speaker 1 2:52

I wouldn't leave further because it's just too much going on , honestly , like a Friday through a Monday . Just not show up A .

Speaker 2 2:59

New York trip would be fun , because I think that would kind of get you in the spirit .

Speaker 1 3:05

They were putting up all of their decor and Christmas lights and it was fun and festive . So I've been back from Amsterdam for like 36 hours and this morning , this Monday morning , I woke up at 5.30 . Well , I actually woke up earlier than that because we were six hours ahead and I don't feel jet lag . Yesterday I felt a little foggy , I'm not going to lie . When I got up on Sunday I just felt like where am I ? What's happening ? And having to get back to reality , like , oh , I got to go do a live sale , everything , but today . So when I got home from the live sale last night , I ate a little something and went straight to bed . Like no later than 11 I was out , and then I woke up at like three something and I was like , well , you can't get up yet , so just go back to bed and then when daniel gets up , I'll just get up . So that's what I did and we had coffee together watch the sun come up , which I haven't done .

Speaker 2 3:59

I don't know well , it won't last I know it won't lie .

Speaker 1 4:03

I hope it doesn't last . Oh my gosh .

Speaker 2 4:06

Wait , this was your second trip , though with the huge , because we did Hawaii three years ago , right , so that was a six-hour time difference .

Speaker 1 4:16

Yes , but it was the other way and I felt so different . Like the Hawaii , I was saying this in the live last night the hawaii , we were behind our home time , uh-huh , and that didn't seem as weird to me , I don't know why . I would just be like , oh , they're done with their day . I guess you know we would be the middle of our day and we'd be like , oh , they're gone home from the stores . And then this one , I would like go to sleep and wake up and y'all were like live or something , and it was the middle of the night . You know you would be live at like nine o'clock and you had six hours to that . That's the middle of the night over there .

Speaker 2 4:52

Yeah , I'm trying to think it felt so different . It's been a while since I've been in that time like Europe time . Yeah , Because I haven't been to Europe in a minute .

Speaker 1 5:07

But I don't remember it feeling different to me . Yeah , but you know , I think it's because we do timestamps . We don't realize in our day , you and I , how many timestamps we do with the businesses . Mentally , like I would be like what are sales for the day ? You know we keep a mental run of that . I'd be like oh , let me check what sales are and have they text us what sales ?

Speaker 2 5:26

are Well online . You know people ask what I refresh on my phone . I'm like sales . We have sales on our phones and you have to open up the app and you said they caught you in the background when we're live .

Speaker 1 5:40

Stephen , if you ever see him in the background when we're live , he is constantly refreshing his phone to see what the sales are .

Speaker 2 5:47

And you can't help it . But I do it even all during the day Right , all the time Right , and I know you're like , well , that's weird , it isn't .

Speaker 1 5:57

No , because it gives you a pulse on what's happening and , tina , even during a live . Yeah .

Speaker 2 6:05

Because it's like are they responding to this or do they hate it ? Are we wasting ?

Speaker 1 6:08

our time and their time . Yeah , do I need ? Do we need to switch it up ? Yeah , because sometimes you'll give me signals . I mean the customers don't know right .

Speaker 2 6:15

And well , we have , we can switch gears yeah , well , we have a total language that nobody else or sometimes you'll give me .

Speaker 1 6:23

I can tell by your body language like oh , it's going good , keep it going doing what we're doing you know , and sometimes I'm like , okay , it's been good , they're kind of , but it's dying off it's time to wrap it up , yeah , or you can be like well , we've it's kind of getting late and we've done really good , let's just go ahead and , you know , wrap it up so they don't get tired of us . There's all these , these like I don't know situations .

Speaker 2 6:49

Well , it's a psychology experiment , the whole thing . You know , retail is Well business in general , retail .

Speaker 1 6:56

Yeah , it is , and you know we're supposed to be talking about my trip , but we'll talk about this . You know you and I have talked about some days . It's a psychology experiment , like people just wake up and they are going to shop , or collectively . Collectively they're not buying anything .

Speaker 2 7:15

And I mean what I don't mean in Greenville , I mean the whole damn country , yeah , and it ties together .

Speaker 1 7:22

It's so weird and it's not even like yeah , and it ties together . It's so weird and it's not even like just say specifically a live sale , because that can be like oh , we're showing this live sale might have more expensive things , so you know , those may not sell as quickly because they're high .

Speaker 1 7:37

You know we're not talking that . No , we're talking for the day . Like you know , we get sales in on the app and the website when we're not even doing a live sale or something like that . And some days we wake up and we're like huh , what is going on today ? Just sales are here and there .

Speaker 2 7:54

And we know that's going to be a good day to do a live too .

Speaker 1 7:57

Yeah , and if that is true , if there are already sales coming in , coming in , coming in , we're like we got to do it live , we got to get live . I'll call Steve and I'm like the sales are coming in . We got to get live because we know collectively across the country , for whatever reason , that day is , it's going to be good .

Speaker 2 8:16

The moon is just lined up . And then some days it's the exact opposite . You could be selling a Mercedes for $10 and they wouldn't buy it .

Speaker 1 8:26

They don't give a shit . I don't want it , I don't want it Not today .

Speaker 2 8:29

It ain't the right color .

Speaker 1 8:31

Yeah , it's true , it's true .

Speaker 2 8:33

It is .

Speaker 1 8:34

So it's the moods , and it's the same way at the retail stores . You can have a day we haven't done anything different and all of a sudden it is just full of people all day long and you're like where did they come from ? Like above average busy for us . And then some days it's just dead for no reason . It's not the weather , it's just woke up and weren't going to shop today . But anyway , that's that , but anyway . So back to the sales . So because we do those timestamps in our head of what was the sales today , let me check in . And then it would be you know , our stores close at 6 pm and one of them we can't see our sales remotely , so they have to text us although that's about to change and I would get the text of what the sales were . And it was midnight and I was like this is so weird Because I've been so out of that mindset and now I'm waiting on the sales to come in . It just felt longer or something than it did . The opposite way .

Speaker 2 9:35

Well , because you had to wait longer .

Speaker 1 9:36

You know , if it's lunchtime in Hawaii and they text us the sales , it's like , oh , that's weird , they're done for the day .

Speaker 2 9:42

Okay , I get that point . Yeah , you were like waiting .

Speaker 1 9:45

Yeah , you're waiting longer , or I would be waiting for you to go live , like oh , stephen's going to go live tonight and then I would be waiting , yeah . And it's six hours different . So , anyway , that was weird . But , oh my goodness , okay , so what else Let ? Okay , so what

Exploring Amsterdam

Speaker 1 10:02

else ? Let's talk about Amsterdam ? You've never been , I've never been . It was a great experience . I loved it . It was crazy . You know , you talked about how old everything is , because you had never been to .

Speaker 1 10:18

Europe Right , this city center . It is crazy when you walk the streets and think about how old it is , and see it you don't realize how new it is here right , but then when you go out you also you know they have new developments and stuff too .

Speaker 1 10:35

And it was really cool because we went with this um farm uh flower farmer supplier he supplies like bare root and plugs and that sort of thing to Daniel and he put together this whole tour so we could see these facilities in the Netherlands . And it was really cool because we got to , we stayed right outside of Amsterdam , kind of like it was a really nice , it was all good , but it was kind of near the airport , so we were like 20 minutes outside of Amsterdam but we got to go on buses all throughout the Netherlands Because these growers every day we were going somewhere different . So we really got to see the countryside too and small communities and I think that's what's so really pretty .

Speaker 2 11:24

I think that's what's so really pretty . I think that's what's so cool . Like , when I visited Europe , I've every time taken a train out to different countrysides or different cities and you go through and it's like really cool Right . And I bet it was even more so in the Netherlands , yeah Right .

Speaker 1 11:43

And I bet it was even more so in the Netherlands . Yeah , and it's so cool because you know there's so much land and fields where they grow the tulips and stuff like that , but then there's . It's just cool how they do their communities or their village . I guess they're like villages , so they're just pop up and they're just this little tight village and they bike everywhere and even out in the country , like you'll be driving down what's their interstate , and there's just bike paths going through flower fields and they're just biking from one place to the next . It's the craziest thing . And then in Amsterdam , the city center , the most shocking thing was the amount of bicycles Not seeing people on the bikes . But there are bikes everywhere , like cockroaches . They are stacked everywhere , they're chained up everywhere . I mean there are thousands of bikes .

Speaker 2 12:37

You know , it's not that way at all .

Speaker 1 12:39

No , no , no , I'm just saying that's kind of in it .

Speaker 2 12:43

Maybe in other countries too , I would guess . I don't know . I think of Sweden and Norway , maybe , I don't know , I don't know .

Speaker 1 12:51

But this is just like bikes everywhere . It's kind of cool , though it's cool and they have garages for bikes and stuff like that . It's not just that they bike everywhere , like in Amsterdam , the city , there are way more cars than bike . I mean , it would be like being in New York City or something . It's not that big and just all those people are on bikes instead of walking , or it's crazy . And then there's just . I was just mind blown by the bike Were the people nice , very nice , okay .

Speaker 1 13:21

So we got to answer some of the common questions I was getting on Instagram . First of all , super nice , okay . So we got to answer some of the common questions I was getting on Instagram . First of all , super nice , the people were very nice . And the most common question I was getting asked was about the language barrier . They all speak English , like we had no problems , and Daniel had been there this spring . He's like we won't have any problems , but they all like they might start talking to you in Dutch and then I'd be like looking at them and then they would repeat it in English .

Speaker 2 13:47

Well , you know , Jennifer , it works for us yes . Her father-in-law or her stepfather is from the Netherlands .

Speaker 1 13:55

Oh , is that and her brother .

Speaker 2 13:57

Her younger older brother she's the oldest lives in the .

Speaker 1 14:01

Netherlands . Okay , so he lives in the Hague and we went there the Hague's the city , that's kind of like their DC , I guess you would say where all the government-type places are and stuff like that and we went there and we had dinner and she messaged me so I got to talk to her . That that's where her brother lived . Did he move there recently ?

Speaker 2 14:23

Has he been there ? He's been there for several years . He's been there , gosh , I guess I didn't pick up on that .

Speaker 1 14:29

He's been there for years . Okay , yeah , so we were exactly where her brother lives , uh-huh , and that's probably , I don't know 30 minutes from Amsterdam or whatever . Yeah , from the city center , but speaking English , because some people were saying that they were going or that they were planning trips . So one thing if you're going or planning a trip , don't worry about speaking English . They all speak English and they're super nice about it . They might speak to you in Dutch first and then you just say English or I'm sorry , I don't understand , and then they'll switch their language , but I think most of them can look at you Well it's not that way everywhere .

Speaker 2 15:07

I know that's kind of nice .

Speaker 1 15:09

Yes , we were talking with some other people and they were like oh , like , when you go to France , they're a little bitchy about it . They were like most people do speak English , say , if you go to France , but they're kind of bitchy that you assume that they do . They want you to ask them if they speak English , and then they will .

Speaker 2 15:31

What I ran into in Spain with the language is they a lot of people do not speak English .

Speaker 1 15:40

Yeah , in certain areas . Yeah , in certain areas , and I guess , if you're not a huge tourist area , and I went .

Speaker 2 15:46

When I , I spoke more fluent spanish , which was helpful , right , but like in barcelona , um , you know , they have a local dialect that's like a combination of spain , a little spanish , italianian .

Speaker 1 16:03

French .

Speaker 2 16:04

And I could get by with Spanish , but it still was like it wasn't the same . It wasn't the same as like I can go to Mexico . In certain parts of Mexico they don't speak . A lot of people don't speak English in Mexico , but I can get around fine . It's amazing when you can pull some Spanish out of your ass , right , you're like , oh my gosh , I'm in a cab and I've got to tell them where I'm going .

Speaker 1 16:36

That would make me nervous because I can't do it . I mean , I don't know enough you do Like my ex .

Speaker 2 16:42

Okay , this used to drive me crazy . So he went to a bilingual school . So I mean , I know enough about languages . If you are learning it as a kid , it is much easier . So he had you know , he had gone to bilingual school , so he should know it , he should have known it , and it never failed , like when we were in Spain , because that was a , that was an issue Like we were not expecting and they didn't speak . So we would get in and like my thing is at least try , at least try and I'll help you , but try , but try . Yeah , we would . It wouldn't matter what situation we were in . They would say something and he would slap at me , like talk to him well , that's what I would do to you .

Speaker 1 17:35

And I was like yeah , I do that with you in english . I'm like , I'm like slapping your leg .

Speaker 2 17:42

I I do want to go to Amsterdam , but uh and you kind of brought this up that it's a it's a long weekend place .

Speaker 1 17:50

Yes , so that was the other thing . If you're going , okay . Now I need to rephrase this because it depends on what type of traveler you are . You and I are very similar travelers . We can just go walk the city , we can walk by the important things and we're like , okay , we've been there , done that sort of thing .

Speaker 2 18:11

That's all we need . I don't need to tour everything .

Speaker 1 18:13

We don't need to tour everything Now they have , like the Van Gogh Museum , the Modern Art Museum .

Speaker 2 18:20

Oh , no , I'd have to do that .

Speaker 1 18:21

The other museum . Well , I would have to do that .

Speaker 2 18:25

Museum they Well , I would have to do that , but a long weekend you can do .

Speaker 1 18:27

That you can do that , especially when you have full days , because we only had we had one full day which wasn't a whole , no , we didn't even ever have a full day , but we had half days , a few half days there . So I would say , like you could even go there and come back for a long weekend or go there stay a few days and then move on to another place .

Speaker 2 18:53

I wouldn't do that . I wouldn't go there for a long weekend . I would go there while in Europe and then move on to somewhere .

Speaker 1 18:56

Yes , but you know , if you went , maybe in the spring and hit the tulip tours because there's tours you can do like that that would take up time , and if you were a flower farmer or a flower grower , you may want to spend a little more time Right .

Speaker 1 19:09

For the first time I'm guessing , yeah , but you'd have to know the connection . See , we have the connection to tour the facilities . Most people don't , and they don't just let you in to tour it . But if you are just going to walk the city , do a little shopping , hit up a museum , you can do all that in a weekend , a long weekend , and then move on . You'd be ready to move on . So the other thing I was getting asked on Instagram was you know , amsterdam has canals through it . Several people didn't realize . Well , one , they thought it was one canal because they had seen it on TV . Or two didn't realize there . Well , one , they thought it was one canal because they had seen it on TV . Or two didn't realize there were canals Even out in the countryside

Exploring Amsterdam's Architecture and Culture

Speaker 1 19:49

. There's canals because the land sits four meters below sea level and that's why you originally saw what you think of as a windmill , the Dutch windmill that was used to pump water away into the canals , and then they used the canals also , like the farmers did , for irrigation and transport .

Speaker 2 20:14

So does it flood there a lot ?

Speaker 1 20:16

No , the canals take it all away .

Speaker 2 20:19

Do they still use those windmills to pump it away ?

Speaker 1 20:22

Some I mean , I guess they use other things Probably in the country , but yeah there are still those big what you're seeing pretty Dutch windmills .

Speaker 2 20:30

That you see on the blue and white China .

Speaker 1 20:32

Yeah , exactly , you still see those . And then they have some areas has the wind turbines , I guess that produce the energy .

Speaker 1 20:41

Those are two different things , but anyway . So the city center of Amsterdam is also built . If you look at it I would go on like Google Maps and zoom in on it like overhead view so it's in rings and that's where the city was built originally and then expanded and all of those canals were hand dug and they go throughout the city . All of those canals were hand dug and they go throughout the city and they use those as transportation and to drain , you know , the water as well . So all of the buildings are built on wood stilts , like wood posts being into the ground , and they were built back in the day , leaning forward . So when you look at them they're not straight up , they're leaning forward .

Speaker 2 21:26

Yeah , I've seen photos . They look like they're built cockeyed .

Speaker 1 21:29

And they did that because I don't know . They were built really tight and they all have a hook on the front of the building and to this day we saw someone moving . They are hoisting their furniture up and down on this hook and so , with the building leaned forward , the stuff didn't hit the front of the building , it's easier to get it in .

Speaker 1 21:49

Yeah , Because when it gets to the top it's closer to the building . And then they said it also helped with the rain because it doesn't run down the buildings , the flat part of the building .

Speaker 2 21:59

So it keeps it in better shape . Yeah , it keeps it in better shape . So did you still see architecture-wise thatched roofing out in the countryside more .

Speaker 1 22:10

Yeah , you saw it just randomly and they say that's an art and it's not as common anymore , but they say that lasts like 30 years , 40 .

Speaker 2 22:19

Okay , 30 to 40 . Well , you know , a friend of ours here in Greenville , I picked out my house while I was there . Well , a friend of ours here in Greenville I won't call the person's name has . This is my house . It's so pretty . They have a thatched roof .

Speaker 1 22:38

Yeah .

Speaker 2 22:38

And you know me , I had to totally inspect it .

Speaker 1 22:44

It's amazing . Here's the better video of that . See there's canals even right around the houses . This is in the countryside .

Speaker 2 22:51

I'm just amazed that they last that long . I mean , no one here can do it . In the United States you have to fly in an artisan that knows how to do thatching . It's really cool looking .

Speaker 1 23:04

So yeah , even out in the country there's canals around your house and that sort of thing . So the buildings lean , there's a hook , and then if they lean left to right , that's a bad sign . That means they've settled . That means one of your poles has , you know , like they're supposed to lean forward . But if you see them like leaning left to right that means they're , there's a foundation issue .

Speaker 1 23:27

The foundation issue . A lot of them have been supported and put in place , but that's what , oh Lord , mine would be all cockeyed , yeah . So if you're going to Amsterdam , write this down . This is the one thing I highly recommend . It's a bike tour and it's by we Bike , w-e Bike , we Bike and it might be we Bike Amsterdam . You can look it up . It is the best tour . Daniel did it in the spring and he's like we got to do this tour . So it's like three hours , but it's super simple and you're not biking the whole time . You're going , you know you might go three blocks and then they stop and they tell you something and then you ride for a little bit and we stopped at a cafe in the park and that sort of thing .

Speaker 2 24:08

So it wasn't grueling .

Speaker 1 24:09

It was not grueling , that's my point . I mean , we had older people on our tour and it was very easy to do .

Speaker 2 24:17

Well , you know , I'm very leery of bike tours .

Speaker 1 24:21

But this one was very easy because it's flat there , because you're below sea level . The hardest thing to go over is the bridges that go over the canals .

Speaker 2 24:29

Which aren't that short .

Speaker 1 24:31

Yes , it's just a little bump , so it's very flat , very easy , and you get to see different areas of Amsterdam and go through where people actually live . That feels like local , because the city center feels very Americanized . It feels like a very old European Times Square . I mean , it's not as bright and digital , but there's all the tourist things .

Speaker 2 24:58

It's their version .

Speaker 1 24:59

Oh , but it's McDonald's and they love KFC .

Speaker 2 25:03

You did not send me a photo of McDonald's .

Speaker 1 25:07

Oh , I should have , I didn't even think of it .

Speaker 2 25:10

That's kind of disappointing .

Speaker 1 25:12

I did send you a McDonald's glass , bong Bong .

Speaker 2 25:16

I should have bought that for you Inappropriate .

Speaker 1 25:21

I didn't send you a McDonald's , but I was like , oh , there's a McDonald's , it's so funny .

Speaker 2 25:26

I get so many random . It's funny , like when I have friends travel , yeah , I get such random photos and it's always McDonald's .

Speaker 1 25:37

Yeah .

Speaker 2 25:37

And I love it .

Speaker 1 25:38

I love seeing them Because one of them we went out to a little village and right there was a McDonald's in an old-ass building .

Speaker 2 25:47

that was so cool , were they tiny in the city .

Speaker 1 25:50

The McDonald's , uh-huh . Um , you know , honestly , I did not pay attention enough to them .

Speaker 2 25:57

Because all the signs that I didn't look . I toured them in England and I thought , oh , that'd be cool . You know I wanted to tour them but you know they're in these buildings that are hundreds of years old . Yeah , and they were very welcoming and very gracious to me and opened up everything to me . Yeah , but like their , their sink , their three compartment sink where they do dishes . You know we it's big .

Speaker 1 26:22

Like eight feet long or longer .

Speaker 2 26:24

It's in a closet and you have to walk in sideways .

Speaker 1 26:28

Well , that was the other thing that I loved about the area . I was like I must've been born here in a previous life . No , I love that . There they make anything work . You know how . We'll just stick a lamp on the porch and people are like , oh , you can't do that there , anything goes . I mean your retail space . You might have to climb up a ladder to get into the space . They don't care . You might go into the basement and the roof might be six feet tall , it don't matter , you might go to the bathroom .

Speaker 2 27:06

If you don't like it , leave .

Speaker 1 27:07

Yeah , they don't care . I mean they work with , because it's so old , they put things in . Well , that's the way .

Speaker 2 27:13

That's what it is . Yeah , but they didn't change it . That's how I feel about england and spain . Yeah , and it'll all of it , and that's what I love about it . It's like take it or leave it , come in or don't .

Speaker 1 27:28

We don't give a damn yeah , and I was like in here and they have you're walking down like alleyways , where people live and they have their flowers and terracotta pots and a bench just taking up the whole alley . You might be walking right through their little patio . They don't care . And it can be broken .

Speaker 2 27:48

It can be chipped , it looks amazing .

Speaker 2 27:51

Yeah , that's what Jennifer and I have always talked about with England because her husband is also from England . Yes , and that's what she and I have always talked about with England , because her husband is also from England , and that's what she and I talk about . You can go over there in their homes , their gardens , their patios just a bunch of shit , but it looks amazing . Yes , I mean , I have pictures of gardens and stuff and you do that here . Yeah , people think we've lost our minds . I know , it's too . Everything's a little too perfect here , right , and I guess that's why I love the building I live in yeah , yeah , I embrace the the uneven floors .

Speaker 1 28:30

Whatever it may be the brick does . It's all fun and that's what they do and that's what I love . Like we went to one it was in the hague , actually . I went to one um restaurant and we were sitting outside and then I had to go to the bathroom . It was like going in a closet and then going up some steps that were like I don't know two feet wide . You probably practically had to turn sideways to go to the bathroom but I'm like this would never .

Speaker 1 28:56

They would have made them tear this down , tear it out .

Speaker 2 29:00

But that's the problem . Well , I mean , we've got many problems . We could go through two years of podcasts , but in Europe it's just not so litigious like it is here , right ? I mean , there you sue somebody and you lose . You're going to pay court fees , you're going to be in trouble .

Speaker 1 29:19

Yeah , and I assume they just don't over there .

Speaker 2 29:22

I think they've taught them not to .

Speaker 1 29:26

Because those bicycle people they will run your ass over . Get out of their lane . I'm like they don't care .

Speaker 2 29:33

See , I think that's the way it should be Too proper too , um , here .

Speaker 1 29:37

So that was the other thing . I was just like they make it work . But right at the center , city center , when you get out , like we took the train in , so it's amsterdam central's where the train comes in . All that area for a few blocks is very americanized starbucks now .

Speaker 2 29:53

Had you ever been on a train ?

Speaker 1 29:56

KFC ? I think so .

Speaker 2 30:00

But wasn't that a good experience ? It was a good experience .

Speaker 1 30:03

I mean it was very similar to riding . I don't know . I've ridden trains like that , I don't know where , but it's comfortable . Yeah , I like it . Yeah , and it was very easy to navigate . We didn't know anything and we figured it out . It was very easy .

Speaker 2 30:17

Well , I even did that To navigate . I think it's a nice way to travel . It is . It is very nice . Because , you get to see all the pretty To me . You see , you know , in a car , you're in your streets and you miss so much .

Speaker 1 30:38

But in a train it's going through the countryside and it's just . It was really good .

Speaker 2 30:40

I would love to just do that all over Europe , just do trains .

Speaker 1 30:43

I know we had people that were leaving when we were leaving , and they were . You know , it wasn't their holiday season . It makes me go God . Why are we so holiday-oriented me ? Go god . Why are we so holiday oriented ?

Speaker 2 30:59

um , they were taking the train to france to paris , or some were taking it , I don't know . Can you imagine like , oh , I'm going to paris , I'm going holiday shopping for the weekend in paris .

Speaker 1 31:09

No , I wouldn't , I would be like , oh my gosh , but I highly recommend if you're going to go WeBike and take a tour . And the other thing that the tour made me realize and I know we know it , but you know how we're so young in America , the country and everything you know they were talking about the history of everything and like importing and all the things that we kind of get blamed for negatively All we didn't start any of that you know , like importing and the trade that caused problems , slavery , like that was all started and then brought to America .

Speaker 2 31:54

Oh , yeah , they discovered that they set up business here , right and so you know , our history gets the blame for all of their history from other countries is what I'm like standing there like this was the new conquered land , right ? This would be like oh , we're setting up business over here , so let's take these people . Yeah , yeah .

Speaker 1 32:17

I mean they were already doing it . Yeah , All of it . All of it was all being done and they brought it over here , like you said , because we're so new .

Speaker 2 32:26

You just don't appreciate how new this country is to go to Europe and it's just like holy cow . I told you that was going to be the biggest wow .

Speaker 1 32:37

Yeah , it's crazy .

Amsterdam Food and Red Light District

Speaker 2 32:40

Now the food .

Speaker 1 32:41

Okay , we got to talk about the food . Okay , so Amsterdam . I don't know the other European countries , but let me tell you these people are starch people .

Speaker 2 32:53

All they eat .

Speaker 1 32:55

I like me some starch . We didn't get a damn vegetable Nowhere . They eat french fries , they eat hamburgers , they eat fried something Fried , something else . It is all like starch .

Speaker 2 33:09

But you liked it .

Speaker 1 33:09

I mean , there are just , but it was good . French fries it was good . It was good , it wasn't . I mean it wasn't bad for sure , but it wasn't like what I thought . Like European meal , I mean , everything was fried .

Speaker 2 33:24

But you're picky like me .

Speaker 1 33:26

You're worse than me , it was very good and you can get anything that you want over there .

Speaker 2 33:31

Well , I about starved to death in Spain . Now , england's fine England was fine , but I could deal with Amsterdam then . Oh yeah , you would be fine .

Speaker 1 33:40

You can get a burger or a pizza or French fries .

Speaker 2 33:46

Spain was not for me , spain wouldn't be for you either . Paninis Just kind of normal food .

Speaker 1 33:53

But very potato-centered , yes , but very potato-centered . Yes , very potato-centered .

Speaker 2 34:00

So they grow a lot of potatoes .

Speaker 1 34:02

I don't know , I don't know what their love is , and they love mayonnaise on everything . I've heard that Everything . French fries are served with mayonnaise .

Speaker 2 34:16

I've heard that mayonnaise okay , so we went to .

Speaker 1 34:18

This is fun . We went to this trade show . It was a flower trade show , just like you and I would go to a market , and they had a little food center set up and they're very good . They had like one was pasta , one was burger , one was paninis . All I mean you were were getting bread , bread or fried , or pasta . Or pasta yeah , but all carbs .

Speaker 2 34:40

I guess is what .

Speaker 1 34:41

I'm saying they had more mayonnaise bottles . I mean there had to be like one mayonnaise bottle for every three people at the show . I mean it was lined up . I mean the amount of mayonnaise , I'm not joking . The amount of mayonnaise there is , I don't know I got to research .

Speaker 2 35:04

Okay , did you eat the mayonnaise ?

Speaker 1 35:07

I did dip some fries in mayonnaise .

Speaker 2 35:10

Okay .

Speaker 1 35:10

It's different than our mayonnaise .

Speaker 2 35:12

That's what I was going to ask .

Speaker 1 35:14

And I think they leave it out . So maybe it doesn't have eggs or something in it Was it like a sweeter more runny mayonnaise . No , nope , it was creamy .

Speaker 2 35:22

It was more lemon , Was it ? You know cause I'm a Dukes , I'm a .

Speaker 1 35:26

Dukes . See , I don't like mayonnaise so I can't tell you the difference between just like a Kraft mayonnaise , just like a smooth , like the texture I don't know creamier .

Speaker 2 35:36

And they sit it out . Yeah , that just means they had a bunch of shit in it .

Speaker 1 35:40

I don't know . I don't know what's in it , and maybe they just had it sitting out for the day . Maybe they go through gallons of it at a time .

Speaker 2 35:48

But you know the packets like you get at McDonald's or what have you , they can be out , yeah , but or what have you ? They can be out . But you know it's a different mayonnaise , I know it's a creamier . Obviously it doesn't have the eggs .

Speaker 1 36:02

I would think this would be like the mayonnaise you get at Chick-fil-A yeah , packed , I don't know , because I don't know , I don't eat mayonnaise .

Speaker 2 36:10

Well , I love it , I did there .

Speaker 1 36:12

But yes , the food , it was all . I mean , it was all very good , but it was all very carbs . What about the drinks they do have . They are there anywhere you go , any restaurant . They had vegetarian options , Mark , like that was a thing , Like that's a very common thing , Even at the trade show you could get a veggie burger . Yes , lots of alcohol , Lots of wine , lots of alcohol . I would say more wine . Okay , I mean the other alcohol was normal . I mean I had alcohol drinks , but I feel like wine was everywhere .

Speaker 2 36:51

Let me see what other questions I have . So people are thin . They are thin , tall and thin .

Speaker 1 36:59

And thin , Very pretty people . Yeah , I knew that . I mean the natives , I guess , are very pretty people . There's a whole mix .

Speaker 2 37:06

Light . They're lighter complected yeah .

Speaker 1 37:10

Blonde , tall and pretty , like all the guys are like . I mean , I feel like 6'2 to 6'8 is normal , blind , yeah . So , yeah , that was awesome too . Let's see what else .

Speaker 2 37:25

So we went through the red light district and so Is it as crazy as they make it out to be ?

Speaker 1 37:32

Okay , so here is the red Light District , First of all . You're just walking down the street and you enter into the Red Light District . I don't know what I had pictured like this separate district , I guess but it's just one block over from whatever area .

Speaker 2 37:49

Like in New York .

Speaker 1 37:50

Yeah and so okay . So they have theaters where you can watch adult shows .

Speaker 2 37:57

Mm-hmm , and they're performing live .

Speaker 1 38:00

Yes , we didn't see any of that . We didn't go in , but you can watch them .

Speaker 2 38:04

Well , you sent me a photo of a store that all they sold appeared to be condoms .

Speaker 1 38:10

Yes , it was like a condom store of all kinds . I didn't go in . It's interesting I sent you the window , or whatever .

Speaker 2 38:16

It was a condom store of all kinds .

Speaker 1 38:17

I didn't go in . It's interesting , I sent you the window or whatever . It was very well done , it was Very tasteful , very artsy , yeah , very classy .

Speaker 2 38:22

Merchandised very well .

Speaker 1 38:24

So okay , so they have . When you go into , I don't know how big it felt like one , maybe it's like a couple of blocks and it's almost like being in New Orleans , but not people with their boobs hanging out , not throwing beads or anything like that , but kind of that feel , I don't know Bars , kind of these theaters .

Speaker 1 38:46

But then they have these , I guess they're small buildings or rooms and women are in the doorway . They're in , oh , and you can just rent them , yes , and they're knocking on the door . They're in , oh , and you can just rent them , yes , so , and they're knocking on the door , like they have curtains that they're pulling back and they're not naked .

Speaker 2 39:01

They're like Pretty Attractive women .

Speaker 1 39:06

You know , I didn't really look at any of them in the eyes . Yeah , I think so . Yeah , I mean , there were all kinds . Were there busy so yeah , I mean , there were all kinds . Were there busy ? Could you see men going in ? Well , we saw one coming out , so we were like well , that's kind of awkward . Like daniel and I was like well , I mean you just walk out on the nice looking man like .

Speaker 1 39:24

Uh , yeah , like average yeah , probably late 20s or something , not not anything , I don't know . So okay , so here's the funny story of this situation . Okay , first of all , I learned from someone there and then someone on Instagram messaged me . So if you , the women are in the windows , their doorway , their little compartments , and then they have beds in there and they close the curtains and do their thing .

Speaker 2 39:50

Do business yeah .

Speaker 1 39:51

Whatever the I don't know what , how you know the menu or whatever . I don't how you know the menu or whatever . I guess there's more things . I think if there's a certain color light , it's kind of like the loofah there's a certain color light , it might mean they'll take on a couple . I don't know . I don't know , I didn't get into that . But here's the funny thing . So we're walking and it's just a couple of blocks and we get there , like we just . Like I said , one is restaurants and cafes .

Speaker 2 40:17

And then you're there .

Speaker 1 40:23

Crossover and there's a woman in the window tapping on it , opening the door , like closing in the curtains and opening them knocking on the window .

Exploring Amsterdam's Red Light District

Speaker 1 40:28

Advertising , advertising . So Daniel and I are walking through there , he's like I know , we're like , we know it's here somewhere , so we walk there and then , oh , there's a woman in the window , and then there's taller buildings , I don't know . I mean there's women up there in the windows , whatever . And so we walk and we see this . And then we walk , there's like an alleyway , so we're like we'll just make the block to see the thing . So then there's this , there's all these alleys that people just walk through , like here I'd be like I ain't going down that , but there it's normal . And so there's , you know , six or eight doors all lined up and there's all women in there . So we walk around , or whatever we go , do that and we leave , and Daniel's like I won't get it . He's like what's the big deal ? And I was like they're advertising , like you can go have sex with them .

Speaker 2 41:17

Pay them . Yeah , he was like oh Well , what the hell did he think it was ? Did he think that was just a friendly community ?

Speaker 1 41:23

I guess he thought I don't know , we need to ask him . I guess in his mind he probably never . You know , poor innocent Daniel . I guess he thought maybe they were like strippers or something Like you just walked by and saw the women Like in the windows , like a viewing party more type thing . Oh , god , that's not that you could , you know , pay money . They're prostitute . He was like oh , I miss that part of it .

Speaker 2 41:48

I was like yeah , see , it fascinates me , yeah , all that kind of stuff , just .

Speaker 1 41:58

I mean , it just fascinates me . Oh , so what I was going to say that I learned is so it's like , don't take pictures or videos . And someone sent me on Instagram saying that someone they were with their sister or something was trying to take like didn't know that was trying to take videos or pictures and they threw water on her or sprayed her with water or something . But someone there told us I can't remember in the group or whatever told us that they will save their pee and if you are like harassing them or being disrespectful , they'll open the door and throw their pee on you .

Speaker 2 42:39

That's smart , I know I kind of want to do that . I'm going to start caring . Okay , here's what I'm going to do . I'm going to start at night , I'm going to pee into a mason jar and I'm going to put it in my car .

Speaker 1 42:56

Oh , my gosh .

Speaker 2 42:57

When somebody really makes me mad , I'm just going to pee into a mason jar and I'm going to put it in my car . Oh my gosh . And when somebody really makes me mad , I'm just going to douse them with a little Stephen P .

Speaker 1 43:02

You go for it . I think that's called a salt here in America .

Speaker 2 43:06

Oh , I'm sure it's called something here .

Speaker 1 43:08

You can get it .

Speaker 2 43:09

See , there is the way it should be . You be disrespectful , you're going to get a little piece thrown on . You Should be . You'd be disrespectful , you're going to get a little piece thrown on you . That would have been such a good story if you'd got doused with some urine of a strange lady .

Speaker 1 43:24

Oh , no , it wouldn't have been but other than that . Then you just walk out of this little area and you just move on and it's , you know it's right by a canal and pretty and picturesque , and I don't know it's not .

Speaker 2 43:38

I mean it's not as like it's not as bad as you would have pictured it .

Speaker 1 43:43

Yeah , I guess I pictured it a little more trashier or something . You know what I'm saying . I mean , they are there in the window , but you know , in New Orleans they're naked in the window .

Speaker 2 43:54

It's changed since COVID . I was disappointed there's not the naked people In the window , and not that I did anything with them . It was fascinating . It was fascinating to me .

Speaker 1 44:08

Yeah .

Speaker 2 44:09

I enjoyed walking by and seeing the naked people .

Speaker 1 44:12

Yeah .

Speaker 2 44:13

I don't know why I didn't go up to them , I didn't talk to them , but I just thought it was kind of fun and interesting . Yeah , well , I wonder if there's any kind of documentary on one of these workers . But it's been like that for so many years . They kind of got it mastered .

Speaker 1 44:32

Yeah , I mean , and I would , I would like to know .

Speaker 2 44:38

I would like to know I would like to know more . I would like to know more well . I would like a documentary . I'm sure it's a licensed profession , like in , I don't know . Like in , and then there was in a couple of areas you .

Speaker 1 44:49

We were just walking around and saw the same thing , just like a random , like two doors . It wasn't in the red light district .

Speaker 2 44:55

Well , it was a little bit like that in Spain in certain areas . And then I had some approach me and offer me sex and I didn't know what they were . I thought they were just being nice people .

Speaker 1 45:12

You're like wrong person I didn't know .

Speaker 2 45:14

I didn't know what they were doing , so I stopped and engaged where most normal people keep moving . You're like , but no Mm-hmm , and they're aggressive .

Speaker 1 45:36

Yeah , there were no . There's no men in the windows .

Speaker 2 45:38

We're the men .

Speaker 1 45:41

I guess that's not a thing . I mean , I guess it is , but not an advertised thing , Like not a oh , it's a thing I know , but I'm just saying they're not .

Speaker 2 45:49

In the windows .

Speaker 1 45:49

They're not in the windows or I don .

Speaker 2 45:52

I'm sure women are its most popular , or the women , but you actually saw a man leaving . Yes , I would have had to ask some questions .

Speaker 1 46:03

I know I should have whipped out the mic . Can I interview you for ?

Speaker 2 46:06

my podcast . Tell me it's in a different country . It won't affect you . We don't need your name .

Speaker 1 46:11

How was it yeah ? How much was it ? How much ? How long did it last ? Yeah , are , are you happy with it ? Was it just something you wanted to check off your bucket list , or do you live around the corner and this is a regular thing ? Did he look like normal ?

Speaker 2 46:26

did he look american or ?

Speaker 1 46:28

I can't remember . Now I mean , yeah , could have , could have been there . I don't , I don't know , um , but that I'm not knocking it , no , I mean .

Speaker 2 46:36

I mean , whatever .

Speaker 1 46:37

If , if that is something that they can do on their own free will , then you know , as long as they're not being forced into that , yeah and not harming anybody whatever you know they want to make their money .

Speaker 2 46:50

Do it live and let live that's right um so to make a dollar , so don't take photos of them .

Speaker 1 46:58

That's lesson number one .

Speaker 2 47:00

I'm so going to get .

Speaker 1 47:01

I didn't think to whip my phone out when we were .

Speaker 2 47:03

So when Dylan and I go there , I'm not going to say anything . I'm going to say get a good video .

Speaker 1 47:08

Get a good video , go up close . They don't care . It's advertising . It's advertising . It's like I'm getting doused . He would die . Yeah , it was so good though .

Speaker 2 47:20

So out of your whole trip , what was your favorite thing ?

Speaker 1 47:25

Oh , okay . Well , there's a couple of different From going to the Netherlands , I think , and being in Amsterdam . So , specifically in Amsterdam , I think the coolest thing was . So Daniel and I went and we walked . You know how you and I will go walk to New . York , like we're not afraid to walk . So we walked like different direction away from the city center and ended up just like where everyday people live .

Speaker 1 47:51

You know , you could tell this is just their homes and it was so cool to see how they live I think was my favorite thing , because they're all out and about . I guess their houses are smaller and there's like the canals and you know all of that . So I feel like even in the neighborhoods it's all on the ground floor is whatever cafe , restaurant , grocery store , whatever , and then everyone lives , you know , above it and just seeing it felt like everyone , whereas here would go home and be home and you know doing their things , it felt like everyone there was always kind of out and about living . Does that make sense ? Like I don't know .

Speaker 2 48:35

And I'm assuming a lot of more casual athletic wear for dress , not as much dressed up .

Speaker 1 48:42

Yeah , you know , I didn't pay attention . You know that's not my thing , I didn't . I felt like people were actually . I felt like people were very normal , just like we would .

Speaker 2 48:52

Casual .

Speaker 1 48:52

Casual .

Speaker 2 48:53

More casual .

Speaker 1 48:54

But then some of them weren't . Some of them were dressed and it was really cool to see like a woman , like 70 years old , on her bike going to do whatever she was going to do or had her bike loaded up with groceries .

Speaker 2 49:08

Well , I love that .

Speaker 1 49:09

And we went to this one . I forget the name of , like the different towns or villages .

Speaker 2 49:14

I want to do that . See , we can't do that . I know we get hit .

Speaker 1 49:18

We went to this one like village or whatever , and this girl came out . She was probably , you know , late 20s , maybe early 30s . She had two kids in this like thing strapped to the front of her bike . You know like a little , you know how our runner um strollers look , kind of like that , but it was made onto the bike , mounted onto the front of the bike . The kids could sit in there too like toddlers , and she had a baby strapped to her body and she's just biking away . I don't know where they were going , but she was off in it and I'm like it's just her normal , her normal they've got to be healthier , and that's what hell they can eat all those carbs because they burn them off

Speaker 1 49:59

no , they need that energy to bike everywhere , hell yeah . So that was my favorite thing was observing who , like the locals , and how they're , you know , living and they're just doing their day-to-day and we're , you know , they're touring everything . So , seeing that , the architecture , and then , with the flower part , my favorite was seeing all of these different growing facilities . They're super . So we kind of toured the whole gamut of their greenhouses there , from farms to just like a normal farm to like super high tech and there are greenhouses .

Speaker 1 50:38

They build greenhouses there we were laughing like anything , like everything can be in a greenhouse , like we went to dinner and it was in an old , like greenhouse on tree yeah , it was cool , but like they , just used it for whatever show the trade show that we went to was in a greenhouse glass , greenhouse , greenhouse , massive . They're massive , but I feel like they can throw up greenhouses like , and they utilize everything they do ?

Speaker 2 51:04

It sounds like yeah they do utilize everything .

Speaker 1 51:06

So it was cool for the flower tour part to see , like , what they're doing , because their country's very progressive and being stricter on pesticides and you know what they can spray and that sort of thing and energy and how they have to heat , all like a lot of them make their own energy for their greenhouses , but they're doing things like using LED lights and color spectrums . With LED lights to get rid of some of their chemicals because , like , instead of having to use growth regulators to either make the stems get longer for cut flower production or shorter for whatever reason , they can change the LED light setting and the color makes the plants grow different or do different things , or flower or not flower , whatever they can control a lot . So there's a lot of testing in that . So there's a lot of testing in that .

Speaker 2 51:57

I mean , don't you remember being in grammar school and growing those pea plants and those different things and you would cover it with a different color saran wrap ? I don't remember that . Wouldn't that be kind of it it ?

Speaker 1 52:08

would kind of be the same . Yeah , that's the same .

Speaker 2 52:11

I remember doing that .

Speaker 1 52:13

So that's very interesting . It's also very interesting to see their flower market there . No-transcript .

Speaker 2 52:42

Each one specializes in a different way .

Speaker 1 52:44

In different things .

Speaker 2 52:46

So someone may specialize in bulbs and health of bulbs .

Speaker 1 52:51

Right , and this one , we didn't see bulbs but we saw , like Lysianthus Celosia roses , all different things . Like Lysianthus Celosia roses , all different things . But anyway , what's crazy is , even though their market is massive , huge over there , they outsource , like , for instance , one who does , they do plugs , and they also do development , like breeding , and then they grow plugs to send to flower farmers or whatever the crop is . But they have facilities in like Kenya , and where is the other place ? Oh , my gosh , I forgot . So they're like doing the tissue culture part of getting it started in one area and then shipping it to them . Or the plugs might start in or the cutting might start in , say , Kenya or whatever , and then they're shipping it to them . Or the plugs might start in , or the cutting might start in , say , kenya or whatever , and then they're shipping it to them . So it's funny to see how it's a worldwide market .

Speaker 2 53:47

So I'm assuming Flowers is the number one gross national product .

Speaker 1 53:51

I would think so , I would assume . I would assume I mean because you know . And then the tulips they grow over there when you can go see the fields . See , we're not in tulip season so we're in a different season . They're growing those in the fields and that's why you see them . They bloom out , because they're growing them for the bulb , not as the cut flower . I'm sure they do grow cut flowers too , but it's all different methods . So it was so interesting , but I'm glad to be back with you . It's holiday season and we're back together .

Speaker 2 54:25

I'm Googling that about Netherland .

Speaker 1 54:28

Oh good , google it up and let me know what it says . I was going to see if there was anything else I didn't think about , if there was any other tips . When you go , definitely do the bike tour , don't worry about the English . Oh , pricing I was getting asked about pricing a lot . It was not expensive pricing . The food wasn't expensive . We went into some of their stores and they were not expensive either . Overall , the prices there were not that expensive , which I thought was going to be a little bit different . I thought it would have been a lot higher , but it really wasn't . It wasn't that bad . So if you're going shopping , you can do that there as well . And I had one more thought that just popped in my head Other than pricing , language barrier , do the tour . I don't know . I thought I had one more thought that just popped in my head Other than pricing , language barrier , do the tour .

Speaker 1 55:22

I don't know . I thought I had one more thing to tell you about , but I guess that's it . Did you Google anything ? Did you find out anything ?

Speaker 2 55:30

over there .

Speaker 1 55:32

You seem puzzled over there .

Speaker 2 55:36

Well , I'm just shocked . What are you shocked about ? There's several industries there In the Netherlands .

Speaker 1 55:42

Uh- shocked .

Speaker 2 55:42

What are you shocked about ? There's several industries there In the Netherlands , uh-huh , what are they ? Food Technology .

Speaker 1 55:47

Didn't see any of that .

Speaker 2 55:50

Logistics and transportation .

Speaker 1 55:52

Well , that would all be flower related .

Speaker 2 55:56

And chemicals Pharmaceuticals .

Speaker 1 55:59

Their flower auction is massive and this is where all the flowers go to market and then they're auctioned off and then sent throughout the country and abroad or wherever , but their auction , where the flower auction is , it's the fourth largest commercial building in the world . That's how big it is for flowers the fourth largest commercial building in the world .

Speaker 1 56:21

That's how big it is for flowers . The fourth largest commercial building in the world . That's crazy For cut flower . That's the auction , the one thing I was going to say . I think this is what I was thinking of a minute ago . So Daniel and I on the last day we walked around and we went in a few plant shops and a few flower shop there plant shops and a few flower shop there and I have to say ours was better really .

Speaker 2 56:46

Yeah , I mean , you know you think of that european flower shop , like we saw , like we kind of designed ours around we did .

Speaker 1 56:52

We looked at photos and you see it's kind of like how you said they all just you know , you see their sidewalks and it's this european flower shop and they have pots out front and flowers out front .

Speaker 2 57:03

And it just looks amazing .

Speaker 1 57:05

They're broken and it still looks and it looks amazing Well , they are like that but when you go inside of them they're super , just simple , very basic , Very . Ours is much better .

Speaker 1 57:18

I will say I left there going you know , thought , oh , we'll go to some flower shops and we went into and we went by some different ones . Like I said , we walked into the community or that you know area where it was just like everyday living . We're like from across the street . We're like , oh , look at that flower shop over there , it was across canal . We're like we got to go walk by that one and it walked up to it and I'm like it's just , it was like an old table , like a European table in there , and they just have buckets of flowers and they'll wrap them up for you .

Speaker 2 57:50

So it's just it's just flower market . So we have a fantasy in our heads , yeah , okay .

Speaker 1 57:55

But our store is better . Our store fits the fantasy better , so I was very happy with that . It does fit the fantasy , I think , Because you know we looked at different photos from Europe when we redid our store .

Speaker 2 58:11

Yeah , it wasn't from the Netherlands .

Speaker 1 58:13

But we just redid , you know . We took pieces . We liked , oh look how they did this or did that , and I think the things we saw online were the very best features the best of the best . They're not complete packages of stores like ours are . Does that make sense ?

Speaker 2 58:30

yeah . But you know , it's kind of like you see in new york city , you see some of um designs and works in new york and you're like , oh my gosh . I mean some designers in New York do some amazing things with florals , but when you go to the flower district it's like that when you go to New York .

Speaker 1 58:52

that's how all their flowers were . When we go to the flower district and they're just flowers .

Speaker 2 58:57

Just thrown in .

Speaker 1 58:58

Yeah , packed , that's how it was . Yeah , and it wasn't as packed as the flower district district in new york , but um stores , but it was like that same field there was no design more utilitarian yes , and you can walk in and just get your flowers . See , I want the design we I like it really romanticize . Yeah , flowers , flowers and like .

Speaker 1 59:18

Yeah , yes , and the pots and everything , all of it , to the paper and the wrapping and the bow around it , everything . Yeah , I do have a picture to show you for a display at our store I forgot about , so I guess that's it . We're going to pull this baby over . The next thing is hoping I don't catch COVID . Some people from the group have messaged that they now have COVID , so we're going to wait it out a couple more days and hopefully we're good to go . My God , but it could have been picked up anywhere along the way . You know .

Speaker 1 59:54

I mean there were 50 of us together , but it could have been from the flight . It could have been . I mean , if we don't get something , I don't know how .

Speaker 2 1:00:01

How many people have it ?

Speaker 1 1:00:03

I don't know , like I don't know anyone's meshes today , like two or three .

Speaker 2 1:00:07

So it's fine yeah .

Speaker 1 1:00:09

It'll be fine . You know that's the risk of traveling , but that's anything . You could get any colder .

Speaker 2 1:00:13

I mean New York .

Speaker 1 1:00:15

That's true you did . When was that Y'all went to New York ? Oh , right , before 4th of July . Yeah , yeah , like the week of 4th of July . That's the last time you had it and then Daniel and I had it , was it ? The last time was in January , when y'all were supposed to come to the corner , so we're both due Good case , oh my gosh , let Hope not .

Speaker 1 1:00:35

All right , that's going to wrap up this week's episode of who's Driving , and thanks to everyone who followed along on Instagram with my trip to the Netherlands and Amsterdam and so many people were like , oh my gosh , I'll never get to go . I love going with you , you know , on Instagram .

Speaker 2 1:00:53

Oh , and don't say that Go .

Speaker 1 1:00:57

Go do it . So that was fun , that people . You know . Sometimes I'm like do people really want to see other people traveling and they really liked it and I guess I like seeing other people travel just to see there is .

Speaker 1 1:01:11

Oh , I was going to tell you if you are going there , let me see if I can find it really quickly . Find it really quickly . There is someone that started popping up in my TikTok that is going around , that lives in Amsterdam . So maybe if you're planning to go to Amsterdam , if I can find this really quickly , if you look him up and he does like different neighborhoods in Amsterdam and tells you like where to go or what's going on . So let me see , here it is His . That's funny .

Speaker 1 1:01:49

His name is Cosmo C-O-S-M-O , but his handle on TikTok I don't know Instagram or anything like that On TikTok his handle is at whereiswanda , that's funny . So whereiswanda and he lives in Amsterdam and I guess , because I was located there , it picked that up and started showing him to me . But it's really good because there's these little you know districts or areas , even in Amsterdam , and he kind of reviews them . So you can kind of get an idea of like maybe some things you should see or you want to see there . So that's a little tip there and that's all I got for you . We're pulling this baby over and we'll see you next week . Thanks guys , bye y'all .