Scammed in Barcelona.

If you knew there was a chance of getting scammed, how much money would you be willing to lose to give it a try and not be upset?  This was the topic of a discussion we had while traveling with another couple in Barcelona.  Well, I guess it depends on what it is, right?  Here is a video of what we saw and thought "How much would you pay for this and if it didn't work, you wouldn't be upset?"

So we watched these things in real life and couldn't figure out how they worked.  After watching them for a few minutes, we wanted to buy one just to see if we could figure out how it works.  So that is where the "How much...." question came into play.  After seeing this, how much would you pay for one of these knowing that it might not work?  For us, it was five euros.We decided that since there was a good chance these things wouldn't work, we could pay with five euros and not be upset.  However, we really didn't want to spend five euros.

If you know my wife, you know that she loves to "get a deal".  She will haggle with anyone if she can.  This gadget was five euros for (2) of them.  To me, that was a deal, as I was willing to pay five euros for one.  My wife didn't want to pay that.  She haggled with the guy and ended up getting (2) for €3,50.  We then asked the guy how it worked.  The guy said, "There is a tab on the back, pull it up, place it near the wall and the sound waves will make it dance." This really didn't sound right to us, but he picked it up and showed us and then put it back down and it started to dance again.  Then he stopped the music and it just stood there.

Not fully understanding how it worked and not really believing him, we took these paper dolls back to the hotel to try to figure out how they actually worked. I Googled "dancing Bart Simpson paper doll" to see if anything came up.  That is when I found the above video, but they all said it was a scam.  Then I Googled "dancing paper doll scam" and I found this video:

After watching this, I felt bummed because I got scammed.  However, I had to remember that I'm not allowed to be upset because my price was €5,00.  So this is what €5,00 will get you. Absolutely nothing.

Do you like the way they dance?

Locked Up Abroad

Note: This is not a paid advertisement.

I recently participated in a game where I was “incarcerated” in a 19^th century prison with the goal of escaping within (3) hours.  The prison, Noordsingle, is one of the oldest prisons in the Netherlands.  It is also the largest prison and one of two prisons in the “American Style” with a cellular device.  Upon arrival, you’re automatically split up from anyone you know.  This really messed up my game plan, as I don’t speak or read Dutch.  My friend was the first to go in the prison.  As he left, he wished me luck not knowing if we would see each other on the inside or not. 

I then patiently waited for my inmate number and name to be called out in Dutch.  After what seemed like forever, I hear my name and inmate number.  I checked in, entered the prison and that is when things “got real” real fast.  As I entered the gates, there was a guard who yelled out commands to me in Dutch.  Noticing the person in front of me was stopped and at attention, I followed suit.  Then that person moved on and I moved up.  After I moved up the guard barked out an order.  I walked forward and then stopped.  Then the next command came, which I assumed meant go but I was wrong.  I went and then he yelled at me so I stopped.  Then he repeated the command and I just stood there.  Again he yelled at me and then I moved on (assuming that is what I was supposed to do). 

I then found myself in the “yard”.  Everyone was lined up in a single file line.  There was an inmate named “Saurus” doing push-ups while a guard put their foot in his back.  I lined up like everyone else and then the Warden came around.  He walked up and down every aisle and eyed everyone up and down.  Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I just looked straight ahead and didn’t blink.  Then the Warden gave a long speech.  The only words I understood were “Shawshank Redemption”, “Escape from Alcatraz” and “Prison Break”.  Then I heard something about push-ups and everyone dropped to the ground and started to do 10 push-ups (including myself).  After that we went inside and had our pictures taken and we were assigned to our cells. 

L: My intake photo. Top: to Bottom: The exterior wall, the main gate, they second prison yard.

That is where I made mistake number two.  As I walked in, the guard read off my inmate number A0002 and told me in Dutch “Twee”.  I then marched to cell #3 and joined my cell mates.  It was (2) girls and they started to speak Dutch to me right away.   I explained that I only spoke English and then we started to make a plan.  However; the guard came by and stared to yell at me.  She was pointing at me, so I was sure it me.  Then she yelled out my inmate number again and said in Dutch cell “Twee”.  I realized my mistake; I went to cell drie (three) because I heard twee and thought three.  Twee means two, so I had to make my way into cell #2. 

While in cell #2, I met my new cell mate and explained I only speak English.  The doors closed and it sounded like it does in the movies.  We started to look for clues and tried to figure out what we needed to do.  After a little while the doors opened and we could walk around.  I was able to locate my friend and we were able to make a plan.  We quickly made our way to the “yard” and started to find drugs hidden everywhere.  We knew we could use these later to get information or bribe people.  After circling the yard looking for ways to escape (while other inmates smoked, played football and fossball) we realized this is not the way to get out.  Without giving away the game, (3) hours came and went fast.

In the end, we were able to use the drugs to escape the prison while some people got involved in a riot and escaped that way.  Not everyone escaped.  I was later able to find my cell mate once I was on the outside and she did not escape.  This was an Escape Room x 1,000 with a Shawshank theme.  I would recommend this to anyone who likes interactive, realistic games.  Check out their website Prison Escape.

Super Dutch: Cycling

So it's been a while since I have written a blog.  That's because everything here is almost normal to me and not much phases me.  However; a few months ago I made a comment (I can't remember what it was) and my colleague said "That is a Super American thing to say."  I then ask her, what is "Super American"?  After some thinking, these are some of the things she came up with:

• My love/obsession for enormously large (or what I would consider "regular") size drinks.
• My obsession with ice in my drinks (you basically don't get ice in your drinks here).
• The fact that I don't ride my bike in the: rain, cold, strong wind or any other excuse I have.
• And my thought of any country outside of the US is dangerous.
• The fact that "sweet" things are not sweet enough (like peanut butter).

That lead  me to think, what do I think is "Super Dutch"?  I have a mental list, but I thought I would slowly share them blog by blog.  However; today's "Super Dutch" thing is cycling or as we would call it riding a bike. Cycling is a way of life here in the Netherlands.  Everyone from children to elderly people do it.  Since moving here, I have seen lots of odd things done on a bicycle.  Here are some of things I have seen:

1) The "bike in tow"

How this guy steers his bike and this bike is beyond me.

2) "Carpooling"

This takes extreme skill.

3) Holding hands

This one doesn't make any sense to me at all.  I think it is ridiculous.

4) Hitching a ride

The Dutch have very strong leg muscles.

4) Moving day

Not even an option for me.

5) Chit Chatters

I have been guilty of this from time to time.  Being behind these can be annoying.