In London, there is the saying, “Mind the Gap.” The “gap” is the area between the train and the train platform. The saying was coined in the 60’s so people wouldn’t trip and fall getting on and off the trains. Well, here in Amsterdam my sister lives on a fabulous houseboat on one of the canals. I had been warned there was a big gap between the landing/platform attached to the street and the boat stoop. Depending on the water level of the canal the gap can be as large as 2 feet. I had been warned by my cousin who had visited here a couple of months ago. My father warned me as he had heard from my little brother who visited some time ago as well. A warning only works if one heeds the warning seriously not as “take it or leave it” advice. It really could have been much, much worse for me.
I am not very tall and I am definitely very wide. I had traveled for days to get here. When I arrived yesterday morning we took the train and then walked here from the train station with my luggage. Then we spent the day walking around. My first attempt to get down onto the boat went well. I definitely clomped down onto the boat. When we left later in the day I was able to step up with a bit of effort but without incident. When we came back in the afternoon I was able to get down fairly well. Then we had to go to the grocery store. It was time to step up, again, and mind the gap Amsterdam style. I suppose, since I didn’t end up in the canal, it was a successful attempt. However, my knees might beg to differ.
I got my right leg up and my foot flat on the landing. Then I went to get my left leg up onto the landing and my body just wasn’t having any of it. It was done. My body was tired. I hadn’t lied down in well over 36 hours and my legs were tired. As I tried to bring my left leg up onto the landing to meet my right I caught my left foot under the landing. The momentum threw me forward. I found myself landing on my knees on the platform. It was a hard fall but not a bad fall in that, miraculously, I didn’t hurt myself. My knees throbbed for a moment like I had skinned them. I didn’t. The only thing bruised in the fall was my ego but that has healed well. I am cutting myself some slack given it was my first day.
We’ll see what the rest of the day brings. I feel much more agile on the stairs getting into the belly of the boat as well. When you first step into the boat you step into a beautiful sun room. If the boat had an engine it would be the steering room. Since there is no engine there is no need for a steering wheel. Instead the room is benched like a restaurant booth. Then there are stairs down into the boat. It is rather ingenious that all the stairs are also drawers for storage. Artistically, they are beautiful. They are gorgeous dark wood. The poor design of them is they are shaped like paisleys with the big sections running opposite of each other. Kind of like ying/yang. Does that make sense? I will post pictures at some point and attach them this post. So, in essence you have to step left first then right then left etc. I am not a left stepper. I step right first. It took a little getting used to but this morning I was able to do it with ease. I am hoping that when we leave later the gap as easy to mind as the stairs have become.