interview with jon armstrong of blurbomat.com
jon armstrong (1:42:00 PM): hey
jon armstrong (1:42:05 PM): just got your email
tony pierce (1:42:10 PM): hey hey hows it going
jon armstrong (1:42:15 PM): going well, you?
tony pierce (1:42:25 PM): just getting over a cold i got at sxsw
tony pierce (1:42:30 PM): glad to be home though
jon armstrong (1:42:38 PM): dude. sxsw was insane. did you stay for the music?
tony pierce (1:42:45 PM): yes
tony pierce (1:42:48 PM): i was there 11 days
jon armstrong (1:42:52 PM): gah!
tony pierce (1:42:54 PM): i know
jon armstrong (1:42:58 PM): hopefully someone else paid for the hotel?
tony pierce (1:43:05 PM): oh yes, it was all on buzznet
jon armstrong (1:43:09 PM): sweet
tony pierce (1:43:20 PM): ok so you wanna talk some holland?
jon armstrong (1:43:43 PM): hit it
tony pierce (1:43:53 PM): first off, how was your flight?
jon armstrong (1:44:53 PM): we had to take a connecting flight from Salt Lake City to Chicago and then from Chicago to Amsterdam. We had a 7am flight from Salt lake
jon armstrong (1:44:57 PM): which was brutal
tony pierce (1:45:09 PM): so you had to be at the airport at like 5am?
jon armstrong (1:45:14 PM): yes.
tony pierce (1:45:23 PM): yikes
jon armstrong (1:45:27 PM): which means we had to leave our house at 4:30
jon armstrong (1:45:37 PM): which was better than most cities would have been, I suppose
jon armstrong (1:45:41 PM): still. 4:30 is 4:30
tony pierce (1:45:47 PM): totally
tony pierce (1:45:56 PM): had you been to amsterdam before?
jon armstrong (1:46:05 PM): Neither of us had been to Amsterdam before this trip.
jon armstrong (1:46:25 PM): and I had only been to the continent once; Paris in 2000. So this was a first.
tony pierce (1:46:47 PM): wow, so did you know how to get from the airport to the hotel before you landed?
jon armstrong (1:48:23 PM): that was the other crazy thing... we didn't know until like 10pm the night before we left where we were staying. But we got that email and it had instructions for rail travel from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station and then on the trams to our hotel. Pretty straightforward.
jon armstrong (1:48:29 PM): and the rail system there is awesome.
tony pierce (1:48:51 PM): it is, but could you read the ticket machine?
tony pierce (1:48:56 PM): mine was in dutch
jon armstrong (1:49:05 PM): that was crazy. at the airport
jon armstrong (1:50:06 PM): we couldn't find a machine for rail tickets that would take any euro denomination we had, so we ended up having to buy tickets at the counter at the airport (the guidebook said we could buy one from a machine) and it was nearing rush hour, so the counter line was picking up and then the train in was crazy...
jon armstrong (1:50:16 PM): the tram tickets at Centraal station were crazy also
jon armstrong (1:50:35 PM): we couldn't get the machine to read our bills
jon armstrong (1:50:50 PM): and we were tired and cranky and commuters were swarming out of the station
jon armstrong (1:50:52 PM): very surreal
jon armstrong (1:51:05 PM): reminded me of Powell station in San Francisco
tony pierce (1:51:11 PM): hahahaha
jon armstrong (1:51:22 PM): we were dying to get to the hotel to sleep for a bit
tony pierce (1:51:45 PM): once you got to centraal station was it easy to find your hotel with all the construction?
jon armstrong (1:51:52 PM): actually it was.
jon armstrong (1:52:22 PM): our hotel was near the Leidseplein, so it was still in the center of the city, just not right close to the centraal station
jon armstrong (1:52:30 PM): the tram lines were pretty easy to figure out
jon armstrong (1:52:39 PM): although the chaos of rush hour didn't help
jon armstrong (1:52:46 PM): combined with the jetlag
jon armstrong (1:52:53 PM): I think I'd just spring for a cab in the future
jon armstrong (1:53:00 PM): it wasn't THAT expensive
jon armstrong (1:53:10 PM): not like JFK to Manhattan
tony pierce (1:53:20 PM): even LAX to hollywood is $55
jon armstrong (1:53:23 PM): yeah
jon armstrong (1:53:31 PM): would have been about $35 - $40
jon armstrong (1:53:34 PM): and saved some stress
tony pierce (1:53:36 PM): so once you got to your hotel did you guys crash out immediately?
jon armstrong (1:53:42 PM): we did
jon armstrong (1:53:54 PM): our flight got in at 6:45 am, so we were hammered
jon armstrong (1:54:08 PM): we only napped though, and got up and had lunch and stuff
jon armstrong (1:54:13 PM): did a canal boat tour
tony pierce (1:54:29 PM): was it cold out there on the water?
jon armstrong (1:54:50 PM): our boat was covered, and the windows were shut, so despite a rain storm for part of the tour (and sunshine as well) we were pretty warm in the boat.
tony pierce (1:55:00 PM): awesome
tony pierce (1:55:10 PM): did you guys take advantage of the free bike rentals?
jon armstrong (1:55:31 PM): we talked about it, but we decided to walk/tram it
jon armstrong (1:55:39 PM): the weather was too cold to mess with bikes
jon armstrong (1:55:42 PM): at least for us
jon armstrong (1:55:49 PM): I'd have done it if it was summer
jon armstrong (1:55:59 PM): our hotel was very close to the museums
tony pierce (1:56:03 PM): i did it cuz im lazy, but i had to invest in some mittens cuz it was butt cold
jon armstrong (1:56:08 PM): yeah
jon armstrong (1:56:25 PM): we had some cold weather gear, but figured we weren't hardcore enough to bike in the rain
jon armstrong (1:56:44 PM): plus, we love to take photos, and walking let us take a lot of pictures.
jon armstrong (1:56:59 PM): on a bike that would have been more difficult
tony pierce (1:57:03 PM): so the museums - which ones did you go to?
jon armstrong (1:59:15 PM): We went to the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum. We tried to get to the modern one (the stedilyck sp?) but it was being remodeled and they had moved it down on the waterfront by the centraal station. They didn't have any permanent collection on display and they only had a photo exhibit up that looked disturbing, which would have been fine, but better if balanced with a range of modern art.
jon armstrong (1:59:39 PM): so we made the trip, but didn't go in to the modern museum
tony pierce (2:00:01 PM): i thought the van gogh blew away the rijks - what about you?
jon armstrong (2:00:30 PM): Yeah, we spent more time at Van Gogh. Their collection is pretty amazing
jon armstrong (2:00:33 PM): has such a great range
jon armstrong (2:00:43 PM): stuff that I hadn't seen before, or even heard about
jon armstrong (2:00:54 PM): btw, the modern museum is spelled: Stedelijk
jon armstrong (2:01:13 PM): I knew there (was an l and a j in there somewhere)
jon armstrong (2:01:25 PM): I think the Van Gogh is a real jewel
jon armstrong (2:02:18 PM): but as a humanities major, I studied a lot of classic art stuff and the riijksmuseum was still good. Vermeer and Hals and Rembrandt did some amazing work and it was great to see those works
tony pierce (2:02:31 PM): this time seeing van goghs work made me sad cuz it made me think that the only way to be truly great is to turn insane
jon armstrong (2:02:58 PM): and die
tony pierce (2:03:06 PM): well that part is easier
jon armstrong (2:03:33 PM): Didn't he sell just one painting during his life?
tony pierce (2:03:42 PM): if that - and his brother was an art dealer
jon armstrong (2:03:45 PM): He churned out so many works so quickly
jon armstrong (2:03:53 PM): that was something else that blew me away
jon armstrong (2:04:01 PM): seeing all those different pieces that spanned just a few years
tony pierce (2:04:12 PM): yeah - i kept thinking - who wouldnt buy this?
jon armstrong (2:04:27 PM): we have a hundred years of art to thank for that
tony pierce (2:04:44 PM): ok so you had a great hotel, ive seen your pictures of your views, but the real question is... how was your internet connection?
jon armstrong (2:04:52 PM): haha
jon armstrong (2:05:30 PM): it was pretty good. there were some issues sending mail from our own mailboxes; we couldn't send email (gmail worked, though)
jon armstrong (2:05:47 PM): and like most hotels, you had to sign in on a webpage every time you wanted to do anything
tony pierce (2:05:53 PM): yeah, annoying
jon armstrong (2:06:03 PM): would have been cooler to just be able to open the laptop and go
jon armstrong (2:06:12 PM): but it was plenty fast
jon armstrong (2:06:16 PM): we didn't spend a lot of time online
jon armstrong (2:06:39 PM): except for the night we found out my family had lost our dog
jon armstrong (2:06:57 PM): and then we found him using technology and a smart mother-in-law
jon armstrong (2:07:09 PM): that night was snowy, so we stayed in and worked on photos
jon armstrong (2:07:13 PM): and uploaded to flickr
tony pierce (2:07:32 PM): smart - how did you find the Dutch? were they friendly to you?
jon armstrong (2:07:36 PM): oh yeah
jon armstrong (2:08:22 PM): having been to Paris, and the fact that the States is in an unpopular war, I figured we might be met with some anti-american vibes, but that was not the case. Dutch people were very friendly and talkative and funny as hell.
jon armstrong (2:08:49 PM): We'd try to speak a few words, but once they knew we were American, everybody spoke English
jon armstrong (2:08:52 PM): without an attitude
jon armstrong (2:09:06 PM): it was very nice. I felt spoiled by that gesture alone
jon armstrong (2:09:17 PM): and the cafe/bar people were super friendly as well
jon armstrong (2:09:40 PM): never once did we feel pressured to give up a table or leave so they could bring in more people
tony pierce (2:09:49 PM): lots of people say the Dutch beer is sub-par, did you find it that way?
jon armstrong (2:10:12 PM): I've always liked Grolsch and Heineken, but the majority of beer I had there was Belgian.
tony pierce (2:10:20 PM): ahhh
tony pierce (2:10:25 PM): ok two more questions
tony pierce (2:10:46 PM): how did your readers react to your posts from Amsterdam?
jon armstrong (2:11:28 PM): I thought we might get some flack for taking a free trip, but the readers seemed to love it. The emails and comments were all very positive. Most people thanked me for sharing my photos and our trip with them.
tony pierce (2:11:52 PM): and finally, were there any little details that you would recommend to the Dutch Tourism Board for the next group that comes out here?
tony pierce (2:12:17 PM): *there
jon armstrong (2:15:46 PM): I think the best thing would be to offer trips to people when the weather might be a little more tourist-friendly.
jon armstrong (2:15:55 PM): e.g., warmer
jon armstrong (2:15:57 PM): '
tony pierce (2:16:01 PM): i agree
jon armstrong (2:16:27 PM): I had a great time on the trip, to be sure, but damn, February is cold!
tony pierce (2:16:38 PM): it is, and the cold kept me inside too much
jon armstrong (2:16:44 PM): y
jon armstrong (2:16:49 PM): wanted to be outside taking pictures
jon armstrong (2:16:56 PM): and soaking in the city
tony pierce (2:17:03 PM): exactly
tony pierce (2:17:08 PM): well dude thanks so much for this interview
jon armstrong (2:17:11 PM): Sure
tony pierce (2:17:22 PM): i hope to see you and your lovely wife at the next crazy blogger thing
jon armstrong (2:17:22 PM): if you have any more questions, email them and I'll do my best to answer them
jon armstrong (2:17:27 PM): ha
tony pierce (2:17:28 PM): right on
jon armstrong (2:17:34 PM): take care
tony pierce (2:17:36 PM): you too
tony pierce (2:17:38 PM): !
jon armstrong (2:17:41 PM): l8r
jon armstrong (1:42:00 PM): hey
jon armstrong (1:42:05 PM): just got your email
tony pierce (1:42:10 PM): hey hey hows it going
jon armstrong (1:42:15 PM): going well, you?
tony pierce (1:42:25 PM): just getting over a cold i got at sxsw
tony pierce (1:42:30 PM): glad to be home though
jon armstrong (1:42:38 PM): dude. sxsw was insane. did you stay for the music?
tony pierce (1:42:45 PM): yes
tony pierce (1:42:48 PM): i was there 11 days
jon armstrong (1:42:52 PM): gah!
tony pierce (1:42:54 PM): i know
jon armstrong (1:42:58 PM): hopefully someone else paid for the hotel?
tony pierce (1:43:05 PM): oh yes, it was all on buzznet
jon armstrong (1:43:09 PM): sweet
tony pierce (1:43:20 PM): ok so you wanna talk some holland?
jon armstrong (1:43:43 PM): hit it
tony pierce (1:43:53 PM): first off, how was your flight?
jon armstrong (1:44:53 PM): we had to take a connecting flight from Salt Lake City to Chicago and then from Chicago to Amsterdam. We had a 7am flight from Salt lake
jon armstrong (1:44:57 PM): which was brutal
tony pierce (1:45:09 PM): so you had to be at the airport at like 5am?
jon armstrong (1:45:14 PM): yes.
tony pierce (1:45:23 PM): yikes
jon armstrong (1:45:27 PM): which means we had to leave our house at 4:30
jon armstrong (1:45:37 PM): which was better than most cities would have been, I suppose
jon armstrong (1:45:41 PM): still. 4:30 is 4:30
tony pierce (1:45:47 PM): totally
tony pierce (1:45:56 PM): had you been to amsterdam before?
jon armstrong (1:46:05 PM): Neither of us had been to Amsterdam before this trip.
jon armstrong (1:46:25 PM): and I had only been to the continent once; Paris in 2000. So this was a first.
tony pierce (1:46:47 PM): wow, so did you know how to get from the airport to the hotel before you landed?
jon armstrong (1:48:23 PM): that was the other crazy thing... we didn't know until like 10pm the night before we left where we were staying. But we got that email and it had instructions for rail travel from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station and then on the trams to our hotel. Pretty straightforward.
jon armstrong (1:48:29 PM): and the rail system there is awesome.
tony pierce (1:48:51 PM): it is, but could you read the ticket machine?
tony pierce (1:48:56 PM): mine was in dutch
jon armstrong (1:49:05 PM): that was crazy. at the airport
jon armstrong (1:50:06 PM): we couldn't find a machine for rail tickets that would take any euro denomination we had, so we ended up having to buy tickets at the counter at the airport (the guidebook said we could buy one from a machine) and it was nearing rush hour, so the counter line was picking up and then the train in was crazy...
jon armstrong (1:50:16 PM): the tram tickets at Centraal station were crazy also
jon armstrong (1:50:35 PM): we couldn't get the machine to read our bills
jon armstrong (1:50:50 PM): and we were tired and cranky and commuters were swarming out of the station
jon armstrong (1:50:52 PM): very surreal
jon armstrong (1:51:05 PM): reminded me of Powell station in San Francisco
tony pierce (1:51:11 PM): hahahaha
jon armstrong (1:51:22 PM): we were dying to get to the hotel to sleep for a bit
tony pierce (1:51:45 PM): once you got to centraal station was it easy to find your hotel with all the construction?
jon armstrong (1:51:52 PM): actually it was.
jon armstrong (1:52:22 PM): our hotel was near the Leidseplein, so it was still in the center of the city, just not right close to the centraal station
jon armstrong (1:52:30 PM): the tram lines were pretty easy to figure out
jon armstrong (1:52:39 PM): although the chaos of rush hour didn't help
jon armstrong (1:52:46 PM): combined with the jetlag
jon armstrong (1:52:53 PM): I think I'd just spring for a cab in the future
jon armstrong (1:53:00 PM): it wasn't THAT expensive
jon armstrong (1:53:10 PM): not like JFK to Manhattan
tony pierce (1:53:20 PM): even LAX to hollywood is $55
jon armstrong (1:53:23 PM): yeah
jon armstrong (1:53:31 PM): would have been about $35 - $40
jon armstrong (1:53:34 PM): and saved some stress
tony pierce (1:53:36 PM): so once you got to your hotel did you guys crash out immediately?
jon armstrong (1:53:42 PM): we did
jon armstrong (1:53:54 PM): our flight got in at 6:45 am, so we were hammered
jon armstrong (1:54:08 PM): we only napped though, and got up and had lunch and stuff
jon armstrong (1:54:13 PM): did a canal boat tour
tony pierce (1:54:29 PM): was it cold out there on the water?
jon armstrong (1:54:50 PM): our boat was covered, and the windows were shut, so despite a rain storm for part of the tour (and sunshine as well) we were pretty warm in the boat.
tony pierce (1:55:00 PM): awesome
tony pierce (1:55:10 PM): did you guys take advantage of the free bike rentals?
jon armstrong (1:55:31 PM): we talked about it, but we decided to walk/tram it
jon armstrong (1:55:39 PM): the weather was too cold to mess with bikes
jon armstrong (1:55:42 PM): at least for us
jon armstrong (1:55:49 PM): I'd have done it if it was summer
jon armstrong (1:55:59 PM): our hotel was very close to the museums
tony pierce (1:56:03 PM): i did it cuz im lazy, but i had to invest in some mittens cuz it was butt cold
jon armstrong (1:56:08 PM): yeah
jon armstrong (1:56:25 PM): we had some cold weather gear, but figured we weren't hardcore enough to bike in the rain
jon armstrong (1:56:44 PM): plus, we love to take photos, and walking let us take a lot of pictures.
jon armstrong (1:56:59 PM): on a bike that would have been more difficult
tony pierce (1:57:03 PM): so the museums - which ones did you go to?
jon armstrong (1:59:15 PM): We went to the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum. We tried to get to the modern one (the stedilyck sp?) but it was being remodeled and they had moved it down on the waterfront by the centraal station. They didn't have any permanent collection on display and they only had a photo exhibit up that looked disturbing, which would have been fine, but better if balanced with a range of modern art.
jon armstrong (1:59:39 PM): so we made the trip, but didn't go in to the modern museum
tony pierce (2:00:01 PM): i thought the van gogh blew away the rijks - what about you?
jon armstrong (2:00:30 PM): Yeah, we spent more time at Van Gogh. Their collection is pretty amazing
jon armstrong (2:00:33 PM): has such a great range
jon armstrong (2:00:43 PM): stuff that I hadn't seen before, or even heard about
jon armstrong (2:00:54 PM): btw, the modern museum is spelled: Stedelijk
jon armstrong (2:01:13 PM): I knew there (was an l and a j in there somewhere)
jon armstrong (2:01:25 PM): I think the Van Gogh is a real jewel
jon armstrong (2:02:18 PM): but as a humanities major, I studied a lot of classic art stuff and the riijksmuseum was still good. Vermeer and Hals and Rembrandt did some amazing work and it was great to see those works
tony pierce (2:02:31 PM): this time seeing van goghs work made me sad cuz it made me think that the only way to be truly great is to turn insane
jon armstrong (2:02:58 PM): and die
tony pierce (2:03:06 PM): well that part is easier
jon armstrong (2:03:33 PM): Didn't he sell just one painting during his life?
tony pierce (2:03:42 PM): if that - and his brother was an art dealer
jon armstrong (2:03:45 PM): He churned out so many works so quickly
jon armstrong (2:03:53 PM): that was something else that blew me away
jon armstrong (2:04:01 PM): seeing all those different pieces that spanned just a few years
tony pierce (2:04:12 PM): yeah - i kept thinking - who wouldnt buy this?
jon armstrong (2:04:27 PM): we have a hundred years of art to thank for that
tony pierce (2:04:44 PM): ok so you had a great hotel, ive seen your pictures of your views, but the real question is... how was your internet connection?
jon armstrong (2:04:52 PM): haha
jon armstrong (2:05:30 PM): it was pretty good. there were some issues sending mail from our own mailboxes; we couldn't send email (gmail worked, though)
jon armstrong (2:05:47 PM): and like most hotels, you had to sign in on a webpage every time you wanted to do anything
tony pierce (2:05:53 PM): yeah, annoying
jon armstrong (2:06:03 PM): would have been cooler to just be able to open the laptop and go
jon armstrong (2:06:12 PM): but it was plenty fast
jon armstrong (2:06:16 PM): we didn't spend a lot of time online
jon armstrong (2:06:39 PM): except for the night we found out my family had lost our dog
jon armstrong (2:06:57 PM): and then we found him using technology and a smart mother-in-law
jon armstrong (2:07:09 PM): that night was snowy, so we stayed in and worked on photos
jon armstrong (2:07:13 PM): and uploaded to flickr
tony pierce (2:07:32 PM): smart - how did you find the Dutch? were they friendly to you?
jon armstrong (2:07:36 PM): oh yeah
jon armstrong (2:08:22 PM): having been to Paris, and the fact that the States is in an unpopular war, I figured we might be met with some anti-american vibes, but that was not the case. Dutch people were very friendly and talkative and funny as hell.
jon armstrong (2:08:49 PM): We'd try to speak a few words, but once they knew we were American, everybody spoke English
jon armstrong (2:08:52 PM): without an attitude
jon armstrong (2:09:06 PM): it was very nice. I felt spoiled by that gesture alone
jon armstrong (2:09:17 PM): and the cafe/bar people were super friendly as well
jon armstrong (2:09:40 PM): never once did we feel pressured to give up a table or leave so they could bring in more people
tony pierce (2:09:49 PM): lots of people say the Dutch beer is sub-par, did you find it that way?
jon armstrong (2:10:12 PM): I've always liked Grolsch and Heineken, but the majority of beer I had there was Belgian.
tony pierce (2:10:20 PM): ahhh
tony pierce (2:10:25 PM): ok two more questions
tony pierce (2:10:46 PM): how did your readers react to your posts from Amsterdam?
jon armstrong (2:11:28 PM): I thought we might get some flack for taking a free trip, but the readers seemed to love it. The emails and comments were all very positive. Most people thanked me for sharing my photos and our trip with them.
tony pierce (2:11:52 PM): and finally, were there any little details that you would recommend to the Dutch Tourism Board for the next group that comes out here?
tony pierce (2:12:17 PM): *there
jon armstrong (2:15:46 PM): I think the best thing would be to offer trips to people when the weather might be a little more tourist-friendly.
jon armstrong (2:15:55 PM): e.g., warmer
jon armstrong (2:15:57 PM): '
tony pierce (2:16:01 PM): i agree
jon armstrong (2:16:27 PM): I had a great time on the trip, to be sure, but damn, February is cold!
tony pierce (2:16:38 PM): it is, and the cold kept me inside too much
jon armstrong (2:16:44 PM): y
jon armstrong (2:16:49 PM): wanted to be outside taking pictures
jon armstrong (2:16:56 PM): and soaking in the city
tony pierce (2:17:03 PM): exactly
tony pierce (2:17:08 PM): well dude thanks so much for this interview
jon armstrong (2:17:11 PM): Sure
tony pierce (2:17:22 PM): i hope to see you and your lovely wife at the next crazy blogger thing
jon armstrong (2:17:22 PM): if you have any more questions, email them and I'll do my best to answer them
jon armstrong (2:17:27 PM): ha
tony pierce (2:17:28 PM): right on
jon armstrong (2:17:34 PM): take care
tony pierce (2:17:36 PM): you too
tony pierce (2:17:38 PM): !
jon armstrong (2:17:41 PM): l8r
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