Amsterdam

After seven long hours of train delays & running around stations, we arrived in Amsterdam a bit frazzled. It was dark & pouring down rain. We had less than 30 minutes to arrive at our b&b & we were lost. We asked people, but street names don't really exist in Amsterdam (only canals). We finally agreed to get a taxi. After unsuccesly trying to enter with my pack & umberella, I got in & showed him the address. He said oh & Threw the cab in reverse (!!), and stopped 1/2 block down. He got out & said to get out. Then he said we were standing on the right street, just to go down further. It was less than a block. So then we checked into the cutest suite with Europe's largest hotel bathroom. So needless to say, we weren't enjoying our first night.

However, it got soo much better!! Here's a short run-down of our crazy two days/nights here.

During the days we walked around the entire central ring of the city & saw all of famous canal bridges, statues, squares, & buildings. It truly is a beautiul place and the canals make it even more gorgeous. We visited the Anne Frank house (my dream come true), the Dutch Resistance Museum, the Shipyard (the maritime museum was closed for rennovation), & the Hermitage. No, of course we didn't jet into Russia. There is a one of a kind satelitte museum in Amsterdam. They allow two exhibits out of Russia for 6 months. We saw two exhibits on the royal families. Oh the dresses, jewels, & army hats!!!

Amsterdam is known for the nightlife. Imagine a town that is New York mixed with Carrboro & a side of New Orleans. Fun! The first night I signed us up for a tour of the Red light district. I was scared to go alone. We were the only two there, so no tour, but the awesome lady asked us if she could buy us a drink. We said sure & she took us to the gay part of the district. We had a mini-bar hop. Crazy times, which included the most beautiful bar room where you could touch the water & me holding a dog for someone in the middle of a disco dancefloor.

We ended at a bar where in WW2 the German officers came to drink. Also, the owner was a famed Dutch resistance worker. The next night we got to go on the tour for free! It was great because it combined history with fun facts. Who knew there was so much history in that district? For fun modern pop culture fans, we saw where pulp fiction was written & where Janet bought the famed superbowl dress.

Anyways, I loved Amsterdam. I wish we were staying longer but we are already on the Thalys to France.

--Lauren