So, last weekend almost everyone at the Castle went to Amsterdam. It's about two hours away (total travel time via bus and train) and since this past weekend was our first travel weekend Amsterdam seemed to be the default destination. And we all got lucky.
The weather for all three days was absolutely beautiful. It wasn't under 60 degrees in the daytime and the sun was out. I think Amsterdam would have been a very different city with overcast.
If you've never been, you should try to get to it. It is a relatively small city, in both physical size and population, reminding us Emersonians frequently of Boston. Wonderful brick streets and two to three story buildings surround you that are, in some cases, 400 to 500 years old. Obviously, the canals offered a striking difference from our home during the school months, also giving the city much of its distinct character.
We arrived in the evening on Friday, without a map and with only a general idea of where our hotel was. We were supposed to meet the group that had left before us at hour hotel at 8pm. It was 8:30. Luckily, Chris and Vanessa were waiting (jumping and waving their arms, really) for us at the tram stop that was right outside our Hotel.
From there we walked around, looking for someplace relatively cheap to eat, and stumbled upon this "Dutch looking" restaurant and bar. We ordered a round of beers (letting the waiter pick out a "good beer") and I ordered this chicken kabob that ended up having peanut sauce on it. The beer was fantastic (Maredsous) and was served in this huge, ceramic goblet that made us feel like kings at a feast. From there, we simply walked around Amsterdam at night. We found the public urinals. We found the center of gay nightlife. We found the redlight district. And after a successful night, we found our way home.
Saturday was, again, full of walking. After exploring more of the city in the daylight, I met up with Noel and Audrey and we toured the Anne Frank house. To be honest, it was a little strange. It might have had more of an impact were I in middle school and had I just learned about the holocaust or read her diary for the first time. When I went, I couldn't help but consider the commercialization of a tragic place and story. It was interesting, nonetheless.
From there we met up with the rest of the group for dinner, then visited a couple of our favorite bars from the previous night. A clean bed seems the only solution for exhaustion (thank god our Hotel provided us with sheets, I hear that isn't alway the case).
On Sunday morning we visited the Van Gogh museum. It's unequaled to see the texture, vibrancy, and color of those paintings in person. Reproductions don't do them justice. There was also a small exhibit on the "Druksel prints" of Werkman. These I liked a lot.
After that, we grabbed a quick lunch and headed back to the train station. We were home and in bed (wink wink) by nine o'clock.
Here are some pictures.
4 comments:
Picture #35 looks like a couch, chair, bed, microwave on a boat???
Yeah, they had whole patios on the tops of their house boats. It was crazy.
Ms. G just sent me the link to your blog. It looks like you are having a fabulous time. Keep enjoying yourself, and writing all about it. Love you!
Somehow I don't thing peeing in public is exactly what your parents had in mind when they thought studying in Europe would be a wonderful experience for you. I am sure you have made them proud. :-)
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