I Love You Amsterdam.
Ohhhhh Amsterdam, you were good to us. As a literal playground for adults, it was pretty incredible. I actually had been before when I was little so I did remember certain aspects but the city is changing each year so it felt completely different! There. Is. So. Much. To. Do. Maybe I am just comparing it to Copenhagen, but I felt like there were endless activities.. which if you know me you know I love.
Day 1:
Getting a liiiiiil tired of the early as sh*t flights, but alas we were off to Amsterdam at 7am and got in around 9:30. People like to forget to mention that - oh yeah you can’t check in until 3pm - so we had some time. First, we went to Bakers & Roasters for brunch which was increeeedible. 10/10 meal. Then, I was off to go find my high school friends about a mile away. I didn’t realize before, but it was actually a bit hard trying to see and be with both high school friends I hadn’t seen and college friends I hadn’t seen in a while but I made do. We then walked around the canals and shops and I got my first glimpse of the red light district (did I mention thats where our hostel was located… yup got a great view of the 24/7 strip tease that was our neighbor! Hey guys!) Then we had our canal tour with ‘those dam boat guys’ which as I said in a different part of their blog don’t do a canal tour unless its with them or it is pointless!! They’re so so funny, you can learn a lot more personal aspects of the city, and you can bring anything you want onto the boat.. yes, what you’re probably thinking ‘bring anything’ includes is true.. An old British couple letting loose for the first time in (what they claimed) was a while was definitely a highlight. Then, I walked over to Anne Frank House to meet up with college friends and start the guided tour. It was incredible, moving, and mesmerizing… Tickets sold out weeks in advance so seriously book in advance. We then went to a coffeeshop - ifykyk and you must know if you come here - and had a kiiiiiller dinner at A- Fusion. Sushi, gyoza, sweet and sour chicken, udon noodles.. all my favorites!
Day 2:
I got up early to grab coffee (real coffee this time) and meet my friends for the Heineken Experience. It was awesome. The tour is very interactive which keeps you interested the whole time. It even ends in a bar where you get two free heinekens and it legit feels like the KK (but… different!?) I would say that tour is a must. Then we went to Bulls & Dogs for a super famous gourmet hot dog which was incredible and then went to another coffeeshop before I met up with other friends at the Moco Museum (yes see moving from one group to the other is starting to get confusing huh!? but you do what you have to do to see everyone you care about!) Loved the Moco as I said before, I love Banksy and it had pretty much all of his most famous pieces along with descriptions of what he meant by them next to it. We spent about an hour here and it was well worth it. After that we went home to rest and then went to dinner. Afterwards we went to an ‘ice bar’ which I’m sorry but what the f was that place hahaha. Literally a pirate ship ice bar.. so if you’re expecting to get pictures in an ice throne think more like the equivalent of SAE’s basement mid February during a pirate themed social with banana flavored Burnetts pulls as your alcohol choice.. your welcome for that description.
Day 3:
We woke up and knew we had to get danish pancakes and stroopwaffels so went to a random place called Mama Pancake to try them. Then I said goodbye to HS friends and met up with others to go to the Prostitution museum.. I know it sounds so weird but it honestly was so interesting hearing the history behind the red light district. It takes you through the tour with a prostitute narrator and ends with some sex confessions that truly made my day — Mom, Dad ya probably don’t want to read those. Then we wandered the streets until it was time to head to the airport!
All in all, I loved Amsterdam. The canals were mesmerizing to me so personally I could have spent a large amount of my time even just walking through the streets and people watching! I literally think this city is a mix between Las Vegas and Seattle.. what’s not to love!?
Oh wait, did I mention they took down the (am)sterdam sign? Could they maybe…. not? You bet yoself my basic a$$ would have been climbing up the ‘A’ for a picture so maybe its best for everyone. We forgive you Amsterdam.
Next week: Prague!!
