I AMsterdam
Hello all!
I have returned from my most recent adventure, Amsterdam, or as I have been referring to it as: TAMsterdam. Amsterdam was very pretty, I must say that. There was a ton of water, there are canals everywhere. Our tour guide assured us that it was the Venice away from Venice. There were also a ton of bikes. Our tour guide told us that there are more bikes than people in Amsterdam. Although this fact sounds crazy, I must believe it to be true. There were bikes everywhere! You had to make sure not to get struck by one, while crossing the busy streets. Amsterdam is relatively small as well. You can take busses, or trams around, but walking is just as simple. Plus with walking, you really can take in all of the sights!
We arrived late Thursday night, and just hung out. But we awoke extra early Friday morning in order to visit Anne Frank House. I tried to book tickets in advanced online, however the first available tickets were for July 4th!! Needless to say that would’t work. I will be back in the US then! Luckily for me, my friends are troopers. So Friday morning Heidi, MK, and I headed off to the long line that would await us. We rose early enough though, so the line really wasn’t too bad! I was very pleased that we got to the museum, and still had plenty of the day left to explore Amsterdam.
Patatje Oorlog with Heidi & MK
Ok I know I always go on and on about food in my blogs. But hey can you blame me? Food is a big part of travel! Amsterdam was no exception. I found it similar to London, in the sense that it had such a mixed bag culinarily, something I did not expect. First off we had to have the fries. Why oh why must sauce cost extra? Of course I am going to buy sauce, because what are fries without it? So why must I be charged extra for this necessity? I must say I prefer Belgian fries from Brussels to Amsterdam fries (mostly because the ones I had in Amsterdam were frozen), but the sauce is better in Amsterdam. It may sound weird but the Patatje Oorlog is a must try! This concoction consists of peanut sauce, mayonnaise, and onions. It is super unique and super yummy!
Red Velvet cake twinning with MK
Beyond fries, one must have Stroopwafel, cheese, Indonesian food, and Poffertjes. Stroopwafel is incredible, not only do we need it in the United States, I am also kicking myself for not bringing some back to Milan. We bought a package of these thin wafer like waffles, sandwiched with caramel in the middle. The bag was surprisingly heavy! They are sweet, but not too sweet, and just an overall satisfying snack. Indonesian food is very popular in Amsterdam. Although I spent more on it then I would have preferred, it truly was one of the best meals I have had abroad. We all shared a bunch of small dishes, with a big bowl of rice. This is one of my favorite ways to eat, so you can try everything. As for the Poffertjes, they are tiny dutch pancakes. We dipped them in butter and mugs of hot chocolate. There were other culinary gems, including my fave RED VELVET CAKE. But that is not as exotic.
Van Gogh Museum
We ventured to the I amsterdam sign to take some touristy pictures, and then we were off to the Van Gogh museum. These tickets we had booked online in advanced, so we got them for less money, which is always a good thing! The museum was actually really big. I was quite tired, so I felt I could not take it in, to the best of my ability. But I powered through as best I could. Not being a huge art, or museum fan, I liked how interactive the museum was.
Skinny Bridge with MK & Heidi
The next day we decided to sleep in, and walk around. We went to the Skinny bride, because I had heard a lot about it. Amsterdam was one of the places where I really just compiled tips from everywhere. We got some food tips from Buzzfeed, some tips from Kara (who visited during spring break), as well as some tips from a guy named Alex we met at a club in Milan a few weeks prior. Fun fact, Alex too is a SUNY student, a Binghamton Bearcat studying abroad in Amsterdam. The world is a tiny place!
The big flaw I must point out has to be the amount I spent on bathrooms. I should not have to pay to pee. But Amsterdam was after my pockets, more so than any other destination. So make sure to carry extra change with you!
We embarked on a lengthy but entertaining walking tour. Our night ended shortly after dinner. And we woke up the next day to head back to Milan. Lucky for me, our bus was running behind schedule so I could get my touristy I amsterdam photo, alone. This was the greatest pro of flying so early in the morning. Although after how early we flew from Dublin to Milan, any flight after 8pm seems like a piece of cake, mmmmm like that red velvet cake I had in Amsterdam 😉 Till next time readers!
Tamara
