Amsterdam

After a hectic few days in Paris and another busy weekend of nesting in Brussels, C and I decided we needed a relatively low key adventure. Having access to a car when living in a central location like Belgium makes weekend road trips very easy, but C and I still find it rather surreal that we can just jump in the car and head to the Netherlands; even having a conversation like, "Hey, want to drive to [insert country] next week?" is just nuts to us, but we are taking full advantage.

Anyway, we opted for a quiet weekend in Amsterdam. I know, "quiet weekend" in a city known for hookers and drugs doesn't really make sense, but driving a mere two hours and avoiding planes & trains already sounded more quiet than usual. So, armed with my usual Rick Steve's book (Europe Through THE BACK DOOR...c'mon, you want to laugh), we were on our way. The drive was gorgeous: Windmills (real Dutch ones), farms, and farm animals butted right up against the highway. C kept his eyes on the road while I described our surroundings. Speed limits change with little notice here, and waiting with those speed limit signs are usually speed cameras; C has fallen victim to said set-up twice already. We've also had our car towed. Go us.

We arrived in Amsterdam with no trouble at all and immediately headed for the Anne Frank House. I became an admirer of Anne the instant I read her diary in junior high. Her zest for life and writing came through so clearly, even amongst such devastating details of hiding during the Holocaust. For those unfamiliar with her story, I highly recommend spending a few bucks to purchase her book; and, when you have the chance, get to Amsterdam and pay homage to her at the Anne Frank House. The wallpaper is original, the staircases are steep like ladders, the actual 1942 bookcase that acted as the secret door into their hiding place still stands. I touched the bookcase. I walked through the bookcase. I stood in Anne's room. I couldn't believe where I was and what had happened there; it was so incredibly moving. We could've left Amsterdam after that and I would've been satisfied. Instead, after purchasing Anne's diary and an awesome coffee table book at the exit-through-the-giftshop, we walked along the inner canal and back to our car. A little white parking ticket stuck partially to our damp windshield and waved partially in the breeze as we arrived. Go us.

Off to our hotel we went. We stayed at the Hotel V , which is well situated along the inner canal and a short walk to virtually anything you'd want to see in the city. A legitimate breakfast was included, as was free wifi, and they serve free coffee & tea (with a cookie...loves it) all day long next to an awesome fireplace/big pipe in the ceiling shooting fire. You should stay there. Sights seen after Anne Frank included Skinny Bridge, crowded shopping streets, Rembrandt Square, fabulous Van Gogh originals, the Floating Flower Market, Museumplein, and the Heineken Experience (way better than I thought it would be). Only once did we smell mary jane, which surprised me a little. I thought pot-smoking hippies would be rubbing their dreadlocks on me all weekend, but I'm delighted to say I was wrong. The food was good, the people were friendly, and I really enjoyed the beauty of the canals lined with sweet little homes and flower boxes. Honestly, I could live there. Maybe next year...

Ciao!

B + C