So there’s a short version and a long version to this story.
The short version: Amsterdam just completely rocked my world.
The long version: Last weekend, I traveled with three of my roommates to the land of coffee shops and stroopwaffel… We met five girlfriends out there, hailing from Geneva, Paris, Madrid, and Jerusalem. Yes, you read that right. She flew all the way from Israel. The reunion itself was enough to make me the happiest girl in the world, so throw in the wonder and joy that is Amsterdam and you can only imagine my state of euphoria.
When you think of Amsterdam you probably think of its infamous Red Light District and coffee shops, and while we dabbled in each of those a bit, I was surprised by everything else the city had to offer. First off, it’s absolutely stunning. The canals, the trees, the adorable apartment buildings and quaint cafes give it the most charming appearance, and we soaked it all in during an afternoon bike ride. If you go to Amsterdam, RENT A BIKE. It was a great way to see the city, and you’ll fit right in with the locals (though your rented bike will surely have a logo that screams “I’M A TOURIST” if your hesitant steering didn’t already give it away).
We went to the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, both dawning countless masterpieces from that art history class I took ages ago, but we had the most fun at the Heineken Museum. We learned how to serve and enjoy the perfect glass of beer, and you get 3 free Heinekens with your admission. That’s my kind of museum.
Amsterdam is also known for a random selection of delicacies, including Indonesian food, stroopwaffel, pancakes, and Dutch apple pie (ok, that last one makes sense). I tried all of those things, and was blown away by every single one. Major NOMz.
The only thing harder than saying goodbye to the loves of my life – at least until they visit in November – was reentering the Spanish world. I had gotten so used to speaking English to every waiter and person I bumped into on the street (it happens a lot) that I had completely lost my groove once I was back in Barcelona. Working on replacing the sorry!s with ¡perdóname!s.
Missing Amsterdam,
but it’s great to be home.
Besos from Barca,
Ashley