I Wanna be Dutch

Canal and cafes at night

Amsterdam is a very hip town where I wish I could watch the world go by from a row house along a canal. You know, I always thought I was really 100% Italian, but now I am certain there is at least 30% Dutch in me. This could help explain my mysterious blond hair and pale complexion. If I was over 5'5" I would think I was really on to something...

Amsterdam has a genius public transport operation which allowed us to park outside the city and hop on the train for a mere €6 a day. Sure beats the €40 a day our hotel charged! Upon arrival we were eager to explore the city, so we dumped our bags at Hotel Pulitzer and went about exploring. The hotel was located in a great neighborhood with the cutest boutiques, restaurants and real coffee shops. The other "coffee shops" for which Amsterdam is famous are mainly located in the Red Light District. Of course no trip to the city would be complete without a "peep" over there. Trust me, it could be an entire post on its own. Oy.

Everyone and their mom has a bike in Amsterdam!

The weather was magnificent and the locals displayed their finest side while taking full advantage of the sun. It made me slightly envious of their lifestyle. Boats lined canals with riders sipping wine as they floated by, and street cafes were packed with coffee and Heineken drinkers. Bikers were out in full force and we were forced to dodge them at every turn.

Besides soaking in the scene and scoping out real estate, we managed to squeeze in some culture. The highlight was the incredible Van Gogh Museum. Here, some of his finest art from his short career is on display. One of my new favorite paintings is this one:

Van Gogh's Almond Blossoms 

Van Gogh painted Almond Blossoms for his nephew, Vincent.

Another must-do in Amsterdam is to pay a visit to the Anne Frank house. After reading her diary as a girl and learning about her story, it was fascinating to see from where she wrote. The attic was quite small for 8 people, and it was hard to believe her father covertly ran his business downstairs without most of his staff knowing about the hiding spot. Sadly her father was the only surviver of the 8 in hiding, and Anne died just one month before the liberation.

One of the sadder, but moving themes of our trips was dying before acknowledgement. Both Van Gogh and Frank did not live to see their work as it is perceived today. Van Gogh did not attempt to become a painter until he was in his mid twenties and he still never believed he would succeed. He was plagued by mental illnesses and took his own life just ten years into his career. It was right after his death that his art starting making waves in Paris. Frank, sadly, did not know her story would touch so many people. Her father promised his daughter he would not read her diary and it was not until years after her passing he discovered what she had captured. Today her story is known around the world.  

To end on a high note, Amsterdam has a lot to offer beyond what it is notorious for. It is a wonderful city to visit with world class museums and exhibits as well as shopping and cuisine. The people are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Amsterdam is a must see when traveling to Europe. 

Another canal shot at night. Breathtaking! 

All of our photos can be seen here.