Amsterdam

I'm writing this from a pub in Brussels. I think an expected 3 hour train ride that turned into 7 hours in with a pint or two.

Amsterdam was absolutely amazing and nothing what I expected it to be. Everyone always plays up the red light district. Don't get me wrong... it was something to experience... but definitely not the heart of Amsterdam.

I arrived in the afternoon and visited the Van Gogh museum before the free hostel dinner. The museum was well worth the 15€ entrance fee. It housed many of his most famous works like Sunflowers and The Bedroom. However, my favorite part was the interaction you got with the art. I was able to see the layers of paint used and techniques for which Van Gogh is famous.

The next day I did a city tour and learned more about the city and its history. While Amsterdam and I have conflicting viewpoints on life and freedom, it was still very investing to explore and learn about.

If you do nothing else in the city, do these two things... Anne Frank house and Pepper Mangos Ice cream. The Frank house museum was one of the best ever. It keep you interested while appealing while keeping history alive. I have copies of her diary in my classroom so I made sure to grab extra copies of the informative and visual museum guide in English and Spanish for my students.

Lieden was a quaint town to visit while in the Netherlands. It really was a break from the city. I went to the oldest botanical gardens in the country. I also visited the beach where I was able to further my relaxation.

Now I'm in Brussels, trying to find my way to the hostel.

Until then,
Kristin