About 90% of Dutch People Speak English

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS-

Hello! We'll, I survived my first European travel experience outside of the UK! In a nut shell I would say that Amsterdam is a very bizarre yet exciting city. The city of "freedom" what some people call it. 

Anyway, the journey began at about 4:45 in the morning when my alarm went off so I would have enough time to shower and get ready to meet everyone at the bus station at 6:05 a.m. We took a bus, tube, and a train to get to the LCY (London City Airport) it took us about an hour and a half to get there. Hopefully, in the future I will be be able to always fly out of Heathrow, it's only 7 miles away from where I live. 

We got on the plane outside, that was the first time I have ever done that, but apparently it's really common here. After we landed we took a train to Amsterdam Central. As I write this I make it sound like the process of getting there was relatively easy and for the most part it was, but keep in mind that there were many times we had to look at our map, read signs, thankfully in both Dutch and English, as well as ask the information desk to get from A to B. We even got on a train that was going the opposite way that we wanted to go, but a man overheard us talking and told us that we were on the wrong train, just in time for us to get off before the doors closed. 

Finding our hostel wasn't as hard as I though it was going to be. It didn't take long for someone to approach us to see if we needed help as we were all huddled in a circle looking at a map with our travel backpacks on. I was quickly reminded that we were in Amsterdam as we approached our hostel and noticed a women in the window sitting on a stool almost naked! (Pretty much, we were neighbors with a hooker, it was funny). For only paying 12 Euro a night each, our hostel was pretty decent. Except getting to our room you had to climb down these incredibly narrow and spiral stairs. It was a bit of a challenge, to say the least.   

After we got all settled in, we decided to explore the city. I think we made about 4 or 5 circles and got lost a couple times, but hey that's expected right? That night we went to the Red Light District. It was 7 of us girls and 1 guy. So, how can I describe the Red Light District? Well, I guess for lack of a better word I'll go with bizarre. You walk down several narrow streets all illuminated with red light, of course. You see women of all ages, races, and sizes dressed in a bra and panties, dancing to music, while smoking a cigarette. It's awkward walking past each door, but even more when you see a guy walking out of the door, and as he does the woman instantly opens the curtains and is ready for her next client. That's what they call them, "clients" because it's a professional business in Amsterdam. That's their career according to one of the hotel managers. And usually their only job. Alright, and that concludes prostitution in Amsterdam 101. The picture above shows our hostel. On the left you can see a red light with curtains closed. 

You experience many "Deja Vu" moments in Amsterdam because every time you walk across the street and look both to the left and the right you see canals. It was constant, there were tons, it's no wonder why we got lost all the time in the beginning.  

There were also an incredible amount of bikes. They literally had a 3 level bike ramp packed full of bikes. It seemed as almost like you needed a permit to ride one just to keep up with the bike traffic. Everyone on a bike was on a mission to get to their destination as fast as possible. And if you got in their way they would ring their bell which was so funny because it sounded like a bell a child would have on his or her bike, basically not threatening at all. It was more of a chime, what they really needed was a blow horn.  Below is a picture of the 3 level bike ramp! 

We went to the Van Gogh museum which was really interesting. I couldn't believe I saw the original painting of Starry Starry Night. I learned that Van Gogh never had any professional training when he started painting. And that because of his bipolar disease he cut off his left ear lobe and was a manic depressive which eventually made him commit suicide. 

On Saturday morning I went to the Anne Frank House. It was breathtaking and surreal. I couldn't believe I got to see with my very own eye's the book shelf that kept them all hidden for those years. Along with that, to stand in Anne's room, to look at the wall where her father had kept a record of how much the children grew. And to see the original diary gave me goosebumps (picture below). That experience is definitely something that I will never forget. 

Overall, Amsterdam was great! But I must say that I was homesick for London and being comfortable with all the public transportation systems. This weekend I'll be in Scotland. We will be visiting the lowlands of Edinburgh to the highlands, as well as Loch Ness... the legendary home to the monster "Nessie." Until next time. Cheers!

-Britt

SHOUT OUT: Hi Heather and Jamie! Sis, I miss you so much and hope everything is going well. Mom told me you got a camera for your computer! Let's skype soon, I want to hear what you guys have been up to! Love you. <3