Thursday, March 15, 2012

Amsterdam

We were so excited for our Amsterdam trip for a few reasons:
  • Our Dallas friends who now live in Paris were joining us
  • I was reconnecting with one of my Dutch friends from St. Clare's University- 10 years later
  • We were meeting the wife and daughter of one our our Miami University friends- 7 years later
  • The city is obviously incredible
The trip did not disappoint!


The first night we tried to ease ourselves into the long weekend ahead.  We bounced from a tapas restaurant to an unbelievably strange karaoke bar, to legally and/or illegally drinking beers in streets to a quick walk through the Red Light District.  Our early to bed idea, didn't end up too early after all.


 Friday morning we made our way through the winding streets and squares of Amsterdam, over the bridges and canals to get to the Anne Frank House.

When this churches bells rang, Anne Frank could tell what time it was while they were in hiding in the attack.



Musician Park

 After Anne Frank, we stopped by Koen's Language and Culture Center to have a cup of coffee and get a good recommendation for lunch.  Little did we know, he had taken it upon himself to be our full time tour guide.


Lunch at a brown bar in the Spui neighborhood


A canal tour

A quick stop at a local favorite for beers and "old cheese"




The Flower Market



A photography exhibition put on by one of Koen's friends, called "Second Nature" by Guy Tillman who traveled the world.  Photographs were talen in Tahiti, Johannesburg, Sao Paulo etc.



The back gardens and guest house of the Art Gallery

That evening our "Brown Bar" pub crawl started with another karaoke bar...



...and ended with a good dance session at a local club.


After going to bed at 4am, our bike tour came around pretty quickly the next day.  And of course, Koen was our tour guide.  He rode us by the third most famous opera venue (behind NYC and Vienna), by the Van Gogh Museum, through the Fashion and Design district and gardens...




through the most ritzy of the Amsterdam neighborhoods...

to a fantastic Saturday market...


...with a quick stop in Vondel Park for lunch.


Back on the bikes, we rode by the Heineken Experience...

Stopped at one of the only breweries for a tasting...

...and had a true Dutch experience at the Everyday Market eating raw herring and fried cod.  I opted for the warm waffle sandwich stuffed with butterscotch.



We ended the bike tour by crossing the "skinny bridge."


Then it was off to happy hour at Chads to meet his wife and adorable baby girl.

They picked out a fantastic place for dinner that evening.



I wanted to take these home with me, but they wouldn't fit in my luggage.



We had a great time, a great tour guide and were in great company!  Hopefully we will get back to Amsterdam in the summer to take advantage of warmer temps and all the outdoor activities!

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