Amsterdam

I just got back from a 3-day weekend in Amsterdam, and am still trying to figure out exactly how to describe the city.

Amsterdam is unlike any other place I've been, and certainly a stark contrast to Italy. The buildings were old and there was definitely an abundance of culture and history in Amsterdam, but we weren't walking among ruins like we do in the piazzas in Italy. 

After getting ove my confusion of realizing that Holland and The Netherlands are the same place, I was ready to see Amsterdam! The city was vibrant and lively and so much fun! This trip was especially fun because Kristin, Chelsea and I met up with our friends from school who are all studying abroad in Europe for the semester

When we arrived on Friday evening we made our way to the hostel (8 girls in one room with one bathroom, yikes!) and then immediately found food. We decided to explore the night life of Amsterdam together and found Club Nasty (not nearly as exciting as it sounds), casually walked into a club that charged €16 cover charge for free, and were persuaded to go into the "VIP"section by a man with a striking resemblance to Snoop Dog. All in all it was a pretty interesting night. 

The next day we got up early and were ready to do some sight seeing! First, we went to breakfast, where I basically ate as much food as I possibly could. I have no regrets about this breakfast.

After I stuffed my face, we headed to the Anne Frank House, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Amsterdam. The actual building that Anne Frank and her family hid in during the holocaust has been preserved and turned into a museum. Throughout the exhibit there were quotations from Anne's diary, as well as a number of artifacts that were actually used by the Frank family. Diagrams showed how 8 people hid in the small attic for over 2 years. 

"To build a future you have to know the past"

Otto Frank, 1967

As we walked up the stairs to the "secret annex" we saw the actual bookcase that was put in place to hide the entrance to the attic. Once we were up there, I had an overwhelming amount of emotions. I was standing in the room where "The Diary of Anne Frank" was written, and I saw markings on the wall of where Anne's mother had measured her and her sister's heights while they lived there. The entire experience was incredibly moving and I kept wishing I remembered more from when I read Anne Frank's Diary in fifth grade.

This was definitely my favorite tourist attraction in Amsterdam. Seeing video of interviews with Anne's father, Frank, and some of the people who helped hide them was so amazing. The whole museum was a great example of why history should be studied - so that we don't repeat ourselves.

After the museum we grabbed lunch and did some souvenir shopping. We spent a lot of time in a shop with Delftware pottery. Holland is famous for this hand-painted artwork, although the technique originated in China. 

On Saturday night we took a tour of the famous Red Light District. I was especially excited about this, mainly due to the fact that this are is the one aspect that separates The Netherlands from everywhere else in the world. 

Our tour guide explained the history of the area to us and brought us to some "famous" attractions there. I think the part that startled me the most was that half-naked women stand in windows and beckon to people walking down the street, trying to get them to come inside. But it wasn't just seeing this, it was seeing how normal it is there. Sex is not taboo or negative or look down upon, but rather something that is part of everyday life. 

Women are grouped in "categories," such as race, weight or even hair color. Our tour guide showed us the "elite" streets where apparently the best prostitutes work. None of us were exactly sure how this status is determined and we decided we didn't really want to know.

However, no matter where in the district they work, each woman there is a registered worker in the city of Amsterdam. Each "visit" costs the same amount no matter where in the district you work, and each woman has access to button that when pressed sends a signal to the closest police station in case of any trouble.

Before the tour I thought that all of the women in that industry chose to be there, but in reality, only 30% of Red Light District workers are there of their own free will. 

The city of Amsterdam is attempting to "clean up" their image, and within the next 10 years the Red Light District will be reduced to only one strip, as opposed to the multiple streets it currently occupies. 

The next day we walked around the city and made it to the famous I amsterdam sign. Well, one of them. Apparently there are four throughout the city! Being the typical sorority girls that we are we took over the sign and had our own little photo shoot right there. 

After we'd had our fill with the pictures, we decided to take a canal tour! The city of Amsterdam is made up of about 90 different islands connected by over 160 canals. 

fun fact: There are more canals in Amsterdam than in Venice!

I loved the canal tour because we got to see the city from a completely different point of view. We drove past the oldest house in Amsterdam, a community of house boats and the only cat shelter in the city (which also happens to be on a boat)!

A House Boat

Now, of course, my description of Amsterdam just wouldn't be complete without the ever-present aroma of Marijuana that drifted out from the . The fact that you can just purchase drugs and use them right in public still completely baffles me, but this it just another aspect that sets The Netherlands apart from everyone else! 

The Bulldog, one of the oldest chains of coffee shops in Amsterdam!

Thanks to Jessie, our wonderful host for the weekend!

Amsterdam is such a unique and diverse city and I am so glad that I had the chance to visit there with some of my best friends!