Hash, Hookers or History?
Me and the Aussie one ventured forth to Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago. It was our first official holiday, meaning it was a trip out-with either of our home nations. Many people assume the only reason anyone goes to Amsterdam is for the Hash or the Hookers but we realised there is a third "H" people travel for; History. Even the taxi driver on the way to the airport said people only go for the hash and hookers and then spent the next twenty minutes telling us about his nephew, who used to have a hash addiction and who's step-father wants to send to Amsterdam for his 18th birthday. We however were going for the history and because its a new place (for us).
The flight was uneventful apart from the fact we were given food, now as I am accustomed to cheaper airlines (where it's surprising that you don't have to pay for the toilets) the prospect of free drinks and a snack was quite exciting.
Upon arrival we headed for the train, passing a solemn sign stating "no balloons"...what a mean sign. On the train we were eve's dropping on a fellow group of traveller's, the Aussie one was saying how it was strange hearing a foreign language, when we realised it was in fact english, just spoken with heavy Liverpudlian accents. After dropping our bags off at the hotel (and changing in a pantry) we went exploring. We walked to and through Vondel Park, enjoying the sunshine and trying not to be squashed by bikes (which are everywhere). We then meandered to the Van Gogh museum, after watching a match of giant chess and the best buskers I have ever seen. Four mid-twenties guys with a guitar, box, accordion and saxophone doing renditions of Aqua's barbie with minimal vocals and other great songs, at one point two (professional) dancers just started giving a performance, it was amazing to witness (possibly the highlight of the trip). The Van Gogh museum was very interesting (I never knew he was so varied in his work), I particularly liked "selfie in felt hat" and "selfie in straw hat". However it was also the place I have felt the biggest disappointment in my life (that I can remember), A Starry Night was not there. The museum is over four floors and I just kept thinking they've kept the best for last, but when we reached the end I still could not see it, I asked a guard where it was, hopeful that I had accidentally passed it somewhere, but it was not to be...It was on its way to America, I could honestly feel the tears welling up as we made our way outside.
The rest of the day was spent lounging against trees and soaking up the Amsterdamian(?) atmosphere followed by a huge dinner with a couple of drinks. The following day was spent in a similar fashion, we followed the Amstel river to Amstel Park with the promise of seeing a windmill, the park surpassed all expectations; there were friendly donkeys, a wee train, a wallaby shacked up with an alpaca, lots and lots of ducks, random "art" things and a nice cafe with refreshing fanta and yummy chips. We actually had to leave the park to see the windmill and couldn't get that close to it, as we thought someone lived there, but we still managed to get the "picture in front of a windmill while in holland" . A short walk, train and tram ride later we were at Anne Frank's house. At this point I feel I should mention in the park I must of brushed against a weird plant or something as I had an angry red rash from ankle to knee on the inside of my right leg and from calf to above the knee on the outside of my left leg. As we were queueing (and enjoying the free wifi) i started to feel all hot, weak and faint, almost as if I was having a hypo (low blood sugar). Luckily we had pre-made jam sandwiches with us. Unfortunately just as we were at the door I thought I really was going to pass out so we left it and sat by the canal (I think the Aussie one thought I was going to fall in) I munched on another jam sandwich and drank lots of water, practically seeing the heat haze coming off my legs. Feeling slightly better I was determined to see the house, so naturally I made my man queue while I stayed by the canal. Entering the door I was saying to myself you can do this!...and then my vision started blurring and my head started spinning so as the Aussie one was buying the tickets I stumbled down some stairs to sit on the bench with my head between my knees...half a sandwich later I was ready to tackle the stairs. I was surprised by the size of the rooms but then it is hard to gauge when they are bare, what struck me most was not the quotes and video messages about the place but the pencilled markings on the wall showing Anne's height, beside her sisters. It is crazy to think how little time has passed since those terrible events occurred.
For anyone who has watched Fault in Our Stars (brilliant book) it lied. You cannot go into the attic at Anne Frank's House, however you can see into it via a well placed mirror.
Our final day was spent wandering around (surprise surprise) visiting the Body World museum, which I found fascinating and the Aussie one found nauseating, visiting a Heineken shop (think m&m world but with beer), running through torrential rain which drenched us but at least gave us a chance to take pictures of a war monument with no-one else about, watching Transformers 4 with beers, popcorn (with m&ms as a topping) and trying to read Dutch subtitles. We were wondering why so many people were dressed in orange that day, it took us a silly amount of time to realise there was a World Cup match on, and the Netherlands team were playing. We decided to go for a nice romantic meal, we even found this little Italian place that served fresh home-made pasta with lovely wine...they too switched on a wee TV to show the game but it was a lovely last night none the less.
There was so much to see and do, we couldn't possibly do it all in three days so I suspect we will return again one day...just always for the History.
The flight was uneventful apart from the fact we were given food, now as I am accustomed to cheaper airlines (where it's surprising that you don't have to pay for the toilets) the prospect of free drinks and a snack was quite exciting.
Upon arrival we headed for the train, passing a solemn sign stating "no balloons"...what a mean sign. On the train we were eve's dropping on a fellow group of traveller's, the Aussie one was saying how it was strange hearing a foreign language, when we realised it was in fact english, just spoken with heavy Liverpudlian accents. After dropping our bags off at the hotel (and changing in a pantry) we went exploring. We walked to and through Vondel Park, enjoying the sunshine and trying not to be squashed by bikes (which are everywhere). We then meandered to the Van Gogh museum, after watching a match of giant chess and the best buskers I have ever seen. Four mid-twenties guys with a guitar, box, accordion and saxophone doing renditions of Aqua's barbie with minimal vocals and other great songs, at one point two (professional) dancers just started giving a performance, it was amazing to witness (possibly the highlight of the trip). The Van Gogh museum was very interesting (I never knew he was so varied in his work), I particularly liked "selfie in felt hat" and "selfie in straw hat". However it was also the place I have felt the biggest disappointment in my life (that I can remember), A Starry Night was not there. The museum is over four floors and I just kept thinking they've kept the best for last, but when we reached the end I still could not see it, I asked a guard where it was, hopeful that I had accidentally passed it somewhere, but it was not to be...It was on its way to America, I could honestly feel the tears welling up as we made our way outside.
The rest of the day was spent lounging against trees and soaking up the Amsterdamian(?) atmosphere followed by a huge dinner with a couple of drinks. The following day was spent in a similar fashion, we followed the Amstel river to Amstel Park with the promise of seeing a windmill, the park surpassed all expectations; there were friendly donkeys, a wee train, a wallaby shacked up with an alpaca, lots and lots of ducks, random "art" things and a nice cafe with refreshing fanta and yummy chips. We actually had to leave the park to see the windmill and couldn't get that close to it, as we thought someone lived there, but we still managed to get the "picture in front of a windmill while in holland" . A short walk, train and tram ride later we were at Anne Frank's house. At this point I feel I should mention in the park I must of brushed against a weird plant or something as I had an angry red rash from ankle to knee on the inside of my right leg and from calf to above the knee on the outside of my left leg. As we were queueing (and enjoying the free wifi) i started to feel all hot, weak and faint, almost as if I was having a hypo (low blood sugar). Luckily we had pre-made jam sandwiches with us. Unfortunately just as we were at the door I thought I really was going to pass out so we left it and sat by the canal (I think the Aussie one thought I was going to fall in) I munched on another jam sandwich and drank lots of water, practically seeing the heat haze coming off my legs. Feeling slightly better I was determined to see the house, so naturally I made my man queue while I stayed by the canal. Entering the door I was saying to myself you can do this!...and then my vision started blurring and my head started spinning so as the Aussie one was buying the tickets I stumbled down some stairs to sit on the bench with my head between my knees...half a sandwich later I was ready to tackle the stairs. I was surprised by the size of the rooms but then it is hard to gauge when they are bare, what struck me most was not the quotes and video messages about the place but the pencilled markings on the wall showing Anne's height, beside her sisters. It is crazy to think how little time has passed since those terrible events occurred.
For anyone who has watched Fault in Our Stars (brilliant book) it lied. You cannot go into the attic at Anne Frank's House, however you can see into it via a well placed mirror.
Our final day was spent wandering around (surprise surprise) visiting the Body World museum, which I found fascinating and the Aussie one found nauseating, visiting a Heineken shop (think m&m world but with beer), running through torrential rain which drenched us but at least gave us a chance to take pictures of a war monument with no-one else about, watching Transformers 4 with beers, popcorn (with m&ms as a topping) and trying to read Dutch subtitles. We were wondering why so many people were dressed in orange that day, it took us a silly amount of time to realise there was a World Cup match on, and the Netherlands team were playing. We decided to go for a nice romantic meal, we even found this little Italian place that served fresh home-made pasta with lovely wine...they too switched on a wee TV to show the game but it was a lovely last night none the less.
There was so much to see and do, we couldn't possibly do it all in three days so I suspect we will return again one day...just always for the History.
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