Amsterdam, Netherlands

After a few days of exploring Belgium, Laura and Liz got on a train and headed for Amsterdam. There, we planned to meet up with 2 friends- Stacy and Lauren. Stacy had just been in Paris running the Paris marathon. Lauren just moved to Prague and decided to join us before really starting into her job. We all finally met up with one another and spent 4 days in The Netherlands! Amsterdam was our base as we took several day trips and in between explored this unusual city.

Amsterdam is certainly an interesting city. It houses many famous museums- Van Gosh, Anne Frank; very charming canals and houses and of course, the unavoidable "crazy" side of town- the red light district and "coffee shops". While there, we did the museum thing, a walking tour, rode bicycles and high-flying swings, stayed on a boat hotel and enjoyed a stroop (syrup) waffle or two (or three).

We spent our first afternoon exploring the Anne Frank museum. This is one of the best museums I have been to because we went through the exact place of the Frank's hiding (bedrooms, kitchen, even bathroom) and learned more about their life in hiding and the story after the end of Anne's diary. Otto Frank (Anne's father) was brilliant in planning their hiding and carrying it out for so long. I was very impressed to go in and have a better understanding of what exactly took place.
The "Anne Frank House" is not a house as much as it was the place where Otto Frank had a business. He transferred ownership to another employee when the Jews were not allowed to be business owners in Amsterdam any longer.
The family (actually 2 families and a single man) had to live in silence during the day. They did not go outside for several years. What a fanatical way to live in order to escape the fate of the camps and death.
Beautiful Amsterdam!
Look closely at the rows and rows of bicycles- the preferred mode of transportation.
The start of the Red Light District, which must be gone by the year 2012 said our tour guide. The rest of the country is very conservative so apparently the windows and the coffeeshops were voted out. Their numbers dwindle almost every day.

Pimp my bicycle- basket..check..two seats in the back for the kids..check..kickstand..check..floral motif..check.
The narrowest house in Amsterdam. It is red and is about the same width as Liz's wingspan. Back in the day they were taxed according to their width.
Bulbs in the flower market.
Bouquets in the flower market.
Dam Square
About to go on the swings with Stacy.

Here is a video of Laura and Liz on the swings:

The swings went higher than the ferris wheel. So scary!
Passed by these characters on the street outside of a Comedy Club. They were hilarious.
Van Gogh is my favorite artist so going to the museum was a real treat. The museum also had Starry Night so I HAD to go!
Bikes and canals everywhere!

The main street.