Amsterdam!

In my budget travel guide, "Let's Go: Europe," there is a paragraph or two before each country and city that gives a little explanation about the destination. "Amsterdam's reputation precedes it--and what a reputation it is," the book writes. To me, that sums up the city. Known for liberal thinking and decadence, numerous canals and bicycles, this city is like nothing I have ever scene!

This was my first real trip on my own. I booked the flight (a couple days before) and the hotel all by myself; that was the easy part. I left Friday morning from the airport in Aberdeen. Although fairly small, it is a pretty busy airport. Anyways, I made it on time, boarded the plane and everything was fine. I knew that part wasn't going to be very difficult. What I was really nervous about was finding the hotel. I had printed out what I thought were good directions. All it really gave me was two sentences with very little information. So, after arriving in one of the biggest airports in the world, I found my way to the train station (which is conveniently located under the airport). I really had no clue which train to take because everything was in Dutch, so I guessed. The only thing I really knew, was that the train was bound for the city; I just wasn't sure where. So the directions told me to get off and grab a tram at some stop, so here again, I guessed. I somehow lucked out and found a tram stop and preceded onward by jumping onto the number 5 like it had said. Then, I was told to get off the tram at a certain point, but again, I didn't know which one that was.

So now, off the tram and finally in the city, the terrible directions give no other clues on where to go, so I start walking towards the big buildings. At the first intersection, I look over and saw my hotel. Either I am genius when it comes to traveling, or I was really, really lucky. I might have to pick the second of the two.

So, while I waited for my friend, Matt Carton, to arrive from Germany, I ventured out with my camera. Since I had plenty of time to kill, I walked around and took many pictures. I even grabbed a fantastic sandwich to eat. Then, the weather turned bad and it started to rain, so I decided to head back. It was then that I found out how hard Amsterdam is to navigate, and I ended up lost. Eventually, I found the hotel again (without any help).

Since he was not here yet, I decided to lay down for a bit. I was in a room with eight bunks and was wondering if anyone was going to be staying in the room with me. Well, Carton calls and said he is close so I get out of bed. Then I hear a bunch of girls in the hallway. I thought to myself, "they can't be in this room, can they?" Sure enough, the door flies open. I hear a loud scream and the door slam. The girl eventually comes back in and we laugh about the incident. As we get to talking and all of her friends make their way into the room, it seems that I have seven girl roommates for the weekend! (don't worry, it got too awkward and I slept in the room with Carton) But, as we continued to talk, I came to find out that she goes to Illinois and is in a sorority. She is studying this semester in Italy and we met each other in a hotel in Amsterdam. How weird is that?

Anyway, that night Carton and I went out to eat with our roommates who were from various countries (Norway, Switzerland, and Sweden). We then met up with some of their other friends who were in Amsterdam, and had a good time with them.

The next morning (after 6 showers, 4 of them girls) we hit up the Van Gogh Museum. This gave me a greater appreciation for artwork and the artistic genius himself. We then did a little more sight seeing and took a canal boat tour before we met up with our new friends again for dinner at a Chinese restaurant (I had duck). After that, we went back to their hostel before hitting up the town. After a while, Carton and I split to see the infamous Red Light District and coffee shops. I'll just say that it was a very eye opening experience.

The next morning we went to the Anne Frank Museum and saw the house where she and her family hid from the Nazi roundup of Jewish families. One of the best museums I have ever been to, it gave a real understanding of the suffering that these families endured; but also, the hope and integrity that Anne Frank possessed.

While by that time it was time for Carton to head out, we said our goodbyes and I went on to explore more of the city. When it started to snow, I started to look for something inside that would be fun. I found a museum in one of the first churches in Amsterdam (huge) that had a display of modern artwork depicting the love, and hatred, towards religion. I thought that some of the artwork depicting the insanity of religion was crude, but ironic because it now resides in a church.

By then it was time for me to leave. I grabbed a train, got to the airport and flew back to Aberdeen. This was a trip that I will never forget!