Amsterdam

Amsterdam~ a city filled with amazing architecture,
bicycles galore,

pancakes,


spires lurking in the distance,

large boats,

cathedrals,

beer,

canals,

ornate government buildings,

bridges,

more cathedrals,

more canals,

small boats,

clean streets,

locals soaking up the sunshine,

beer drinking party hounds,

uniform Dutch style,

open shutters, open minds,

small tourists enjoying themselves,

peaceful side streets,

colorful boats awaiting a grand voyage,

and finally, amazing historical sites.

You can see the Anne Frank House to the left and the line of visitors awaiting a tour on the right. I purchased tickets online several weeks before our trip so we simply went inside for our tour.

The main entrance to the house and looking up at the house. As you know, from the fourth story is a thin and steep stairwell taking you further up inside the house.

Photos from our journey from Bruges back to Amsterdam via Antwerp. The station here was lovely.

The second part of our stay in Amsterdam was cloudy and chilly. Remember how excited I was to stay in this hotel {post here}? Well we didn't love it at all. Our room was above a fast food restaurant that was open til 1:30am AND faced a busy street. The photo below shows the exterior and some of the public spaces within the hotel.

This is our room. After a few exchanges with the general manager after our stay I learned that our room wasn't one that was designed by a student. It was clean and comfortable but certainly no frills and the noise level from outside kind of ruined the whole evening here. Luckily it was just one night, but our last night which bummed me out.

A glimpse at some of the high end designer shops in Amsterdam.

A great shop where I bought the antique wooden bowl (this post).

We got to see what the large hooks at the tops of the buildings are used for. A pulley system to move things into the top floors of buildings. Very cool to see it in action, preferably from across the street. :)
Graffiti,

Monuments and the high end De B'Jenkorf department store in the distance.

The canal view on a dreary day~ still superb.

A fun dinner on our last evening.

Sunset in Amsterdam.

Locals making their way back to their homes after the work/school day.

Appreciative to experience a new place.

Thankful overall.

xo~

Tricia