I Am Amsterdam!

Can you spot me?!
That's me under the first hump of the M!

Nothing ever goes exactly the way you plan. But that doesn't mean that all is lost and there's no hope for a better future.

From our last three excursions I've learned that you have to be flexible and roll with the punches while abroad.

((See my newly added page for guidelines to traveling to see what else I've come up with when planning a trip!))

From our seemingly endless issues on our way to Granada, to the mishap with booking the wrong night in our hostal in Cadiz, it follows that there would be an issue in Amsterdam with our hotel resevations.

Unfortunately, after booking our hotel room online (getting a confirmation and everything) something happened and the payment was not processed (Damn you UniCaja!!) Of course I wasn't notified, so - SURPRISE! We get to the hotel Thursday evening to find out that my reservation was cancelled. Well - you can imagine the instant anxiety/panic attack I almost had! Luckily there was a room available for 3 of the 4 nights we were staying and for the remaining night we booked a hostal only a few blocks away from our hotel.
MINOR GLITCH!

I definitely didn't let this tiny detail ruin my weekend adventure in Amsterdam! Amsterdam is defnitely a must see in Europe! It is amazing!! and not just for the stereotypical reasons that weed and prostitution are legal lol Architecturally, I love it!! With its neatly lined roads and canals throughout the city center, and the facade of all the buildings flawlessly preserved, with the narrow brownstone-esque homes, the inspiring history of the country of being a tolerant and accepting nation for all persons religions or creed... It's just all so impressive!

FUN FACT: The Dutch Resistance to the Nazi Regime during WWII, in which the people went on strike, boycotted and protested the deportation of Jews from Holland, was the only act of it's kind by non-Jews during Nazi occupied Europe.
Pretty inspiring!

Despite the weather being pretty tempermental going from chilly/almost freezing and misting/drizzling to sunny and clear skies in one day, I still loved it all!

Picture perfect city

FUN FACT: Because the city is mostly below sea level flooding is an issue, so every building has a wooden beam with a hook attached sticking out the front of the building so families could use a rope to make a pully system and hoist up to the attic their heavy valuables like pianos or refridgerators, etc

Notice how the building leans forward into the street
from countless heavy objects being lifted into the attic

I definitely did as much as I could in the few short days we had. When we arrived Thursday evening - Thanksgiving! - and we hit up a Coffee Shop a block away from our hotel

Easy Times became our go to place to meet up and plan our next moves

Then Friday morning we went on a 3 hour walking tour of the city (fo free!)

The Jewish Quarter which was destroyed post WWII
because it was raided for wood by locals.
It was rebuilt in the 60's by architectural students
"who were probably on LSD, which is why the buildings look the way they do. Ugly!"
according to our tour guide LOL

The sun started to peek out half way through the tour!

After that we went to the Anne Frank House

and we went on Amsterdams most poppin Pub Crawl

T-Shirt included!

 and ate typical Dutch food

FEBO

Bratwurst

Saturday we explored the Red Light District and saw a show at the Moulin Rouge

I'll never look at a candle the same ;) haha

FUN FACT: The prostitutes in the windows of the Red Light District don't like having their picture taken and if they catch you snapping a shot they will come out and beat you up or even throw piss at you from behind their window!!

Then we found some good wholesome American fast food we had been craving

Some delish KFC

Then on Sunday to finish off our weekend we rented bikes for 3 hours and rode around the city like true Dutch!

Rode by one of the few Windmills in the city center
on our self guided bike tour

Just embracing the Dutch culture ridin a bike around town =D

Riding over the Amstel Dam - the origin of the name
of the city ... AnstelDam --> Amsterdam

And this was definitely the best day of the whole weekend!

Definitely have to go back to Amsterdam one day!! Hopefully in spring or summer when the weather is a bit warmer and I can see the tulips =]