European Exchange: April 2011

A child’s daycare and Christian youth hostel right in the middle of the Red Light District, mothers with three children on their bikes, second hand shops and a real China Town = Only in Amsterdam!

This past weekend I went to Amsterdam with two of my friends from exchange, Rob and Lauren, and holy it was an amazing weekend! Although it started off a little (well a lot) rough it ended up being the best travel weekend so far!

Our plane left at 6am on Friday morning from Geneva. As we live an hour away from Geneva we decided to take the last train the night before in order to get there in time. Our great plan was to arrive at the airport around 1am and sleep/relax in the warm airport. The first glitch in the plan was that the last train (the train that we were on) did not go all the way to the airport, just to the train station. The new plan was to wait at the train station, in the warming hut, until the first train (5am). Unfortunately, after returning from our washroom break at the McDonalds we discovered that the train station had closed. Shooooot… 2am in Geneva and no place to go… So we decided to wait in the underground passageway to the train station. It was extremely sketchy to say the least. Then at 3:30am four police officers came and told us that we cannot be down there (probably for the best...). After asking what time the train station opened and where we should wait we ended up on the streets of downtown Geneva. While waiting outside in the cold/damp Rob had the brilliant idea to take a cab to the airport... Man, we for sure should of thought of that one earlier! At that point things were looking better even with the whole no sleeping factor I could tell the situation could only improve!

We arrived in Amsterdam at 7:30am and grabbed some breakfast and then headed to a café to meet Rob’s friend Noortje (Nora). Nora was our heroine of the trip. She was Rob’s roommate when she was on exchange in Australia but is actually from Amsterdam. She had just moved into a new apartment and was selling her old one but still had it so she said that we could stay there. When we got to the apartment we found out that not only was it furnished but it was pretty much a penthouse right in downtown Amsterdam. It also had the most comfortable bed that I have slept on in months. Rob took one for the team and gave the girls the queen-sized bed with a real quilt and everything!

Nora also gave us some pointers about where the locals go, which was amazing! On Saturday night we went to one of the bars that she told us about which was so great! It was a very hipster café that turned into a club later on. There were people of all ages that were dancing like crazy. Lauren was in her heaven! We also got to meet some of Nora’s friends and family. Her sister lives in a houseboat on one of the canals so we went to go visit her and see her place… New goal=live in a houseboat!!! As well as visiting her friend’s Amélie style apartment in the middle of the Red Light District and saying hi to her “heshe” neighbour, Nora also set up a boat ride for us on the canals. He brother just so happens to drive boats on the canals so he took us for our own personal tour on Sunday! On Monday Nora told us about a flea market that happens once a week so we decided to check it out. It was so intense. About 10 long blocks of shoulder to shoulder people. Definitely an experience!

Lauren, Rob and I also did some exploring of our own. On Saturday we rented bikes and just rode around the whole day. Amsterdam is the most bike friendly city ever! While biking around we saw the biggest pillow fight I have ever seen! So random! It was in the centre of the city and it happened because it was International Pillow Fight Day on April 2^nd. We also hit up a few museums, the Heineken Experience, the Sex Museum and the Anne Frank House. We really saw it all. haha. The Heineken Experience was actually an experience, we got to “be the beer”and learn the history as well as have a couple drinks that came with our ticket. For a 4 Euro entrance fee, the Sex Museum was worthwhile. When in Rome, right?! The Anne Frank House was amazing. The museum is actually in the house where she was in hiding; it was way bigger than I had expected. There were copies of her actual journal as well as many other artifacts. I also found it super interesting learning about the rest of her family.

As well as city exploring, we did some food exploring. Since in Switzerland it is 1) too expensive to ever eat out and 2) not very abundant in multicultural food, I was sooo stoked to see every possible ethnic restaurant! And a China Town! We had some amazing Thai food, the best falafel ever, Mexican food as well as some Dutch pancakes. We also took full advantage of the Stroopwaffles. So good.

Overall it was just a great weekend! We made it home safe and sound! Just in time for some amazing weather! Today is the first day in 4 that it hasn’t been sunny and hot (therefore why this blog is actually getting updated!)