Even though Amsterdam seems really close, we still had to take a train (4 hours) and then take a plane (1 1/2 hours) and then get to our hotel near central Amsterdam (30 -40 min.) so we felt like it took an eternity to get there...but it was definitely worth it!
First of all, Ron booked us a room at this amazing hotel called HotelV, it's this really hip hotel that was a townhouse converted to a hotel and so we got to stay in one of those cool old buildings but it had been completely remodeled and had all modern furniture and it was really cool! Here are some pictures of the hotel....
Here are pictures of me and Ron at a train station in Sweden on our way to Amsterdam. It was raining...
We arrived in Amsterdam at 9PM last Friday and spent all day Saturday with Ryane and Chris. Ryane suggested that we meet up at 8AM so that we would have all day to sightsee - and we did! We walked all around Amsterdam from 8AM to almost 10PM!We met up with Ryane and Chris in their hotel lobby and then started wandering around looking for places to eat breakfast and came across some cool places...
This is a picture of Ron and Chris looking at us like "Stop taking pictures and start walking faster!" haha.
After we ate breakfast we went to the Van Gogh museum. It was pretty cool because we got to see his paintings evolve and change and see what makes his paintings different. What is so depressing is that Van Gogh was convinced he was a failure and that he would always be one so he shot himself in the chest and died two days later. And whats super weird is that there are only three known photos of Van Gogh and one of them was in the museum and his back is facing the photo so you cant even see his face! haha.
Then we walked over to the Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam for lunch...
We originally sat outside on the deck but decided it was too hot so we went inside - and sure enough in the middle of eating it randomly started pouring rain for about 15 minutes! So, its a good thing we moved inside! :)
Ron and Chris were navigating us all day while we took pictures and followed along. It was really fun because Ryane and I have been friends since 9th grade so it was really funny for us to be hanging out years later in Amsterdam together. :)
After the Van Gogh museum and lunch, then we decided to go to the Anne Frank House. This was Ryanes favorite part - she had really been looking forward to being in the actual house. Luckily she bought our tickets online so we walked right in, because there was a line around the block - it was sooo long!
We couldnt take any pictures inside of the Anne Frank House, but it was really interesting. We were in the actual office building that she lived in with I think 7 other people. We got to walk through all the rooms and see the pictures she hung on the wall while she lived there and got to watch videos of people who knew her and even a video of her father.I guess she died days after her older sister died and one month before her camp was liberated by British troops. One of the videos was one of her friends who was in the camp next to her said that she didnt know her dad was still alive and so she thought that Anne had lost hope. :( Which is really sad!
It seems like these places would be really sad to visit, but it was just really interesting. We got to see her actual diary (she has really cute handwriting!).
After the Anne Frank House, then we decided to go on the Heineken Brewery tour! Which was really fun. ;)
Then we wandered around some more and ended up eating at this super yummy Thai restaurant that Ryane read in a tourist book. :)We had a really fun day and were really happy that we went. :)
Before I end this post, there is one more thing worth mentioning...."poffertjes". These tiny pancakes are AMAZING!!! We ate them at a breakfast place on Sunday morning and I dont think either of us have eaten something so fast! haha, it was delicious! While I didnt take a picture of it at the restaurant, here is one I found on the internet...
Definitely our best Amsterdam trip yet.....
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