Amsterdam

The list of places that I want to visit keeps growing, and so does the list of places I've been (although perhaps not as quickly as I'd like it to).

Let's dive into some of these places, shall we?

Amsterdam, I'll start with you.

This city had the honor of introducing me to Europe. It was the first European city I set foot in (unless you count Istanbul, which for the sake of this post, we are not), and where my already existing fascination with European culture inflated and I was further convinced that I was born on the wrong side of the Atlantic.

Growing up in Holland, Michigan with a solid Dutch heritage making up the majority of my ethnicity, I had expected this Dutch city to be a giant version of Dutch Village. (This is a real place in my home town - basically - a tourist attraction fashioned out of cliche Dutch buildings laced with canals and connected with bridges.)

Amsterdam looked exactly how I imagined it would. But it had so much more.

The great thing about this city, is that it appears just as you think a Dutch city should look. However, when you look beyond the centuries old squares and iconic bridged canals, you find yourself in a forward-thinking, culturally diverse city. A city with an eclectic pulse sounding out the captivating, and perhaps surprising, artistic uniqueness of the town.

When I first traveled there, I was in college. I have since returned in 2017 with my husband which is the trip I will summarize.

Upon arrival that June (early) morning, my goal was to keep us moving throughout the entire day. The best (and most exhausting) way to fight jet-lag.

This is how I introduced my husband to Amsterdam and the surrounding region, and  re-aquatinted myself.

A canal cruise. I mean, you kind of have to. This was an excellent way to tour the city and see it from a more traditional perspective. We chose a company with a small, quaint boat that offered us a much more personal taste of Amsterdam - through the eyes of a local and not a recorded message playing through rented listening devices.

The Anne Frank House. This is a must see. (Although PLEASE buy tickets well in advance, the line is crazy long). As you walk through the secret annex that played setting to one of the many heartbreaking stories of the Holocaust, you find yourself devastated that something like this truly happened. And you find yourself inspired to never let anything like it happen again.

Food. Do yourself a favor and avoid the chain restaurants that you might be more familiar with. Find a traditional joint along one of the many town squares. Sit outside if you can. The great thing about dining in Amsterdam (or Europe, really), is that you aren't rushed. You are truly allowed to enjoy your experience, take your time with your glass (or glasses) of wine, indulge in the cheese, and for goodness sakes, order dessert! Another thing I love is that at outdoor cafes here, the chairs face out towards the street. So much easier (and less obvious) for people watching. If you aren't in the mood for a sit-down meal, that's fine. Grab some street food and park yourself on a monument in the middle of a historically significant town square. That's cool. As long as you can fight off pigeons, you will look like a local taking on Amsterdam through culinary delights.

Beer. If you like beer tours and are fascinated with the brewing process, there is the Heineken Experience. Although quite touristy, it was a must for my better half.

Biking. There is no way you could pay me enough to attempt biking in the streets of Amsterdam. In my opinion, there wouldn't be more obvious way to label me as someone who is not a local in any sense of the term. Trust me, it looks terrifying. In Amsterdam bikes have the right of way. Not people. Not cars. Sometimes I wonder if trams would yield to them should the situation arise. I did not get on a bike in Amsterdam. Tom and I rented bikes in Amsterdam and proceeded to walk with them to Amsterdam Centraal where behind the train station, you are able to board a ferry that takes you to the suburbs. After arriving we then dared to hop on our bikes. We journeyed into the countryside and it was wonderful. Our ride took us along the iconic dikes, through quaint little villages and passed many farm animals and stray cats (which I constantly had to stop for to attempt a photo or petting them). Besides the fact that Tom's bike broke and he had to ride mine, while I sat on his and he pushed me the whole way back, we had a great time.

There are so many more places to explore here, and I've only just begun to scratch the surface.

I guess that just means I'll have to return.

So there you have it. Amsterdam. It's pretty great.