May 11, 2011
AMSTERDAM
Today we departed at 6:45a, my sister and I sat in the very front of the coach, which proved to be a wise decision. Although we did sleep quite a bit, when we weren’t sleeping we could observe the countryside through the side windows and windshield. We stopped just before taking the fairy to get our passports stamped. The fairy took about an hour and a half to take us across the channel to France. We got off the coach and sat with a few Australians to eat lunch. It was interesting to hear their points of view about certain things in relation to Americans and what we think about Australians. It’s true… there are a lot of Kangaroo’s! ...an over-population of them actually. I find it funny that everyone calls trash ‘rubbish’ here. I laugh every time I hear it. “Get rid of your rubbish!'’ Also, instead of ‘no worries’ they say ‘no drama’s’.
We met two other sisters from Canada that we will probably hang out with the most. They are nice, and like to talk a lot. It’s good to socialize and have friends.
We stayed in the outskirts of Amsterdam. Our hotel room was quite small, but better than a hostel. We got a room with the Canadian sisters. While on the coach, our tour guide talked about the city and what the plans are for the night. Amsterdam seems to be all about sex and drugs. Weed and prostitution are legal there. You can buy ‘brownies’ or a joint legally in a ‘coffee’ shop. She explained that to us, and told us to try it if we want; just don’t bring it on the bus. Haha. Interesting how loose they are here.
We started the day off by going to the Anne Frank Haus. It was quite amazing to physically see and experience what I had been studying and learning about. I was shocked at how small the staircase was that went up to the annex. I had to position my feet sideways and duck my head in order to climb up the steep, narrow staircase. When I got to the room where Anne stayed her posters remained hung up on the wall. This made it real. It got emotional then; it's hard to describe how I felt in words. It's almost as if I 'stepped in' to her diary and could visualize what I had been reading. The tourists disappeared, I vizualized Anne and Peter sitting on her bed and talking about their interests. This was quite an outer body experience.
After visiting the Anne Frank Haus, my sister and I walked around town while everyone else went on a river cruise. We met up with them for a bit afterwards to walk through the Red Light District. This is where the prostitutes ‘advertise’ themselves. The girls wore lingerie that glowed in the dark because it made their skin look less wrinkly; apparently some of them are pretty old. They stood behind doors that were all glass to advertise themselves. If a customer ‘wanted a go’ they negotiated a price and the guy walked in the door then the prostitute closed a curtain over her door as if to say ‘occupied’.
All in all, I enjoyed seeing Amsterdam; it is a very beautiful city with all its canals and interesting architecture.
Today we departed at 6:45a, my sister and I sat in the very front of the coach, which proved to be a wise decision. Although we did sleep quite a bit, when we weren’t sleeping we could observe the countryside through the side windows and windshield. We stopped just before taking the fairy to get our passports stamped. The fairy took about an hour and a half to take us across the channel to France. We got off the coach and sat with a few Australians to eat lunch. It was interesting to hear their points of view about certain things in relation to Americans and what we think about Australians. It’s true… there are a lot of Kangaroo’s! ...an over-population of them actually. I find it funny that everyone calls trash ‘rubbish’ here. I laugh every time I hear it. “Get rid of your rubbish!'’ Also, instead of ‘no worries’ they say ‘no drama’s’.
We met two other sisters from Canada that we will probably hang out with the most. They are nice, and like to talk a lot. It’s good to socialize and have friends.
We stayed in the outskirts of Amsterdam. Our hotel room was quite small, but better than a hostel. We got a room with the Canadian sisters. While on the coach, our tour guide talked about the city and what the plans are for the night. Amsterdam seems to be all about sex and drugs. Weed and prostitution are legal there. You can buy ‘brownies’ or a joint legally in a ‘coffee’ shop. She explained that to us, and told us to try it if we want; just don’t bring it on the bus. Haha. Interesting how loose they are here.
We started the day off by going to the Anne Frank Haus. It was quite amazing to physically see and experience what I had been studying and learning about. I was shocked at how small the staircase was that went up to the annex. I had to position my feet sideways and duck my head in order to climb up the steep, narrow staircase. When I got to the room where Anne stayed her posters remained hung up on the wall. This made it real. It got emotional then; it's hard to describe how I felt in words. It's almost as if I 'stepped in' to her diary and could visualize what I had been reading. The tourists disappeared, I vizualized Anne and Peter sitting on her bed and talking about their interests. This was quite an outer body experience.
After visiting the Anne Frank Haus, my sister and I walked around town while everyone else went on a river cruise. We met up with them for a bit afterwards to walk through the Red Light District. This is where the prostitutes ‘advertise’ themselves. The girls wore lingerie that glowed in the dark because it made their skin look less wrinkly; apparently some of them are pretty old. They stood behind doors that were all glass to advertise themselves. If a customer ‘wanted a go’ they negotiated a price and the guy walked in the door then the prostitute closed a curtain over her door as if to say ‘occupied’.
All in all, I enjoyed seeing Amsterdam; it is a very beautiful city with all its canals and interesting architecture.