I didn’t think I was going to like Amsterdam as much as I did.
Truthfully, I went to visit my friend, Allison. I knew Amsterdam was a cool city with lots to do. But I didn’t have any preconceived ideas about it, save for the massive amounts of biking I’d probably do. So I was shocked to arrive and, after a few days, find myself thinking, “Hmm, I could live here.”
Here’s the truth of it: there are no mountains or beaches to speak of, the winters can be brutal, and good luck finding a good Korean restaurant here. But what it has is far more than what it lacks. People are happy (and tall) here. They may complain about the high taxes, but the city does provide benefits hard to find elsewhere, namely great tap water and a stellar transportation system.
I had spent four days wandering around this bustling town in the Netherlands with people who live here, and you get a completely different perspective than just touring around as a tourist.
But on this last day, with my host leaving for Spain and her beau going to work at one of the largest Apple Stores in the world (he’s a genius there), I was left to my own devices.
So I decided to spend some time at the museums, which were within walking distance from the flat where I had been staying. It was time to hang with the tourists.
Here’s what my last few hours in Amsterdam looked like — before I head to Paris:
Vondelpark
I got up early and decided to walk to Vondelpark, which is near the Museumplein where I was staying. It's a 120-acre public urban park that first opened in 1865. (Its original name was Nieuwe Park.) It's a popular spot for running and biking in the early hours, as I quickly found out.
Follow my #CatTravels adventures in Europe and Japan on Twitter @thedailydish and on Instagram @catherinetoth.
11 Comments
Hello Cat!
I enjoyed Amsterdam!
Cat, somethings not right here on your blog, when you advance your pixs, it goes to the top of the page then you have to scroll down to the pixs.
Glad to see someone else noticed this annoyance. Totally love the pics and stories, too, but having to scroll down after each click can be a pain. Any way you can fix this, or better still, also add a slideshow feature to the full-screen display you get when you click the photo? We love the blog and pics! Make it easy for us to enjoy?
Mahalo, Cat!
I’ll talk to my web guru about it. I think it’s a problem with the template… Thanks for letting me know, though!
I’ll look into it! Thanks, Mel!
Glad to see you visited the Van Gogh museum while in Amsterdam. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially loved “Almond Blossoms”; so much that I bought an umbrella with the painting on it for my wife. Thought it would be a good reminder to always look for joy in life, regardless of the struggles/circumstances.
I loved all the pictures, and am very jealous of your opportunity to visit Amsterdam AND London AND Paris… But what really set my heart all a pitter-patter was the shot of the research library. My father was a librarian and I carry a healthy respect for the institutions and the people that recognise how important and IMPRESSIVE these collections are. I would love to prowl through those stacks for hours!
Have fun in Paris! Eat a fresh baguette (they are simply incomparable), a chocolate crepe, visit the Louvre/Pompidou, sit in a cafe with a glass of wine and a plate of cheeses, find a nice spot to view the entire city at night. So much to do in that city, but those are my favorites.
I loved Amsterdam! Look forward to my next city of retirement- Paris. Great job in exciting this old man!
Thanks for all the Amsterdam photos, now it is at the top of my must see list!
I hope you can take a boat trip at night, down the Seine.
https://www.bateaux-mouches.fr/en