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:

Rijksmuseum

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One painting that I was keenly interested in seeing was "The Milkmaid" by the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer. Such a simple subject, but so beautifully and masterfully done.