Amsterdam

Although it feels like ages ago, we finished our fabulous Amsterdam holiday back on the 7th of July. It was a great visit to a very interesting town and we were excited to be there during the semi-final game of the World Cup in which The Netherlands defeated Uraguay 3 - 1. Hup Holland Hup!

Our holiday started on Saturday the 3rd of July after a long journey by train. Let it be noted that trains leaving Paris are not necessarily water proof. It was a wet morning when we tried to depart however nothing was leaving the Gare du Nord our morning. We were delayed two hours before they allowed us to board and depart. The best part about it was that the 12:25 train passengers also road on the 10:25 train that left at 1:15. Meaning, the train was packed and if you thought you had a reserved seat, you were wrong. The maddness and delays turned into free seating and everyone from the two different scheduled trains were told to jump on any car and find a seat on the extra large train waiting for us all. You can imagine this made for many unhappy travelers. But we made it to Amsterdam with little troubles and happily checked into our upgraded apartment sans baby cot. Great apartment in a very popular area of Amstedam (translation: lots of bars and street performers doing the same tricks 8 times a day) with a home-made baby cage. Celia slept in the corner on the floor where she was trapped in by a sideways dresser and couch cushion. Believe it or not, she loved it!

Once settled and ladies in bed, I ventured off to explore the city. I decided to take a quiet walk along the canal and avoid the city center and red light district. It was a wise fabulous decision and I got a great feel for the other side of Amsterdam. I saw beautiful rows of houses as I strolled along the canals and enjoyed a fabulous ice cream treat. I can easily appreciate any city with a delicious lemon and mango gelato!

On Sunday the ladies and I set off to explore the Amsterdam Zoo. It was so much fun! We got to see so many animals and the ladies really got into it. It was our first time back to a zoo since our failed Austrian adventure at the Alpine Zoo in which one of their featured animals was a pigeon! The Amsterdam Zoo was super fun and very much like the zoos in the States. Celia loved the big bear the best and really wanted to jump in and play with the big doggie!

Monday morning we experienced a lady-botched attempt at The Van Gogh Museum. It was just not to be. I think the ladies got together that morning and decided that it was going to be the day of anger. They cried in the Van Gogh Museum, the cried at the park, and they cried through lunch. I mean, come on, there were ducks at the park. We LOVE ducks! Not Monday. There were tears and anger everywhere we went. Oh, and there was no down time or nap. No sir, they came at me all day long. It was something. I was amazed at their ability to both be pissed, for so long, on the same day, and give no reprieve. That's skill. Oh well. At least I found my new favorite Van Gogh painting during the ten minutes in which I ran through the artwork while Brian waited in the lobby with the ladies. It's his Almond Branches in Bloom and I love it. Doesn't it make you happy just looking at it here...

Tuesday was awesome! The ladies and I were friends again so we went on a boat tour around the city after eating pancakes at a restaurant on the canal! Then got to see The Netherlands defeat Uraguay in the semi-finals of the World Cup. Great day!

In between the canal tour and foot, I snuck out to see Anne Frank's House. It was such an amazing experience. Sad, scary, and eye-opening. She was an amazing young woman and to be in the house and read passages from her diary was truly incredible. You feel her sadness and her hope all at once. It is hard to believe that she was such a young lady when she wrote it all but you also realize that she had to mature and grow-up so quickly given her experiences. I was grateful to have the time to be there and experience the amazing story first hand. Unbelievable.

Then the foot: we decided to join the 50,000 other dutchman to watch the game on a huge JumboTron in the park. It was AWESOME! It was a late start and the ladies couldn't take the whole game, so after the first Holland goal and celebration, we headed back to the apartment. It was a quick adventure out but so worth it. Brian and I had been wanting a real European World Cup Adventure and we got it. So Cool! Plus, we got some nifty hats!

We ended our Dutch Holiday on Wednesday. Brian took his turn at the Anne Frank House (we decided to do the house separately after the Van Gogh debacle. No ladies were allowed inside her house!) while the ladies and I hung out at the park, ate a picnic, and met back up with Brian at the train station. It was a gloriously uneventful day and train ride home. It was great to be back in Paris where we got to see Gamma and Pops and enjoy some time with old friends. Since arriving it has been a very fun and eventful week of touring Paris with my college roommates and parents. Once again it's great to have my people here in Paris and share this wonderful city with them. I love going out and exploring the city: with every trip I find new places to play or learn something new about the places I've been. This place never gets old!