The City of "Coffee Shops": Amsterdam

What I neglected to mention after my previous post was that I was to the point of fainting. Kate and I biked about 20km to the city of Amsterdam and 20km back to Haarlem in the same day. I don't think I drank enough during the day and so I almost suffered dehydration. The ride was gorgeous though, so I can't regret it. We rode by the train tracks past fields of cows, sheep, squacking swans, and wind turbines. I think a lot of tourists only see the crazy parts of Amsterdam and miss the beauty around which is Holland.

It was my first couchsurfing experience and I loved it. Half of traveling, besides the obvious sight seeing, is experiencing the different cultures and people. Couchsurfing allows you to stay with people on their couch for free- no strings attached. Automatically, you get people who are very open and inviting. Our hosts, Janneke and Wouter, were no different. They were very welcoming to us and even cooked us dinners and took us around Haarlem and to the sand dunes at night. We were able to ask them lots of questions about life in Holland and they were able to ask us questions about the U.S. I definitely want to couchsurf again and will seriously consider opening my own couch to travelers. I had such a great experience!

The actual heart of Amsterdam was not what I would have pictured. The cobble stone streets and winding canals were unassuming, until I turned to face a window and a woman wearing a bikini struck a pose on her stool. Classy. While some streets were old and quaint, others were full of coffee shops (aka the home of space cakes and other druggie desserts) and other um, dirty things.

Kate and I were probably the lamest tourists to ever pass through. Sorry to all you pot addicts, but I wanted to actually remember my trip!! We only stayed the day and enjoyed the van Gogh Museum, various old buildings and parks, and the Anne Frank House. The Anne Frank House was amazing. I'll admit, I totally entered with the wrong attitude- I thought the building was so cute- but by the end I was nearly crying. This girl was only 13 years old and already learned to appreciate the concept of freedom. Here I am, 23 and going on this amazing trip throughout Europe on my own dime because I can afford it. If that isn't freedom, I don't know what is (and I'm 10 years older). Sometimes we just need a little kick in the behind to remind us that we've got it good. I need the Anne Frank House.

Evaluations
food: mashed potatoes, greens, cheese, and bacon (yes I had it!) was good ***
coffee: extra-dark and delicious- they gave me these awesome coffee candies too *****
beer: the Heineken brewery was closed! *

bikes: a LOT... we got to ride on the back of J&W's!
language hilarity: very similar to English **
would I return? hopefully!