Amsterdam

Well after about 5 days of reading nothing about how this volcanic ash cloud looming over Europe and stranding thousands of people all over europe due to flights not being able to fly through the ask I woke up at 430am to call the airport and find out we were going to get to fly to amsterdam. the first flight into the Schipol Airport since Thursday. WOW. The 9 of us that went couldn't believe that we were going to get to make! It was truly a miracle.

We go into Amsterdam airport around 1030 am on Tuesday April 20th and the Trip took off immediately. A) the airport was EMPTY and B) nearly every flight on the board was cancelled, I have no clue how we got to fly in but i am not going to question it because we got to go and we didn't crash.

We had lots of luck getting into the airport and our flight working out, however, we didn't have as much luck with trains. It is about a 30 minute train ride from the airport into Amsterdam and about half way through the train in front of ours decided to have an accident or break or something like that. So we had to go backwards and switch trains and finally go to the DAM!!

Amsterdam, upon arrival, immediately became my favorite city of Europe. The place is amazing. The bikes everywhere, the canals, the buildings, the environment, the culture, everything was literally incredible. After we got there and checked into our hostel and got settled, it become apparent that Amsterdam has nearly every type of food you could possibly imagine (except taco bell and some other american traditions.) Kabobs, Fries, KFC, McDonalds, Sandwiches, Panini's, pizza, etc... just to name a few. It was all very expensive but very good.

After reconvening we set out to see some of amsterdam. We ventured through the city and saw a lot! We went to Anne Frank's house where she wrote her diary and hid during WWII which was rather uneventful (and why i have no pictures of it haha) as well as rather expensive! But it was cool to see that. Then we did some more walking and sightseeing!

After the first day of walking around the city and seeing stuff and traveling and getting next to no sleep we packed it in rather early. While back at the hostel i chatted with some Scots and Brits who had been working at a club by night and skiing the alps by day for 3 months and ended with a week in Amsterdam only to get trapped due to the volcano for another extra week. They were awesome guys and had been living, working and skiing for the past 3 months at 18 years of age....Europe is one big playground and it is nuts what some people do!

Day 2 was by far the busiest day i've ever had on a trip. We woke up, had breakfast and some coffee and set out on a mission. We went to the Iamsterdam sign, the heineken factory, the Van Gogh Museum and ended the day by taking a train 20 minutes to see Alice in Wonderland 3D in IMAX. It cost 20 euro but it was sweet. After getting back to downtown we decided to meander through the red light district for awhile, when in amsterdam, right? So the red light district really does exist...it is unreal. I will try and describe it to you all:

So...the Red Light District, where to begin? First off, it is rather large and legal for this place to exist. (thanks to loosely written laws and loopholes in Dutch government) There are tons of alleys and stuff that are all lit up with red lights inside and out and there are tons of doors, not windows, where women stand near nude and try and lure you into their "booth"/"room" idk what you would call it. They would like tap on the door to try and get you to look at them and then wink at your or point at you or something, it was WEIRD. The other guys took a walking tour after I left and said should you choose to go inside a room it goes as such: You pay first, for 15 minutes. Then she makes you shower in there, which counts as part of your 15 mins. Then you get it on haha. The more you want from her the more you pay! It was so weird to see rooms with chicks in the doorway and a bed in the background with just a curtain if front of the door of which a lot were closed as we walked past....someone was enjoying themselves!

So that's the rundown of the red light district (and no, none of the people in our group went into a room.) A very INTERESTING experience and sight and one that I'm sure won't be found anywhere besides Amsterdam.

Day 3 began the same as the rest and we just kind of hung out until I had to get on the Train to Frankfurt to meet P-carbs! For a snack before the Train i had a delicious browny and it reminded me of just how bland the food is in spain compared to other places. They don't have spicy food really at all, very weird!

All-in-all, amsterdam was an amazing city, my favorite so far! Only Paris and Madrid left to see before heading back across the pond. It is crazy how fast this time has gone!