Today Sara's old host parents took the three of us to Toledo! Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sara and Robbie come to visit!
Sara and Robbie got in this morning and we went to all the major turist attractions in Madrid today...we started at the Rastro, then went to Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real, Plaza de España, Templo de Debod, Teleférico, Parque de Retiro, caught a little concert for Oxfam International outside The Reina Sofia, went for tapas, and a Flamenco show at El Juglar.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Amsterdam
This weekend I went to Amsterdam with my friend Riccardo. We flew in Thursday night, him from Rome and me from Madrid and met at the airport. It worked out great. We took a bus to our hotel, Hotel Wilhelmina, dropped our things off, and then headed to Leidsplein Square to grab some dinner (even if it was almost midnight!). The only place that was still open was an Indonesian place, which worked out great because my friend, Steff, who lived in Amsterdam, said Dutch cuisine isn't known for being anything incredible, but she did recommend Indonesian! So we checked that off our list!
Friday morning, we began our day at the Anne Frank Huis. We saw the Secret Annex, above her father's office, where she and seven other people lived in hiding for 25 months during World War II. The Frank Family (Otto and Edith Frank and their daughters Margot and Anne), Harmann and Auguste van Pels, their son Peter, and Fritz Pfeffer took up residence in the Secret Annex on July 6, 1942. When they were arrested, the Nazis ordered the emptying of the annex and all the furniture was hauled away. For this reason, it was Otto Frank's wish after the war that the Secret Annex remain unfurnished. However, despite the fact that it's unfurnished, the annex is still incredibly moving. You enter through the same movable bookcase and descending stairase that Anne and the others, as well as the helpers used to climb to reach the annex. I had goosebumps the entire time I was in the Secret Annex. The windows remain painted over and the only light is from small light bulbs. We walked on the same wood floors that Anne tip-toed on during the day for fear of discovery: "We have to whisper and tread lightly during the day, otherwise the people in the warehouse might hear us." -Anne Frank, July 11, 1942. We saw Anne and Fritz Pfeffer's room, the walls decorated with Anne's film-star collection and picture postcards. It was just surreal to be in the same small space where eight Jews hid from persecution almost 7o years earlier.
After the Anne Frank House, we went to the Flower Market, where they sell thousands of types of tulip bulps, fresh flowers, and even "Cannabis Starter Kits." After strolling through the Flower Market, we hopped on a Canal Cruise. We got off outside the Rijksmuseum and took photos with the symbolic " I amsterdam" letters; walked through Leidseplein Square, enjoying some street performances; and then ended the day walking through the Jordaan neighborhood, which is full of beautiful canal views! We also meandered through the famous Red Light District. It was such a strange sensation because the district was very lively--full of all kinds of people--but then you glance at the buildings and there are ladies standing in the windows. The windows were street-level and large enough for the women to stand in them, illuminated by long, red flourescent lights. It was sad seeing the prostitutes standing there in their swimsuits in the windows. You walk by at eye-level and see young girls, in their twenties--my age--apparently normal, Dutch girls, not immigrants or anything; it was just incredible. You have to wonder what led these girls to think that this was their only option.
Saturday we began the morning at the Van Gogh museum. His most famous works on display were: The Potato Eaters (1885), Self-portrait (1887), Sunflowers (1889), Wheatfield with a Reaper (1889), Wheatfield and Crows (1890). Unfortunately, The Bedroom (1888) was on tour in Tokyo, but we did see some works of Claude Monet and Picasso too! From the Van Gogh Museum, we headed to the Albert Cuyp Market, where they sell everything from fruits and vegetables, cheeses, flowers, Converses, to the biggest sweatshirts I have ever seen--we're talking XXXXXXXXL! After the market, we found a little sidewalk restaurant, enjoyed a pancake with ham and cheese, and then headed to the Heineken Experience! I have a new appreciation for Heineken now : ) We ended the day with a short 20-minute trainride outside Amsterdam to Koog-Zaandijk to see some windmills. It was a quaint little town with picturesque windmills along the river. The perfect ending to a trip to Holland. : )
After the Anne Frank House, we went to the Flower Market, where they sell thousands of types of tulip bulps, fresh flowers, and even "Cannabis Starter Kits." After strolling through the Flower Market, we hopped on a Canal Cruise. We got off outside the Rijksmuseum and took photos with the symbolic " I amsterdam" letters; walked through Leidseplein Square, enjoying some street performances; and then ended the day walking through the Jordaan neighborhood, which is full of beautiful canal views! We also meandered through the famous Red Light District. It was such a strange sensation because the district was very lively--full of all kinds of people--but then you glance at the buildings and there are ladies standing in the windows. The windows were street-level and large enough for the women to stand in them, illuminated by long, red flourescent lights. It was sad seeing the prostitutes standing there in their swimsuits in the windows. You walk by at eye-level and see young girls, in their twenties--my age--apparently normal, Dutch girls, not immigrants or anything; it was just incredible. You have to wonder what led these girls to think that this was their only option.
Saturday we began the morning at the Van Gogh museum. His most famous works on display were: The Potato Eaters (1885), Self-portrait (1887), Sunflowers (1889), Wheatfield with a Reaper (1889), Wheatfield and Crows (1890). Unfortunately, The Bedroom (1888) was on tour in Tokyo, but we did see some works of Claude Monet and Picasso too! From the Van Gogh Museum, we headed to the Albert Cuyp Market, where they sell everything from fruits and vegetables, cheeses, flowers, Converses, to the biggest sweatshirts I have ever seen--we're talking XXXXXXXXL! After the market, we found a little sidewalk restaurant, enjoyed a pancake with ham and cheese, and then headed to the Heineken Experience! I have a new appreciation for Heineken now : ) We ended the day with a short 20-minute trainride outside Amsterdam to Koog-Zaandijk to see some windmills. It was a quaint little town with picturesque windmills along the river. The perfect ending to a trip to Holland. : ) 
I absolutely loved Amsterdam. I feel like it's just the perfect little society--everyone rides their bikes (like crazy!) and gets along. I wish more cities were like that. I saw couples going out on dates and the guy would pedal and the girl would sit on the back of his bike. Adorable. : )
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