I write to you somewhere in Holland on my way towards Koeln, Germany. The past 4 days have certainly been interesting.
Upon my arrival into Amsterdam's airport at 6:45 am, I navigated my way by train and bus to the hostel I was staying at for the evening. While I was inquiring about the logistics of this travel, I also decided to purchase a 3-day tourist pass to cut down expense of my anticipated metro trips. When I received my tourist pass book I flipped through it realizing that not only did I get 72 hours of unlimited metro and bus travel, but I also had an entire book of free museum entrances and discounted tours.
Knowing this, I quickly discarded my bags and set off to Amsterdam's city centre. For the next three days this is all I could squeeze in:
-Rembrandts' Huis: Where the artist himself lived. The huis is decorated as he would have had it.
-Heritage Museum: Amsterdam & St. Petersburg shared important items (particularly dealing with religion). What makes the museum so unique is that the articles are the few remaining after Russia's several communist movements.
-Artis Zoo: I finally saw an elephant! But there's something not so nice about seeing it behind a cage.
-Heineken Experience: A walk through of how the famous beer was born in Amsterdam and how they maintain the same quality to this day.
-Blue Boat Tour: A boat tour through the canals of Amsterdam with some history added in.
-Van Gogh Museum: The museum with the most of Van Gogh's works in one place.
-Anne Frank Huis: The huis that Anne Frank and 7 other people hid in for about 2 years in World War II.
-Reypendaer Cheese Tasting: I learned that I quite like goat cheese compared to cow cheese. Overall, I enjoy all cheese!
-Rijksmuseum: The museum containing articles depicting Amsterdam's past with some Rembrandt, Degas, etc. thrown in!
-Diamond Museum: The museum showing off some of the most extravagant diamonds in the world.
-House of Bols Tour: A walk through of how Amsterdam's most famous spirit was conceived and created.
*I estimated that by doing all these things I would have spent about 100 euro, but with the pass I saved about half of that! That being said, if you go to Amsterdam get the tourist pass!
On Thursday I took the advice of my friend, Sanne, and visited a town about 20 minutes away (by train) called Utrecht. This place was shopping central! Although I don't have a lot of money to spend, I might have found a lovely pair of attractive short boots...
As I don't like to center my travel around shopping, I have to also include that this little town had a lot of lovely gothic style cathedrals. I walked through a few, but have to say that my favorite part is always the architecture on the outside. The high steeples, dark stone, sharp arches, and random stain glass are so beautiful.
As I wondered around I also found a lovely little park running beside a canal and took some time to enjoy the sunny day. I ended my day trip by drinking a cafe at a tapas restaurant beside another section of the canal.
At the moment I am sitting in a coach train car in the midst of 5 very happy German (I'm assuming) people. I haven't a clue what they are talking about, but I don't think I've heard anyone laugh so hard.
Looking out the train car window I catch glimpses of windmills, green fields, cathedrals, canals, and so much more. This very flat country is very beautiful because of the richness of color. It makes me wonder what I'll think of Virginia's "green" trees when I return home. I guess it won't help that it'll be autumn by then...
In about 2 1/2 hours I should be jumping off this train in Koeln, Germany (fingers crossed). From there I'll venture out into the city to try to find my hostel to dump my luggage and then wonder through the city. I'm excited for what lays ahead, but everyday I remember those kids in Rwanda.
It's relaxing and difficult to come back to "civilization." Not that Africa isn't civilized, but they have a different way of living that is not completely westernized. The relaxing aspect being that no one knows that I'm American until they try to talk to me. In Rwanda I was always a target. It was such an interesting experience to be the minority in a country due to my skin color. Something I think everyone should do once in their life.
I'll sign off for now and hope that the end of your August is treating you well.
With Care,
Chelsea
