Amsterdam

Yesterday, Gennie and I planned a day trip to Amsterdam. We left at 5:30 in the morning and took a three hour train ride up to Amsterdam so we could spend the entire day enjoying the city. As soon as we arrived we went to the tourist information center and purchased a map that took us on a four hour, self-guided walking tour of Amsterdam- explanations of everything we were seeing included! Because of the sunny weather, it was the perfect way to see this city for someone on a budget.

I guess I didn't have many expectations for the Netherlands before going and so was completely taken off guard by its beauty. The train ride through the countryside was lovely as the sun rose over the foggy fields. Once there, hundreds of bikes lined every canal. Small children, still to young to walk, were strapped to the front and backs of bikes as parents flew in and around traffic on the cobblestone streets, ringing their bells to make their presence known. At one point when Gennie and I were looking around, obviously lost, a woman stopped her bike and asked us if she could help us find where we wanted to go. Later, like conspicuous tourists, we held our map up as we searched for a particular street name. We were quickly approached by a nice man who directed us to the right place. Pictures do not do this city justice!

We bought lunch at a little shop tucked away on a street and ate our warm mozzarella, tomato, pesto, and onion grilled paninis with our feet dangling off an idyllic canal. We passed through the main square, saw a big memorial statue of the famous Dutch artist Rembrandt, got to see the Homosexual Memorial, and saw countless churches and sculptures that give Amsterdam its character.

The finale to our day was the Anne Frank Museum. We toured her house and saw where she and seven others hid from the Nazis in World War II. It was incredibly humbling to be able to walk where people lived their lives in hiding for almost two years in constant fear of of what the Nazis would do to them. Anne wrote in her diary that sometimes they would peak outside their window and see the Germans loading up Jews while they sat silently for hours in their concealed and crowded haven.

This girl, in the midst of intense hatred and oppression, had the compassion to write "I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."

This experience was challenging, yet an uplifting way to end a spectacular day.

Exhausted, Gennie and I boarded our train home. We snacked on fruit and smoothies as we rested our sore feet... laughing and remembering our delightfully unforgettable day. We arrived back in Brussels around midnight and crawled into our inviting beds as quickly as possible.

What a blessing to have a place to come home to!