It's been much too long since I've informed you all of the trips I have embarked on, so in an attempt to catch you up I shall start from the beginning. Right before the beginning of classes, we had a four day break and what better way to spend this free time then to cruise on over to Amsterdam.
From the very beginning I knew this was going to be an amazing trip, flying into the city we cruised over snow covered mountains and witnessed the most beautiful sight of all - the sun shining directly onto the alps...
Truthfully, I didn't know what to expect from Amsterdam. Possibly because it holds the most infamous red-light district my vision was slightly tainted and a part of me was envisioning a somewhat unkept, run-down city. I was extremely wrong. The city was absolutely stunning with buildings that were in impeccable condition and architecture that blew me away. Not to mention the city is rich with history. Located in such a strategic position, the city attracts large amounts of trade and is a major commercial hub of Europe. Being the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam has a well-developed economy and it shows throughout their beautiful city. I definitely was enjoying every moment of it...
The one slight downfall was how ridiculously cold it was. Don't get me wrong, I am down to experience the city in a new climatic dimension but I was born and raised in California...I don't do cold. It was so cold the canals had frozen over and people were actually ice skating on them.
Oh yeah, did I mention we found a lighter frozen into the canals....ONLY in Amsterdam.
After soaking in the sights it was time to delve into the history behind the city. My second day in the city I went to the Vincent Van Gogh museum, I decided to pay 5 extra euros for the audio which provided music, commentary, and stories behind each artistic composition. It may sound cheesy but I was so moved by the Van Gogh's story and paintings that there were times I was brought to tears. My friend Travis (who also bought the audio) happened to fall asleep standing up...
I also managed to make it into Anne Frank's house. This was truly a lifetime experience; I had the opportunity to set foot into the same house that the Frank family managed to remain hidden in for years. The most shocking part of all was looking out of the tiny crevice that Anne would every morning during sunrise. The saddest part is that she spent the majority of her childhood trapped in this location. She was able to wake up early in the mornings right before sunrise and just barely catch the sun's rays on her face. To my surprise, Anne had wanted to become a writer and dedicated herself towards her writings in the hopes of becoming published. It definitely was a reality check when the tour ended with us watching a video of her father, the man who lost his entire family in the Holocaust, and to be able to hear his perspective on Anne, especially after reading his daughters journal and comparing the way she interacted with him on a daily basis to her inner most feelings preserved in the diary.
To sum it up, Amsterdam was a beautiful combination of visual simulation, historical context, and an amazing time. A personal favorite and an experience I will remember for a lifetime.
