Hello friends and family,
A few weekends ago I headed off to explore the city of Amsterdam!
My weekend started with me getting up early Saturday morning for a free walking tour, but first on my way to the tours meeting point I stumbled upon the famous bloomenmarkt the market was fun situated right next to a canal and filled with all the flower bulbs one could imagine as well as, of course, fresh flowers, touristy knick-knacks, and tons of dried flowers hanging from the ceilings of these little booths
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I then continued on my way to meet up with my walking tour. The tour was lovely, super informational, and a good way to become oriented to the city. We spent our time on the tour learning about Amsterdam's rich history from the medieval city to the city during ww2 and finally the city today. I enjoyed most learning how the city was built and is maintained with the city's high water levels and we'll lack of true land (most of Amsterdam used to be part of the ocean).
After the walking tour I headed in to the De Pijp District. De Pijp is an up and coming neighborhood that has lovely cafes and the most amazing street market around! I spent my afternoon wandering through this market enjoying the tulips, fresh food, clothes and other wares being sold.
That evening I headed back to the National Monument to take another walking tour around the red light district. I really enjoyed the tour and it was a great way for me to get to see the district without haveing to wander through by myself. Our guide was amazing! She did an amazing job of not just showing us the district but explaining it and the politics that were behind the district. I left the tour with a new take on red light districts and with my eyes opened to how good they can be for a city. For example, the promote sex education (I mean when your kindergarten is right next to the windows) , they also promote consent, the girls are in complete control they say no and your done. Finally red light districts help stop human trafficking and protect prostitutes because everything is in the public eye thousands of people come to Amsterdam and walk through the red light district it's a lot harder to hide criminal activity there. Overall the tour was eye-opening in ways I wasn't expecting.
The next morning I headed off to visit the Van Gough Museum. This year I have come to find a new aprshiation for art museums. I really enjoy getting to learn about the artists life through there work. I'm facenated by the prevalous of mental illness amongst geniouses and most of all I've come to love losing yourself in a painting. I of course found all of this at the Van Gough Museum and spent the entire morning learning about the master.
Sunday afternoon I relished in the beutiful weather and wandered the city getting lost amongst the cannals and little streets I love the Dutch way of life it seems a much better balence of work and life than we have. I ended up finding myself in Vondelpark and enjoyed a stroll looking at the birds and bikers and gourgous houses that line the park.
Soon evening came and I headed back to my hostel to pack up before my early flight back home the next morning.
Cheers!
Meghan
Meghan
"Dare to live the life you've always wanted"
