Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a lovely city. Boats through the canals, and bicycles weaving through the narrow streets are the main ways to travel around the city. It was like being in Venice, except much more clean, beautiful, and friendlier people (from what everyone else said anyway). When we first got there, we found our way to the hostel, then walked around the city and did the "normal Amsterdam stuff". The architecture of the city is amazing. The little apartments, buildings, shops, and house boats are adorable, and most have fresh flowers flowing out of the windows and in pots. The next day we got tickets for the canal bus that we could hop on and off to get around the city and see more of the sites. We started the day taking the boat to the Van Gough Museum. Again, located in a very green and beautiful area of the city. The museum was very interesting, and I really enjoyed learning about the art on display. After a cheap hot dog lunch, we went to the Heineken Breweries. SO MUCH FUN! This place was like Willie Wanka for grown-ups. The tour was so well put together, it was more like a production and amusement park than a brewery. Our last day we went to the Flower Markets where I purchased some tulip bulbs and wooden shoes to take home as souvenirs! The Flower Market stretched for what looked like a mile all along one of the canals. I wish I could have brought home some of the flowers.

canals

Red Light District

Flower Market

On the plane home we got to experience the high life by flying in the Club World. Somehow, we got bumped up (I think it was because they were feeling sorry for the smelly/dirty girls again). We had chairs that laid flat into beds, a 5 course dinner on nice china, so many forks and spoons I didn't know what to do with them, box of chocolate, always full glass of wine, and many other luxuries of the rich and famous. We felt like we definitely deserved this after those bus rides from Satan. We arrived in Chicago late last night...I got home around 1:00 am, and still have not had a wink of sleep.