Amsterdam Adventures

So I've arrived in Amsterdam. It was quite the morning as I had to pack up and move out of my cute little apartment in Lund and say goodbye to a lot of my friends. I swore I wouldn't cry but little do my friends know that I balled like a baby in my room. 

My flower child of a friend Dawkins and I, had coincidentally purchased the same flight out to Amsterdam to meet up with Edyth. I had to lug my large suitcase and duffle from Lund to Copenhagen Central Station to put my luggage in a locker so I didn't have to travel with excess baggage. From Copenhagen Central, we took the train to Copenhagen Airport and flew out to Amsterdam. Our flight was a couple of hours delayed and the airport dumped all of my carry on toiletries. I may have forgotten that there was a limit...whoops. Once we landed, we had to purchase a train ticket to Amsterdam Central where I had to get coffee. My brain can only withstand so much travel without a bit of caffeine. So at last, I found a Starbucks. I'm not complaining though, cause even though it wasn't an authentic cafe, it was delicious. 

 Tip* When in Amsterdam, there are many tour groups going about town. Now unless they are all wearing the same t-shirt, you could definitely follow the group and listen to the tour guide explain the streets of Amsterdam without them even noticing you don't belong. Word to the wise, don't stay for too long though cause eventually someone does notice. 

Sometimes you have to throw up what you know. So obviously I have to show some Kappa Kappa Gamma love to all of my sisters back in the states. Plus, this was clearly a Fault in Our Stars moment that had to be captured. 

I have mixed feelings about the Red Light District. This placed managed to be beautiful and raunchy at the same time, all while making me feel uncomfortable and sad for the women standing in the windows. The picture says it all; its bright, capturing, crowded and yet harnesses some sense of darkness. Women become mannequins in the window available for purchase and people become the judgmental tourists who watch it all happen. I can't say I enjoyed this part of town. But in large part, this is a part of Amsterdam's culture and its exposed promiscuousness.

This is probably one of my favorite pictures in Amsterdam. The streets were painted along this alley and it was so vibrant and lovely. 

You can't just go to Amsterdam without visiting the Anne Frank House. I highly recommend that if you ever do, you should reserve your tickets online ahead of time because you will be able to go straight into the house and avoid the long line of people waiting to enter the museum. This house was sad, beautiful, and tragic all in one. You are able to enter her home with a sense of tragedy but with admiration of such a courageous young woman who had such big dreams. This was definitely such a humbling experience that I was blessed to see for myself. 

As a change of pace from all seriousness, girls gotta eat, and of course what else but a big ol' waffle with some ice cream and powdered sugar. I ate every bit and my sweet tooth was most definitely satisfied.
Overall, Amsterdam was incredible. The streets were constantly busy and the nightlife was buzzing. Did I forget to mention there's a difference between a 'coffeeshop' and a 'coffeehuis' there? Well..there is in case you didn't know. Fair warning. 
Tomorrow I am off to Prague, vi ses.