I traveled to the Netherlands! Amsterdam Travel Diary.

I Take Back What I Said About London... Amsterdam Just Might Be The Best City in the World!?

Since I was little I have always wanted to go to Amsterdam. I'm not sure why this was such a dream destination for me, but I think it has something to do with seeing America's Next Top model contestants having a challenge there? By the way, what happened to that show?

AnYwAy, so I was very excited when my friends and I planned this trip a few months ago.

Friday morning we woke up at around 4am to get to our 7am flight to Amsterdam. When we arrived, we visited a DELICIOUS brunch place called Benji's, and then started out for the rest of our day. The day was full of walking into the city center, renting bikes, and exploring as much as we possibly could. The city was absolutely beautiful. I did not really know what to expect. Despite my life-long obsession with Amsterdam, I knew little about what it looked like or what to do there. So it was a pleasant surprise when the weather was 60 and sunny everyday and the trees were in full-bloom to give us the most beautiful experience.

Biking is THE mode of transportation in Amsterdam. I'm pretty sure more people bike than drive cars each day. Around practically every corner there are bike racks with almost 100 bikes racked up next to each other, crazy! And the bikers themselves are no less impressive. It's just human nature to them... who has the right of way, what cars will or won't stop for them, how NOT to crash when there are three of you coming from opposite directions to the exact same spot. It's quite an experience competing with this on the streets.

Saturday consisted of some more walking around, especially through Museum Quarters. This open field/park is easily one of the most peaceful places I have ever stepped foot in. No wonder the Netherlands is in the top five happiest countries in the world (or something like that), it's IMPOSSIBLE TO BE UNHAPPY THERE!

Besides a nice lay on the lawn and a lunch by the canal, I also visited the Anne Frank house. If you want to visit this museum you have to book tickets as far as two months in advance because the spots fill up so fast. So if you ever decide to visit Amsterdam, buy your Anne Frank tickets AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. This museum is a must see. It was super interesting to read the actual diary, walk through Anne's actual room, and squeeze up the actual staircase that the family was hidden in for years.

My favorite part of Sunday had to be pedal boating. Anna and I rented a pedal boat for an hour and toured around the various canals, only getting lost or traveling in the wrong direction down a one-way "street" about 100 times. But, again, this hour was one of the most relaxing and beautiful hours I have ever lived.

Overall, Amsterdam is an amazing place. It is happy and bright and such an easy place to visit, even if you just want to hang out by the lawn (which, if you haven't realized from many of my posts, is often necessary for me).

Until next time,

xoxo,

(a)Lex

*post from Alex's previous travel blog, Life with Lex. April 3, 2019.*