Tuesday 10 June 2014

Amsterdam, I adore you



So last month was my long-awaited trip to Amsterdam. Considering how eagerly anticipated it was, I really was shockingly under-prepared by the time it came to getting on the plane. I blame the fact that I was struck ill for the entirety of the week before, but I needn't have worried as my trusty DK Top Ten Guide did its job when I finally opened it on the plane. I suddenly remembered quite how much fun was in store for me and I couldn't wait to get started! I'm so pleased that during our whirlwind 50 hours I managed to tick off most things on my Amsterdam to-do list. Hooray, what a result!



So here's a little run down of what we got up to...
  • Browsed the floating flower markets - the tulips were truly stunning. It's just a shame I couldn't buy any of them! Just look at them, so gorgeous
  • Invested in classy red ponchos thanks to torrential rain for 36 of the hours we were in Amsterdam - it's testament to how awesome this city is that I still adored it!
  • Ate the best pancakes ever created. The toppings - apple, banana and raisins - were embedded in the pancake. Talk about a freaking genius idea!
  • Queued for ninety minutes for a tour of Anne Frank's House. I cannot tell you how fascinating I found this stop on the tourist trail. It was so moving to see where Anne Frank and her family lived while she wrote her diary. It really is an unbelievably moving experience and I recommend everyone visiting it.
  • Visited the Van Gogh Museum. We went to this on Friday night at around 8 and there was a bar and DJ playing in the lobby, so a cool way to be greeted! I always enjoy seeing art up close and I was really surprised as to the number of paintings I knew by Van Gogh, my art knowledge really is dreadful. I think my favourite one was his self-portrait. 
  • Traversed the canals. When in Amsterdam, a trip on the canals is definitely called for, and the one included in the iAmsterdam card that I discussed the other week did not disappoint. We saw loads of the sites from the water and it was nice to sit down after walking all over the city. I had thought the boat trip would help me get my bearings, but that wasn't the case. I had no idea where I was at all in that city - has anyone else found that?
  • Ate the most amazing food, we ate in all sorts of places, from small cafes and cute pubs to basement located Italian restaurants and really trendy bars and the food was ALL to die for! If I could live off their fries and mayo, pancakes and cheesy croquette things forever more I'd be incredibly happy!
  • Threw ourselves into exploring every inch of the city with long and rambling walks all over - and with views like those below it really was no hardship!
  • Visited the intriguing Rembrandt's House. Rembrandt's story really was fascinating and his old house has been restored so that it resembles the house he would have lived in, as a result there were so many interesting titbits to learn. I had no idea how small the beds were back then or that they looked like cupboards and the guest 'bed' would have been in the main reception room - crazy right?
  • Managed not to die thanks to the crazy Amsterdam cyclists - what is with their believe that it's always their right of way?







All in all our trip was ace and I can't wait to go back and visit the bits we missed (the Reijakmuseum and a cycling tour will be the first two items on the agenda!). Have you ever been to Amsterdam, what was your favourite thing to do there?



24 comments:

  1. OMG you did so much in 50 hours! Those tulips are absolutely gorgeous!

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    1. Tell me about it! My feet definitely felt it by the end! It was so worth it though. Thanks for stopping by. xxx

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  2. Sounds like you had a great time. Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities and it rained a lot of the time i was there! The van gogh museum is one of my faves! I nearly got knocked down by cyclists on several occasions haha!

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    1. We did indeed, it was such a fantastic city! I'm glad it wasn't just me with the crazy cyclists, I couldn't quite believe it! Thanks for popping by. xx

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  3. So lovely- probably the most beautiful city I've ever been to! And yeah, I agree with the other commenter: you really got down to business while you were there! The evening at the Van Gogh museum you described with the DJ sounds like my dream... it was my favorite museum :) Hadn't been to or known about Rembrandt's house... something to do for next time!

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    1. Agreed, the city is stunning and yes we tried to fit in as much as possible to make the flight worth it! I loved the Van Gogh museum, it was so cool to see all of his works. You should definitely go back on a Friday night one day, it was great! I definitely recommend Rembrandt's House too. Thanks for popping by. xx

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  4. I would love to stroll along the canals in Amsterdam!

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    1. DO IT! It's such a brilliant city, I'm sure you'll love it. Thanks for dropping by. x

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  5. I went last month and adored it too!! I can't wait to go back:)

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    1. It's an amazing city isn't it - I wish I could go their every month! Thanks for stopping by. xx

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  6. It sounds like you packed a lot in!! I didn't make it to the Van Gogh museum. My fav things in Amsterdam was just eating, drinking and relaxing along the canals :)

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    1. We did indeed, I was exhausted by the end of it! You must do the Van Gogh Museum if you go again, it's great to see all his work. The eating part of it was pretty awesome too! Thanks for popping by. xxx

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  7. I've only been in Amsterdam for one day but I remember standing in line for the Anne Frank's House for ages too! I would love to go back and see more of the city though!

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    1. Anne Frank's House is fascinating isn't it - definitely a must visit. You really should go back, I'm already contemplating my next trip. It's just so much fun and there's so much to see and do! Thanks for stopping by. xx

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  8. Oh your pictures are beautiful! Definitely makes me want to visit!

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    1. Thanks - I'm almost amazed at how nice they turn out on just my phone! You should most definitely go, it's such a fantastic city and loads to do. Thanks for popping by. xxx

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  9. Mmmm, I loved Amsterdam - thank you for a trip back down memory lane!

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    1. No problem at all - it's a brilliant city isn't it! Thanks for stopping by. xxx

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  10. Ah this is making me want to go back to Amsterdam! I was there for a grand total of 8hours so we rushed a little. We walked through the Amsterdam centre and saw lots of it, but this is making me a bit jealous! Didn't even know about the Rembrandt house! Also I have to say that I'm so surprised everything I see posts on Amsterdam where people say they queued forever to get into the Anne Frank House. I was there in December and we just showed up and got in. Guess it's good to go outside the touristy seasons!

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    1. You were so lucky you didn't have to queue for Anne Frank's house, I suppose that's the problem with going on a weekend - and with not wanting to get up early in the morning! Rembrandt's House was really good and definitely worth a visit. You most definitely need to head back and explore some more! Thanks for popping by. xxx

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  11. Wow, that is a whirlwind trip! Sounds like my weekend excursion to London. I've been in Amsterdam only briefly while on a layover. So we went to a coffee shop (a literal one, not a pot shop!), admired canals, took a quick ride around the city on the subway/metro, then back to the airport. I would love to go there - your pictures look amazing!

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    1. It most certainly was, but we wanted to see as much as we could in one weekend! You should definitely visit again as there's just so much to see - I could have wandered around for days without being bored. It sounds like you still saw quite a bit on your short visit. Thanks for stopping by. xx

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  12. For being unprepared you sure squeezed a lot out of Amsterdam in a few days! That city looks just gorgeous. I hope to visit some day! I might have to borrow your list for an idea of what to do, although I'm hoping I will have more time there! :)

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    1. You should definitely go and for longer - it's really a brilliant city. If you go let me know what you see and do so I can add those to my list for next time. Thanks for stopping by! x

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