Showing posts with label Amsterdam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amsterdam. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

600,000 bikes

With over 400km of dedicated bicycle paths, Amsterdam is one of the world's most bike friendly cities. So while I was really nervous about taking the city on 2 wheels, it had to be done! I kept asking the girl at the bike rental shop if she had a smaller bike since I was certain I'd fall and break my head (no helmet) - my tippy toes barely touched the ground! I hadn't ridden a bike since the 8th grade, but Charlie hadn't ridden one since he was in 3rd grade, so that gave me some comfort. If I was going to fall, I was dragging someone down with me :)

Since we couldn't really navigate the streets while riding (I could barely use a hand to scratch my butt cheek without wobbling out of control), we rode around aimlessly instead - regularly pulling over for drinks, snacks, and ice cream. I'm pretty sure we made more stops to eat, than we actually spent on the bikes that day :) We did however, manage to find the Anne Frank Huis, or the annex, which was where Anne Frank spent 2 years writing her famous diary.... looking at this picture below now, I realiz only I could muster such an inappropriately cheezy smile at such an observed site!The 3 of us finished our 2nd day in Amsterdam fairly unscathed and I was actually sad to return our bikes. It felt so free and fun - I can't wait to do it again! Although my butt did feel so sore the next morning, I thought my @ss was bitten by a huge mosquito.

Monday, June 1, 2009

KFC in Amsterdam

Carrying on our tradition from country to country...

Here's the Colonel in Amsterdam, chillin' on the canal.

What a poser!..
... we all know it was Charlie who ate all the chicken! hahaha!

Amsterdammers

Windmills spinning in the backdrop of colorful tulip fields, little girls running around in wooden clogs, and huge cheese circulars are some iconic images that come to mind when people think of Holland. Its capital city Amsterdam however, holds a less than modest reputation, famous for its Red Light District and pragmatic outlook on drugs. But during our trip to Amsterdam over Spring Bank Holiday (or Memorial Day weekend :), we found Amsterdam to be nothing short of splendid!

I don't even know where to start writing... mainly because it was 2 weekends ago, so I barely remember (and no, I wasn't smoking... or "eating" :) Just know that I love Amsterdam so much, I'd move there if someone gave me a job! I know I almost always say this when I travel, but seriously, the people there (Amsterdammers) are lovely! I love the people, I love the food, I love the culture! I think I'm gonna' move there one day (Michael's coming too)... in the meantime, here are some pictures for you to see how enchanting Amsterdam is!.. although pictures really don't do it any justice.