Over Christmas break, Isma and I flew to the US for the holidays and to make the trip there lighter, we stopped off in Amsterdam for the night. A friend of Isma's, Vivianne, showed us around and kept us good company. The food is like traditional American food (liver, beets, chicken, cooked carrots, salad, apple sauce) and their cheese is good too! We got to see Anne Frank's house from the outside, since it was much too late in the evening to go inside and visit. We walked by the red light district as well, though it was a bit scary and saddened me to think of the women who work there, their broken spirits and used bodies.
But leaving all of that aside, I'd say the one true characteristic of Amsterdam is the bikes. They are everywhere! There is even a two-story bike parking garage next to the central train station. There are many more bikes than cars, and perhaps almost as many bikes as people. It's no surprise though, as the city is so flat that biking is not as difficult as in Spain or other hilly places.
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| It seems like the city hasn't changed. |
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| Beautiful lights and the shops by the canals. |
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| Our Dutch friend Vivianne |
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| The red-light district. |
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