Euro Trip Part 3 - Amsterdam

After our morning shopping in Paris we headed out to Amsterdam. The drive was about 5 hours and Rob and I split driving off and on again.

Once we arrived parking was a nightmare, as usual. I should have known and not even bothered trying to park near the center. We drove around for nearly 2 hours trying to find a reasonable place to park! Parking inside the center was about 50 euro for 24 hours (and we were staying Friday, Saturday, and leaving Sunday morning). BUT > live and learn, eh? We ended up parking in the Bos en Lommer garage and riding the tram into the center. It was super easy actually and the tram was pretty cheap. Plus parking here ended up being only 12 euro for 24 hours. #supersaverlifestyle

Upon arriving at our hotel I was a bit unsure. I rented it off hotels.com and it didn't look like a conventional hotel from the outside. But, once we went upstairs, I knew why. It wasn't a conventional hotel. It was a guesthouse of apartments. We rented a two bedroom one with 4 single beds. It was perfect!! It also had a kitchen, tv room, dining area, and balcony. It was right off Damstraat and close to the dam square. It was near lots of shopping and restaurants. Basically it was awesome!

Here are shots of the apartment:

kitchen area - we had one of those water heater guys
which was perfect for morning tea! Love me some earl grey!!

dining table with the hallway to the rooms to the left

couch and doors to balcony on right

Katie and I shared this room

Josh and Rob shared this one

The rooms had sinks in them which ended up being
surprisingly helpful for makeup, teeth brushing, and face washing.

this massive tub had its own room with one mirror and the
tiniest sink ever.

After getting checked in and dumping our bags - we were off! It was late; nearly 830pm by this point. We left to walk around, snag some dinner, and hunt for the red light district. For dinner we went to Wok to Walk right outside our hotel. Super delicious street food!

Here is the menu of Wok to Walk, I found it on google to share. It is like a chipotle/subway style restaurant where you choose your ingredients (or a pre-designed option) and eat out of the box on the go. The one I picked was an already named option and sadly ended up being a bit spicy for my baby taste buds.

Next up - De Wallen Red Light District - Sadly we couldn't find it (or something)? I used my GPS, it said we were there and we wandered around IN IT (thinking we were lost) for ever it seemed. I'm terrible at directions, which I got from my father, so it was a wash that everyone chose me to be the leader. Just because I've been there before doesn't make my direction skill improve. Anyways, after the aimlessly wandering we stopped at my favorite pub of course, Irish Pub Slainte, for some drinks. P.S. - I knew this pub was IN the Red Light District (no one believed me!).

After a few drinks we decided to hit up a little tourist spot - the Red Light Secrets museum (because we were in the Red Light District all along - like I said). I'd never done this before and found it super interesting! The had so many facts and rooms set up - it was a house converted into this museum and each level had something different. Then again, who knows how factual or realistic some of the set-ups were lol

Here is a picture of the front of the museum and some more I took on the inside. Since I didn't take an outside one myself I found this one on google - it can be found here on the museum's webpage.

This map lit up with all different types of establishments:
gay bars, night clubs, red light district windows, and more

the wall of artifacts left behind from people
who have been with de wallen prostitutes.

these were the souvenirs at the end-

It was lots of fun - real or not. Afterwards we walked around and explored a bit more, snagged a bedtime dessert, and headed back to the apartment.

because how could you say no to this sinful delight!
there was a bakery right outside our apartment and I couldn't resist!

The next morning we woke up and had breakfast at Crepes & Waffles. If you're a reader of this blog you already know what that is :) Crepes & Waffles is the best breakfast place in Amsterdam - it's a must! Everything I've tried there has been delicious!

and their menu was printed on wood blocks.
one more reason they're awesome.

Katie got a smoothie (above) and next to it is my crepe!
It was pretty rich but - um, I ates it all.

After breakfast we explored, shopped and checked out the usual Amsterdam sites. Our apartment came with free bike rentals, which was another first for me, and I totally loved it! Riding bikes in Amsterdam is no joke because: A) in Europe you're real traffic with a real lane and real laws & B) EVERYONE IS RIDING A BIKE! It took some adjusting since I couldn't remember the last time I even rode a bike but it was lots of fun. I think next time if I got a bike with hand brakes that would be easier. The free rentals included "basic bikes" and ours didn't have them. Back pedaling doesn't seem inconvenient but, in traffic, it definitely slowed me down. #basicbikelife

We rode our bikes over to the Anne Frank museum tour in the afternoon and tied them up to park them (I was worried about parking tickets? if that's a thing on a bike? - only because I have absolutely no clue what the bike parking laws are in Europe). But all went well as our bikes were there upon our return. In conclusion - I would DEFINITELY own and ride a bike daily if I lived in Amsterdam. Such an easy way to get around and everyone personalizes their bike like a car almost - you can get really cute bells and baskets.

During our day of shopping I snagged some little wooden clogs and some wooden tulips.
 

so many clogs! even big enough to wear!

clogs, clogs EVERYWHERE!

here is the little pair I snagged :)

and my tulips. the vase doesn't have an foam form to hold
them but with foam they'll have better shape :)

After the Anne Frank museum we stopped and got pizza for lunch and Katie went to the apartment to take a quick cat-nap. Here are a few shots I took when we went back to the apartment to drop off Katie. These are the view off our balcony.

that's Damstraat

the iron work was really neat too

opposite direction of the main road

And then there was pizza!

and breadsticks! so many carbs!

After lunch and walking around a little more the three of us headed back to meet Katie and hit a pub. I mean when in Amsterdam right?

drinking snacks for the win!

Katie's addicted to nachos - everywhere.

desperados - my other half.

Then after walking around we decided to stop and do a night boat tour on the canals. I totally didn't take any pictures (failure I know) but Josh took these ones.

After the tour we were ready for a late dinner at Ramen-Ya. I've never had truly homemade ramen so this was a great treat!

so much to pick from!

& dinner with a fresh Heineken! :)

this was mine

this was Rob's

After we ate we headed back to the apartment to relax and chill before bed. We were set to check out rather early for the drive back to Baumholder.

On the way to the parking garage the next morning we saw this awesome wooden clog and I snagged a picture of Katie in it as a last Amsterdam photo-op!

Yay for another successful Amsterdam trip! Now off to Baumholder for a night before leaving in the morning to go to Munich! #eurotrip2015