To Travel is to Flirt With Life

I arrived at Amsterdam’s Centraal Station on a winter morning. The first view I had was a sea of bicycles. As I made my way outside, it was impossible not to notice the multitude of tall, narrow buildings and canals. Each building came with a uniquely shaped top and a long history. There was a tram zooming across the street and paths that were just for the bicyclists. The comforting smell of baked goods overwhelmed my senses and I spotted a small bakery full of delectable pastries and breads. Before long, I had arrived at my hotel. I quickly dropped off my belongings and began an exploration of the city.
My first destination was a charming district filled with shops, cafes, and seventeenth century houses, named the Jordaan. I walked along one of the major canals, the Prinsengracht, to get to the Anne Frank House. The house is the actual place where Jewish writer, Anne Frank, and her family hid during World War II. It was nearly noon, so I pressed on to a busy street to find a snack, the Damrak. I came across a vendor selling “vlaamse friets” with a crowd standing in front eating chips topped with mayonnaise. I soon joined this crowd, as the snack was very tasty and filling. Next, I headed to Dam Square. This is the famous square with the War Memorial as its center and bordered by the Royal Palace and Niewe Kerk. I decided to hop on a tram and head to my next destination, the Rijksmuseum. This enormous museum houses a famous painting, “The Nightwatch” by Rembrandt.
An interesting thing about Amsterdam is that authentic Dutch food is hard to come by. Luckily, I was able to visit a Dutch friend that I had met in college. She had prepared two traditional Dutch foods for dinner: Gouda cheese and stamppot.
The following day began at the Albert Cuyp Market. The market was run by the locals and a large assortment of items could be bought. I stopped at a stand selling poffertjes, which are small pancake-like snacks, usually served with butter and powdered sugar. After, I ventured to my last destination, the Heineken Experience. The tour taught visitors about the history behind Heineken beer and is located at the site of the original Heineken Brewery.
Time had run out and it was time for me to head home. I stopped by the Amstel River and gazed one last time at the beautiful architecture of the buildings and the houseboats. This was the moment when I realized that Amsterdam was a place that I had always hoped existed, but never knew that it already did.