the Dammed Amstel

History Lesson!! Amsterdam was named after the dammed river Amstel ... a long time ago. Okay so im not the best history teller.... anyways..

So I went to Amsterdam this weekend!! We left friday BRIGHT AND EARLY and arrived friday evening. We took a coach over the english channel....yes... a bus....over the english channel. Well a nice large ferry helped us out a little with the floating aspect I suppose. The ferry was really cool cause we got to walk around the boat while in the channel. Never thought id be doing that! Oh and we ate croissants in french water. How appropriate.

Arriving in amsterdam we took the tram in to the center of the city to get some dinner, keep in mind we had to decode dutch to find our way there, not as easy as you may think. Anyways much to our surprise we had stumbled into the red light district, not on purpose so trust me it was a big surprise haha. I don't know how appropriate it is to write about this in a public blog but it is part of the culture.... so I'm going to take the risk haha. Anyways this was the most culture shocking thing I have seen yet. To see the girls standing in the windows, and better yet the people looking at them was very....interesting. But the whole cultural custom seems to be very laid back and no judgement whatsoever. I think the laid back aspect might be influenced by other legal things in the country... haha.

SO the rest of our trip consisted of doing a river boat cruise through all the canals and the harbor. VERY cool. The house boats are amazing. When the city became overcrowded they made it legal to live in your boat to save space...so all over the waters you can see people just walking around in boats or even in house shaped things just floating on the water. Not something you see in america thats for sure. Plus all the bridges are amazing  * another history lesson! there are 100+ canals in amsterdam and over 1000 bridges. cool right!?! ALSO the houses in amsterdam have a very long narrow look to them with really cool tops (see pictures those of you who haven't seen this already!) anyways the tops are called gables. My favorite was the bell gable. but there are lots of different types. And they are long and narrow because they were taxed based on their width. Which is why they are all built tall and deep! I know you feel more worldly already don't you? I sure do.

random: more then one car a week drives into the rivers and canals of amsterdam. haha funny.


We also went to the heineken brewery. For those of you who know me know I dont like beer, OR DO I!?!? This was an especially rewarding trip because GUESS WHAT!?!!? no seriously guess. I drank a beer (two actually) willingly...and liked it!!! I know there are multiple people reading this who will be more the proud haha.

Now Momma Derrick: I have a bone to pick with you. all these years of your poor daughter not liking beer and you never thought to point out HOW to drink beer?!

They told me that most girls dont like beer because they sip their drinks (like me) which means they are only tasting the head of the beer. Which is the most bitter part and you are getting none of the sweetness. SO you have to gulp in order to get the sweetness of the beer which comes from the 'Wort'. Basically sugar water.


ALSO Momma Derrick: I won their quiz question cause they asked what makes the beer bitter and I was the one who knew to say Hops. Be proud.

so yeah the tour was great very very cool so much to see and do in there. We got brewed...yep they took you through this interactive show and brewed us like beer. We also got two free beers and some samples. At which point we met some brazilians who made fun of me for drinking too slow. Little did they know however that I was only just learning to appreciate a beer at all. They also said that canadians are great but americans not so much haha. we did convince them to give americans a shot though. Spreading acceptance one Heineken at a time.

So yeah thats pretty much all the excitingness of Amsterdam to tell! I kinda wish we had more time I would have tried to see more but I got all the things I really wanted to do done. So all over a success!

Today (sunday) we woke up bright and early ... again but this time we took the coach to Bruges! I LOVE IT. I am moving there and you cant stop me!!! Its like a fairy tale! Its all so quaint and beautiful cobblestones horses and ponds and green and castles and beautiful gabled buildings. AND DONT FORGET GREAT CHOCOLATE!! Oh and of course waffles. We had both, don't you worry. yum yum yummmmmm. So yeah if I don't arrive back in New Jersey as scheduled, you can come find me in Bruges.

So we ended the trip in a chocolate factory/shop (cant complain) and then took the long journey back home! and now I'm back in London! I loved Amsterdam and I REALLY loved bruges. But I have to say coming back to London felt a lot like coming home! (Don't worry I'll still return to real home again haha)

Other slightly older news: We saw the 39 Steps on thursday. A play put on by four FOUR actors who played like hundreds of characters. it was VERY impressive. And very funny. Highly recommend it.

So I know this was painfully long but it had been a while and I apologize for that but people gimme a break I was in the Netherlands!!

Love you all and miss you!!

<3 Lea