Amsterdam Day 2

The second day of our stay, my friend and I decided to rent bikes to see the city. I think it was the best idea we had the whole trip. It honestly only took 20 minutes to bike from one end to the other and we could stop, lock our bikes and walk where ever we wanted. However, the bikes only came in one size. At this point I have come to terms with my height literally being a handicap, because having to jump up to sit on a bike is just not normal.

The first place we went was the Anne Frank house. It was really amazing, we saw where the family lived and the area they hid behind the bookshelf. It was so amazing to see real history in front of us We saw the room that she slept in and how she decorated the walls with pictures of celebrities she liked like Ginger Rogers. We also saw her real diary on display. I wish I could have taken pictures but it was not prohibited. However, throughout  the rooms they were playing videos about her life and I found this one that her father had made and I thought it was really profound and I want to share it with you.

We also saw about 50 copies of her Diary written in different languages. Its pretty amazing how this one girl has impacted so many people in so many different cultures through her thoughts and experiences.

Then for the rest of the day we biked around and took lots of pictures of the scenery. Its funny how bikes are really the mode of transportation in Amsterdam. Instead of parking garages, we saw bike garages. There were hundreds, they were all over the street and most didn't have bike locks. I guess people are pretty trusting there. Also I thought it was interesting that all the bikes seemed to be rusted (like all of them). Whereas if bikes were a big thing in the US, I think we would find a way to coerce Mercedes Bendz or BMW to start making bikes for us. Maybe they don't care as much about status and luxury as much as we do. I did not even see a lot of high fashion luxury brands like Chanel, Dior, or Gucci, which is typical in a city in the US.

 Amsterdam was honestly really beautiful because there were canals that went through the entire city. I think I can imagine why people are so happy here, they bike everywhere and they get to have Amsterdam as their scenery.

It was actually really cute, when people wanted to pass us they would ring their little bike bell. I wish cars were made with bike bells, maybe rush hour traffic on Fridays would be a little more pleasant for everyone if we had bike bells instead of car horns.

Even the police were on bikes. My friend and I were laughing because in all honesty what is a policeman going to do on a bike if someone robs a store or something. Does he have higher gear speed to go catch them? and then how do you arrest someone? or what happens if someone is biking and texting? In the US if you drive and text you get your license taken away, but they can't take away a license so would they take away your bike? I would hate to be that kid showing up to school with no bike. That's got shame written all over it.

Well all in all it was a really enjoyable trip, and I am so glad I got the opportunity to go.

Amsterdam

So last weekend I took a trip to Amsterdam. It was a 7 hour bus ride from Paris to Amsterdam, I know that sounds pretty bad but It was actually really relaxing. I was able to see part of the French Country side, and our bus also stopped in Brussels and Antwerp. It was nice that we were able to walk around a little, and although we did not see much of the cities, it was still nice to have some exposure.

When we got to the Station we had to take a short train ride to our Hostel. Well, I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but I completely forgot that they speak Dutch in Holland. I was all ready to start speaking French to ask directions and advice at the information center, probably because I have had to do that for the last 2 months in Paris. It was really interesting to be in a place where I was a little dumbfounded. I could not understand the language at all, and reading the signs was just as complicated. Luckily, Amsterdam is one of those cities where pretty much everyone speaks English and everyone was very friendly and willing to help lost tourists.

So after getting settled into our hostel, my friend and I decided we wanted to explore the city a little and we found our way to the Red light district. I must say it wasn't easy. We laughed the entire way just trying to find the right streets  and struggling with pronouncing the names. Streets like Recht Broomssloot and Jodenbreestraat, kept us pretty entertained for the night. It was really beautiful though, there were a lot of house boats in the area we were living in, they were legitimately log cabins floating on water. Then when we got to the Red light district it was definitely nothing like I expected. There were sex shops on every corner, coffee shops to buy and smoke marijuana, and prostitutes were on display in the windows. Definitely a different culture than I was used to.

I thought it was really interesting that although in the US we see  marijuana, prostitution, and drinking, as being very controversial it was nothing special for locals in Amsterdam. Even casinos and gambling is pretty controversial in Massachusetts because people are afraid that it is going to attract the "wrong type of attention". However, in Amsterdam for the few days I was there I did not see one homeless person, and no one said I had to watch out for pickpockets or scams. In fact, everyone was extremely nice and welcoming, the minute my friend and I pulled out our maps someone would stop and ask if we needed help. It really makes me wonder why in the US we fear these things like marijuana and prostitution (I am not advocating anything, just making observations).

We expect them to bring corruption to society, when maybe what we should really be worrying about is why we have homeless people living on the streets in the first place and why there is nothing being done to change that. How can a society that fosters all of this "corruption", be the city that is the cleanest, friendliest, and clearly the happiest I have ever seen? Clearly the people in Amsterdam are doing something right. I don't know enough about their political or economic system to justify any of this, but it was definitely interesting to see the contrast.

Birthday

Well, it was my 21st birthday the other weekend and it was definitely a memorable one. It was really more like a birthday week, and Im thinking about extending it for the month, but we'll see.

I received flowers from my parents and plenty of really sweet birthday cards from family and friends. Then for my birthday weekend about 18 of my friends, French and American ended up meeting at my apartment to go out for the night. I am going to tell you right now, my apartment was not made to have 18 people, but we made it work, sort of.

Then we ended up at a bar and had a great night. Then Monday on my actually birthday a few of us went to a Fondu restaurant. It was so much fun, they gave us baby bottles full of wine and my friends got the waiters to give me a special desert at the end and the whole restaurant ended up singing to me. A guy from South Carolina even ended up inviting all of us to his wedding which was going to happen the next day at the Eiffel Tower, I guess thats just your typical southern hospitality.

This next week coming up is going to be pretty exciting, Its one of my best friends birthdays and were going to celebrate for the whole week, because we can!

Back Again!

I am sorry it has been a while since I have blogged, I got a little caught up in life. However, I have a lot to share with all of you. First off a few weeks ago I went to the Musee D'Orsay and the Louvre, two of the most famous museums in Paris. I like the Louvre, but its so big its actually very overwhelming. I saw the infamous Mona Lisa , but in all honesty you can't really appreciate it as a viewer. There is a glass box covering the painting, then a perminent gate around it, then a second temporary gate, and two guards (the french are serious about their art). The closest you could get was about 10 feet away from the actual painting. Of course being short has its advantages. I was able to squeeze through and get to the front of the crowd. I'm sure its not hard to picture me up at the front taking pictures of the Mona Lisa fighting with the 10 year old on my right and the 8 year old on my left for the best shot.

However, I was able to see the Venus de Milo, the Egyptian statue of Ramesses II, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace (which happens to be my favorite). My roommate an I were only able to see one full wing of the Louvre in 2 hours, hopefully that can put the size in perspective for you.

Then I also went to the Musee D'orsay with my french class and then again that week with a friend. I think its my favorite museum in Paris. There were paintings by Descartes, Degas, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Seurat, Manet, and Gauguin. The museum consisted of all of the paintings I have seen growing up, or in art classes. It was overwhelming but only because the art was so impressive. I wish I could have taken pictures to show everyone, but it was not allowed. I actually got yelled at by the staff for taking a picture of the information card next to a painting by Renoir. If you really know me, you wouldn't be surprised by this at all.

Then later on I also went to a Mask party that was organized by my school, which was really fun, but pretty difficult to find people. Then I also went to a French dinner that was organized by my french teacher. She had the American students meet with the French students. It was really funny actually, I met these two french girls and they kept bragging to all of their friends that I spoke french really well. Well, I don't know about really well, but compared to the rest of the group that consisted of French beginners, I guess I looked like an expert. They also wanted to continue our conversation outside and asked if I smoked but when I said I didn't they were pretty bummed. They didn't understand why none of the Americans smoke, but in France Smoking really is a social experience.

I also spent the day with a friend walking around St. Paul, which is a really cool shopping area. We went into about 5 vintage stores and saw everything from vintage Chanel bags to Hermes scarves. I was afraid to touch anything considering the bags were around 500 Euro, but it was still a really cool area.

Then over the weekend I went to a huge dinner party in the suburbs with a bunch of friends from school where we ate Raclette. Basically you heat up cheese until its melted and you can cook different cold cuts on the hot plate and you put it all over a cooked potato. I know it sounds weird, but it was SO DELICIOUS. Then our dinner party turned into a dance party, and by the end of the night I was dancing Salsa. Then it ended up being about 15 of us staying over and waking up at 6am to take the train back to our apartments. Definitely an eventful week!

Friends

I hosted my first dinner party the other night. I must say I have to give my mom credit for Christmas Eve dinner, because we made the simplest dishes you could think of and it was work.Trying to time the veggies with the pasta and the chicken will limited resources is a perfected skill. Its funny you would think I would know my way around the kitchen after two years of having my own kitchen in my apartments at school, but thinking back on it I really never had the time. After going to classes, a job, clubs, meetings, and if I am lucky squeezing in the gym, I always have to reach for the fastest thing to make. Ask any college student and I guarantee they will say the same thing. My downtime is my shower, and watching a Jersey Shore or a Chelsea Handler episode (quality TV). We really don't know how to relax in the US, and this isn't the last time your going to hear it.

Back to the dinner- I was lucky this time my friend who went with me to London came over and we shopped and made everything together before everyone showed up. It was really fun to have everyone together, there were friends from school, from classes, friends of friends, and a friend from the suburbs of Paris, I think it was about 8 of us in total.  It was so much fun, everyone got a long really well, especially after the 4 bottles of wine.

I wish I had a big enough dining room for more people. I love celebrating and having great company, sometimes its a problem, just ask my parents on the summer of 2009. I say I am inviting 5 people over it turns to 10, and 10 easily to 20 (Im sorry I just like everyone to have a good time, thats all). However, its just safer for everyone if I go to other peoples houses, which I will be doing tomorrow for another dinner party. I am meeting some really cool people that I am going to have a lot of fun with.

London Town Part 2

Ok then for the next few days we did a little more touring. We saw Hyde park, Buckingham palace, the Aquarium, Big Ben, and of course had to take pictures in the red phone booths.

Then we went to Harrods. I don't think I know the right words on how to describe this store. It was the most luxurious department store I have ever seen in my life. When we first walked in there were chandeliers  everywhere, it was more like being in a five star hotel than a store. I didn't take too many pictures because people started staring at me, and I figured my inner tourist had to take a break for a bit. Then every room had its own theme. There were tea bars, chocolate bars, sundae bars, sushi bars, a whole butchers market, a room filled with every candy you could dream of, there were two story restaurants, and thats just the food. Then there were rooms for sporting goods, children's cloths, men's, and the women's section was amazing. It was like shopping in a museum, dresses were actually in cases. It was really amazing. I hope this is what heaven looks like.

The next day we went to this huge outdoor flee market. It was really cool because it was mostly handmade crafts. I saw a dress that was made out of neck ties (maybe not my style, but it was creative). There were hand stitched leather bags, jewelry, paintings, and all different types of ethnic food. We were there for about 3 hours and lost each other frequently.

Then we went to a traditional English afternoon tea. It was in the Rose Tea Room and its name definitely described the atmosphere. The whole room was pink, with pink couches, and rose decorations, it even smelled like roses. The first course was rose champagne, then we each ordered tea, and they gave us all our own pot. Then the three tiers of cucumber sandwiches, scones, and assortments of jellies arrived. I felt so accomplished when I got through half my pot of tea, I think I can honestly say I had about a gallon worth of tea in my stomach after 2 1/2 hours. It was so delicious, my friend ordered rose tea and it actually had rose blossoms in it.

It was a really great trip, and even though in London they speak English, its really cool to see cultural differences. I wish I could spend 5 months in each country instead of a weekend.
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London town Part 1

This past weekend I traveled to London for 4 days with two friends from school, we covered so much in so little time I think London deserves a few entrees.

We stayed with one of their friends who is studying in London for a year. Anyway the first place she took us was the TATE its the modern art museum in London. I have never been a huge fan of modern art (I guess I always just think of Picasso, who has a man's ear growing out of his forehead, so you just never know),  however It was not so much 21st century modern art as it was art that was considered revolutionary for a particular time period. We saw a few Andy Warhol paintings, from far away they look like a cartoon, but up close you can see that he only used dots of colors to create the painting, its called pointillism. We also saw Georges Braque who was a cubist painter. Then of course we saw Picasso and even Monet's water lilies. I was really surprised Monet's painting was displayed, but then again at one point impressionism was a completely modern genre of art for the time period it was introduced. Anyway long story short I really enjoyed the museum I wish we had more time to spend there, but we had a whole city to see in a few days.

After the Museum we walked all over London taking pictures of the London eye, the Millenium bridge (it was in Harry Potter), saw a few old cathedrals, and of course got distracted by the sales. London reminds me so much of Boston, it was a little like being home.

I have to say it was also really refreshing to hear English and to know that there would not be any communication boundaries. Even if I can understand directions, descriptions, and casual conversation in French there is always a degree of uncertainty when people speak really fast or use more sophisticated vocabulary. However, it was a bit of a let down that night when we went to a club, and every girl I met was from America. We actually knew people at each others schools, this is an unbelievably small world.

Our friend told us that right after English people get out of work they head straight to the Pubs, we stopped at one around 4:30, it was absolutely packed, with English people of all ages. It seams like everyone knows how to relax in Europe.