Amsterdam
Hello friends!
Today I am continuing my documentation of my three month Europe trip, and if you haven’t read part one where I give a brief backstory on how this all came to be, feel free to give that a read!
One of my best friends and I had just finished our time in Belgium before driving on to Amsterdam.
Winding roads, green fields, and sweeping windmills lined our drive to the Netherlands. Chatting the hours away and commenting on the changing architecture made the drive pass quickly and before we knew it we were right outside the city. We decided on a park and ride so we wouldn’t have to think about parking in the city, so after parking we rode the train into the city and walked to de pijp where our air bnb was located.
I had a couple friends who recommended staying in De Pjjp and it was an absolutely perfect recommendation. With really trendy restaurants, bars and green spaces right around the corner, transportation right down the street, and coffee shops a short walk away, it was an amazing first impression of the city.
After getting settled we set out to explore, grabbing a coffee on the way. I immediately fell in love with the charming streets and perfect rows of houses, flower boxes lining every window, street corner, and shop. I could only imagine how magical the spring must be here.
After wandering for a few hours, we cleaned up and set out for dinner.
Where we ate : Cafe Restaurant Amsterdam
I LOVED this meal. The vibe was so cool here, upscale but comfortable, friendly service and atmosphere.
We started with a roasted artichoke with a mustard sauce (I could easily eat two of these by myself; they're so good), and then my main was roasted salmon over a samphire salad, and Allie got a stuffed eggplant. Both were divine.
After we finished we were 100% planning to get dessert, of course, and I had heard of not leaving Amsterdam without trying Dutch apple pie from a cafe called Winkel 43. So we headed that way, the sun slowly starting to set, casting a golden glow over the canals.
Dessert: Winkel 43
The cafe looks unassuming, and we snagged a cute bench seat on the front porch.
Allie was a little unsure of how good this apple pie could possibly be so we just ordered one slice with coffee. Wrong choice. Two slices should’ve been ordered. This dessert changed my life. I’m typically not an apple pie girl, but this changed that. Oh, it was so perfect with a depth of flavor and spice with the sweetness of the apple and whipped cream on top. Our expectations were blown away. I know that's high praise for a slice of pie but just trust me on this. It was amazing. I know I just wrote a whole paragraph about pie but be prepared for many of those- the food in Europe truly changed my world.
On Allie’s last day we wandered through De 9 Straatjes, popping in the cutest shops and cafes along the way.
In the evening we decided to enjoy the lovely weather and pack a picnic to take to a park around the corner from our air bnb. One thing I loved about Amsterdam was how full the parks were. It seemed like everyone valued the time outdoors so much and the green spaces were the place to be. Young and old, everyone was eating, drinking, playing games or just enjoying the time spent in community.
It seems that leisure and rest are seen so differently abroad and people seem to value and protect that sacred time so well. In a culture that values hustle and work so highly, to see this different way of living was eye opening. There are many things from European culture that I wanted to integrate into my life and the art of slow living is one of them. Even if it’s a 10 minute break for an espresso, really soak in those moments because truly those are the moments that make up our lives.
The next day I said goodbye to Allie and hello to traveling as a solo female.
The Van Gogh Museum
After a wander through the streets and a delicious coffee of course, I went to the Van Gogh museum. I knew Van Gogh was one of my favorite artists, and after this experience even moreso. I didn’t realize the mental struggle Van Gogh had, and I easily lost myself in his story through the experience this museum so beautifully led you through. His art portrays the beauty in simple country life and the fact that he chose to seek beauty in the midst of turmoil was inspiring to me. At the end of the museum there was a room dedicated to gratitude. In the middle there were hundreds of silk ribbons to choose from, where you would then write about who it was in your life you were grateful for and then tie them on a wall. Seeing hundreds of ribbons representing hundreds of people whose lives clearly touched another moved me to tears: and this is why I love art.
After my touching time at the museum I wandered home and along the way I saw a bike shop.
I had wanted to rent a bike the entire time I was in Amsterdam but I was a little intimidated by how fast bikers are there and also not knowing simple things like if turn lanes work the same as when you’re driving etc… I walked in the shop and the man working there was so nice and patient with me. I think I stared at the paper trying to decide what I was going to do for a solid few minutes- definitely questioning if my insurance covered a bike crash in a foreign country. He asked me why I was a little nervous and I’m sure I looked at him bewildered- had he ever noticed how fast these people go? But suddenly, minutes later I find myself on a little navy blue bike, zipping down the street grinning like an idiot. Until I realized I indeed was not sure how the turn lane situation worked and for a while I feared I was going to go straight forever. But you know, I figured it out, had a few good laughs, and the next day I biked around the city feeling like a local and absolutely loving it. It’s funny looking back at how much more timid I feel I was. A couple weeks later I’d be running off a cliff paragliding.
My last day in Amsterdam, I went to Saint Jean and had a life changing cardamom bun, zipped around Vondelpark, and spent the whole day on that little bike, listening to Lovely Day by Bill Withers on repeat and feeling like I was in a dream.
Just think- I hadn’t even made it to Paris yet.
Aug 31 - journal entry
“...There are so many stories to be witnessed around me, so however could I feel lonely? There are books to be read, art to be seen, and music to let soak into my bones… What is this reality I find myself in?”
