I am-sterdam

This weekend we were off to Amsterdam. (For all the times we sat at the Schiphol airport enroute to India this HAD to be our first European destination!) We got a great deal for a 4 star hotel but it was slightly far from the city center. We were really hungry when we reached and a drive-thru McDs was the only thing open at that time so we 'stood' in the line amongst the cars. :)

The next day we took the train to Amsterdam Centraal (Amsterdam's main station). We bought a day pass called I am-sterdam that allowed us unlimited access to public transport, entry to certain museums and a free canal cruise.

We started our day with the cruise. Did you know that Amsterdam gets it's name because of a dam that was built on the Amstel river? I didn't! And that the water that runs throug the canals is fresh water. And that there are 2500 houseboats in the city. :) We passed through the city's beautiful canals, saw the wonderful architecture and the houseboats.

We just walked around the amazing streets and sat and enjoyed the boats passing by from a cafe by a canal.



It was a nice sunny day but suddenly it started raining so it was time to sit in a tram and go check out the Van Gogh musuem. We were amazed to find out that Van Gogh painted for just about 10 years before he died at a young age of 37.



In the evening we sat in a square full of umbrellas and a lot of bars.

Here is K enjoying his beer.



A nice pic


It was getting dark and it was time to go check out the must-see part of Amsterdam - 'the red-light area'! Never before had I seen anything like this! Females scantily clad standing in doorways which had a red light on top waiting to get to "work". If they were busy either the curtains were drawn or their seats were empty. There were several peep shows also. We couldn't take the pics of the workers.

The next day we met Natali and Samuel (he is doing from GSB and doing his internship in Rotterdam)at Amsterdam. We had such a FUN day! We started the day by going to the Rijksmuseum - The Dutch national musuem. It had many famous paintings including Rembrandt.

Me, Natali and Samuel outside the museum

Here are 4 of us in Vondelpark.

Here are 4 of us trying a "cake" in a "coffee house" :)

We had a picnic at a bench by the canal...

Natali and me in front of a crooked building.

It was finally time to bid Amsterdam good bye.. No photos can do the place justice. For two days we felt like we were living a fairy tale in a doll house.

All I can say is I am-sterdam.