Amsterdam

Two other NYU students, Ms. Bailey Carr and Grayson Brannen were also in Amsterdam, so after we dropped our luggage, we called Bailey (she smartly left a note on her luggage at the hostel so we could contact her).

It was so nice to have a little group to walk around with. First we went to Museumplein and went to the Van Gogh Museum. One of my favorite things to do is to make up facts when in settings like that. They knew not to believe me.

Little known facts about Van Gogh:

Born in Japan

Was in love with his brother, Theo

His entire family's first names rhymed with Gogh, except him.

He thought he was mentally ill but was in fact just a loser.

We also of course went to the Red Light District. And Eric, like I was last time, was astounded by the situation. It is strange to have prostitutes look into your eyes or try to seduce you in. And also, they are not as gross as one would think. I think that is what is most surprising. I mean, sure they are wearing neon underwear and are standing smoking cigarettes in their private windows, but they are not as dirty as the idea of prostitution.

All four of us were really considering going to a live sex show, but it was too expensive and so we opted for just the 2

euro for 2 minutes peep show. It was sort of in the round and you could see all the other people in their little window if you looked over the folks having sex in the middle. It was at the same time hilarious, fascinating, embarassing and thrilling. We all agreed it was a good experience. We also went to the Sex Museum, but the peep show was more fun.

I believe it was that night that I ate something at the same time so delicious and nauseating: Shwarma Pizza. With toppings. Onions, chili and garlic sauce. We loved it. Our last night at the hostel we went back for a second. And then took one to go. My body tried to disown me the next day.

I loved the Anne Frank Huis. I went when I was six, but of course it meant nothing to me then. I have been reading a book trying to explain Hitler for the last year (yeah, I read it bit by bit when I have time), but that one individual story just sheds light on what happened. I am so glad I got to experience it again. Plus when we went, the guy at the ticket booth said that we were lucky because usually there is a line. It was nice to experience it relative solitude.

So now, the only bad thing about Amsterdam while we were there. So this company that we got the free tour from in Prague also had a free one in Amsterdam. Eric and I had very high expectations that were not met. I realized how much a tour depends on your tour guide and how much he cares about the city or the history. This guy cared little. We learned so much less about Amsterdam than Prague because of that. Sad.

I think we all had a good time in Amsterdam. After four days we had to split up. The girls went one way and Eric and I another. It was really great because we all got to experience the same thing in different parts of our European adventures. Eric coming from teaching children English in Italy for 3 months, Grayson having just spent 6 weeks in Amsterdam for an NYU summer theatre program, Bailey heading to a semester in Florence, and me to Paris!