Amsterdam November/December 2013

Left work early, which actually was unnecessary as I arrived at Heathrow in plenty of time. Actual flight was only around 45 minutes and British Airways served us drinks and snacks. Landed and took a train from Schipol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station. My pals I arranged to meet, Kieron and Amna (they had already been in Amsterdam for a better part of a week now) were nowhere to be seen. They finally showed up about 25 minutes later, on another planet. We immediately walked into the center of town.

 We pursued several coffee shops before settling on a delightful spot called Abraxas. Hung out downstairs for several hours, enjoyed some amazing juices and good banter. We concluded the evening with bought chips from an amazing falafel place called Maoz and walked 30 minute journey to our apartment. It was very comfortable, one bedroom/bath, though there was a second bed in a nook in the living room. We could hear many noises in from our neighbors, kids crying, vacuums, showering etc. Shared a bed with Kieron the first night and woke up to Baltic weather conditions.

Next morning we went to a Albert Heijns market for juices and snacks. This chain of markets is like the Sainsbury’s of Amsterdam. We proceeded to make our way to the "I Love Amsterdam" letters, snapped many a photo and gawked at our fellow tourists.

We made our way over to another coffee shop, Dampkring (sp?) and enjoyed a nice juice and the atmosphere. They filmed a short scene from Oceans 12 here. We continued into the center of the city, admiring the canals, friendly locals (who actually make eye contact with you) and the sheer number of bicycles. For lunch we went to Maoz and inhaled some of the best falafel I've ever had. We enjoyed watching patrons from the neighbouring chip shop get busted for sitting in Maoz chairs.

Later in the day we took Amna to Centraal train station and sent her off back to London. Kieron and I made our way to another coffee shop, Bluebird, and spent an hour or two there before heading home for the evening.

Following morning we hoofed it into town (that walk seemed to get longer and longer each time) towards the Anne Frank house. On the way we passed a small parade of Dutch people dressed in traditional clothing, but even more shocking they all decked out in black face. This is still a thing here.

The Anne Frank house was a sobering, quiet experience. You walk through the lower floors of the building she lived in then up through the space her family and several others shared while they hid from the Nazis. I was actually shocked to discover how big their living area actually was. I always assumed it was a small space, but in reality it was a two story affair complete with a bathroom and makeshift kitchen. Nothing high rent but still a better situation then what I previously understood. The tour ended in an adjacent museum building and an exhibit with Anne’s original diary. Interesting to think, had she survived the holocaust, would she have achieved this same fame? 

We went into town, hung out at a coffee shop and enjoyed another Maoz. Same staff from yesterday was they and I already feel like we were becoming regulars. We wandered around various shops and the Christmas markets. Reminiscent of Berlin’s. Every one’s English was exceptional. We went to a Casino and one a collective 50 Euros. Had an amazing banana muffin from a pastry shop at one point. Met plenty of randos along the way, everyone was very friendly.

Friday was more or less a repeat of the previous day, many hours spent in coffee shops, punctuated with a large Maoz falafel.

Saturday Kieron's friend Doug flew in. We met in at the train station and I think we brought him to a coffee shop. Had yet another Maoz. Again same employees, must've thought we were nuts.

Sunday finally rolled around, again had one last Maoz, preceded by a coffee shop visit. Was back in London by 10. 10/10 would visit again.