Amsterdam

I spent the end of last week in Amsterdam (that's in the Netherlands.) And because it is the first question that EVERYONE asks me as soon as they hear me say that, I'll go ahead and answer it for you right now: No, I did not smoke any pot. However, the smell of it did lay over the city so heavily that I'm not entirely sure I didn't smoke any by accident.

In other news: I LOVE Holland. So much. It was cold and the entire city was decorated for Christmas. (They celebrate their Christmas and 'Sinterklaas' on December 5th.) It was so wonderful. The city is small, so I walked everywhere, and most of the city still has its original cobble-stone streets. There are canals everywhere, and they are beautifully lit up at night.

They have these things called stroopwafels, which are 2 thin wafers with caramel in the middle (they are wonderfully addictive.) They also treat pancakes more like crepes, in that you have the option of savory, cheesy pancakes. Not just sweet ones. Their syrup is also closer to molasses in consistency and potency. It is delicious.

Their french fries are also ridiculously good. They serve them to you in a paper cone. They are huge, and doused in mayonnaise. I do not like mayo, but this doesn't taste like American mayo. And I mixed mine with ketchup. Yum! And they give you this little tuning-fork shaped piece of wood to attempt to spear the french fries... Except it's only about as long as your pinky finger. I think it's just a ruse to make you look ridiculous while trying to eat the piping hot fries.

Every inch of the city looks like this. It's amazing. I didn't even pull out my map for the most part. I left my hostel in the morning, wandered around for most of the day, and then pulled out my map at the end of the day to find my way back. I have figured out that this is how I like to travel. I spent my time wandering around, sitting and watching the world go by, and talking to people. I had no to-do list, nothing (aside from the Anne Frank House) that I wanted to do, so when I ended up talking to a shop owner for an hour, it was a highlight :)

Oh, my. There is cheese all over the place there. And yes, it is just as good as they say it is. And I was surprised that you could actually purchase those wheels in front of the store... they aren't just for show. Those are actually cheese. Why you'd need a wheel of cheese half the size of a person, I've no idea. But you can buy it.

I am obsessed with the houses. I could have wandered around looking at them all day. They all pretty much look the same, except they all have unique character of some kind. Love it.

The entire city was decorated like this. Christmas lights strung across all the streets, lights in the trees, lights on the bridges, everywhere. The entire city was lit up. It was amazingly beautiful.

This is in one of the parks in Amsterdam. First of all, I was surprised that they have parks in Amsterdam... It being so covered in water, I didn't think they would have them. But they do! And that says "I Amsterdam" in case you can't see it through all the people.

And I know you're wondering what this is... If you have any ideas, please let me know, because I have no idea. (The sign says 'tube vision.') It was in the canal outside the library. It made me laugh out loud, which then led to the people around me looking at me like I was crazy, which then made me laugh more...

Why, yes, there is a Dutch Chinatown. And I found it.

I was also unaware that there was more than one Madame Tussaud's. Well, have no fear world, I found the other one. It's in Amsterdam.

There are more buildings painted like this than not... I'm assuming it has a direct relationship to the legality of marijuana.

How do you not love that? How do you not want to go there? I loved it more than I can say. First of all, I just have a natural affinity for Northern culture. I love the culture that comes from cold places. I love the warmth and the welcome, the food and traditions that come from cold-weather places. Secondly, I loved how relaxing it was. I loved spending half a day reading at a café and not feeling like I was missing out on something else. I loved having no schedule, no cell phone, no existence outside of where I was. Nothing.

And I loved how much God taught me in all that silence. It's amazing what he will do with your heart when you leave room in your day for him. When you aren't so worried about getting from one place to the next that you're willing to wander down that random street when he calls you to. Because he did call me to wander down that random street, and I have not yet figured out how to put into words what I learned from it.

I'm working on it. I'll let you know when I do. :)