The boat across the English Channel from England to The
Netherlands was unlike any boat I had been on before… and the beds were the
comfiest I had been on in months! So we spent Thanksgiving on a boat with
snacks to keep us content and the excitement of Alice’s 20th birthday to
entertain us! We all spent hours laughing, exploring the boat, or even
discovering a well-need massage chair. What was a nice night of sleep was soon
interrupted by five minute intervals of announcements proclaiming breakfast for
all downstairs… at 6:00. Since no one managed to rouse themselves to make
breakfast, when we finally hopped off a train in Amsterdam, we all set out to
find food. Melanie, Tiffany, Ali and I ate at a really good restaurant which
had food for any appetite: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I chose dinner at
12:00 and got just what I had been craving for months—meatballs!
Like Kacey said, we chose our worst hostel for last. The
Flying Pig Downtown was certainly interesting but cleanly, un-crowded, and
cheap it was not. Tired from a the boat ride, Ali, Tiffany, Mel and I managed
to walk the cold streets of Amsterdam with no plan… for once! It was quite
enjoyable taking in the beautiful scenery of canals, bridges, and canal houses.
Deciding to add a little structure to our day on
Saturday, a group of us went to the Anne Frank house. After the war, her only
surviving family member, her dad, published her journals and later opened up
the old factory and hidden attic. While the tour through the home was eerie and
sad, I appreciated the experience to reflect on Anne’s impact on our world
today. Her words were so mature and wise for her age. Though it was sad to
experience the pages of her journal on the walls, it was motivational to know
that her dream of becoming a published author indeed was realized. I set myself
the goal of reading her journal within the upcoming year. Her words are truly
thought provoking, below I have listed some of my favorite quotes:
- “Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives
satisfaction.”
- "Where there's hope, there's life.
It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again."
- “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single
moment before starting to improve the world.”
- “Think of all the beauty still left around you and be
happy.”
- “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or
unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the
heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it
should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of
nature.”
Feeling incredibly blessed, we followed our tour of the
Anne Frank house by dining at the famous Pancake Bakery. The Netherlands are
famous for fries, junk food, and pancakes; I was happy to choose the latter. My
meal was the ideal desert, Autumn Poffertjes: Tiny pancakes with cinnamon ice
cream, poached pears, cranberry compote, Belgium chocolate flakes, and whipped
cream. Though the day ended with torrential rain to dampen the ending, my time
in the cozy canal streets of Amsterdam was beautiful and topped with a
traditional Dutch donut… yum!
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