Annual Honeymoon 13 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Holland)

So Ted and I have not been able to use my benefits internationally, because at first, he didn't dare take time off and then he changed jobs - he just started accruing vacation.  So, this week, we actually both have vacation - so we decided a quick trip to Europe was in order.  We decided on Amsterdam.  Now - this was a quick trip.  We left Sunday afternoon, arriving Monday morning.  We spent Monday and Tuesday doing our sightseeing and back to the airport on Wednesday for an early flight out.

Our hopes were for Delta One.  That is first class on Delta for international and some domestic flights.  This would be the first time for Ted and I to experience this together.  We have had first class before - but Delta One is a totally different experience.  Lay down/ reclining seats, personal comforter and large pillow, large personal entertainment screens, champagne offered upon seating.  Ted and I were the only two "non-revs" to actually get Delta One on the flight there.  And we actually got it on the flight back.  Such an amazing experience.   We were fed like crazy!!!

As soon as we arrived in Amsterdam, we took off to Keukenhof Gardens.  It is a large park, that showcases the tulips that are in bloom during the spring.  It was so beautiful and so amazing.  I might have appreciated it a little bit more if I wasn't freezing to death!!!   When we were leaving, weather reports indicated that it would be around 55-60 degrees.  To me, that is sweater weather.  It's not sweater weather in Amsterdam - it's rather briskly cold!!  I took a sweater, figuring I would be carrying it mostly.  Hell no - I wore it constantly.  It was beautiful there, though and we enjoyed our time.

After that we headed to our hotel, checked in and crashed.  Like really early.  From about 5:00 in the evening we were pretty much sleeping.  We had snacks we brought from home for dinner.

Next day, we got up early and headed to the train station to go into the city of Amsterdam.  We just toured the city by bus and boat.  Touring the canals and the city. Remember how I told you I was freezing - same thing, different day.  I ended up in a little souvenir shop to buy a sweatshirt with Amsterdam on it.  Ted said he couldn't stand looking at me with my teeth close to chattering.  We topped off the day by vising the Anne Frank Huis.  This was the house that Anne and her family stayed hidden in during the war before being captured after someone turned them in.  It was such an amazing experience, I truly sat in a panic attack feeling state as we walked through the house and saw the space.  It was well worth the wait we had to get in.

PHOTOS!!!

Our cute little room had twin beds.  HAHA.  I couldn't
get this picture in the right place!!  So - it's stuck here!!

The I amsterdam sign outside the airport

Large field of tulips as you walk into Keukenhof

Couple of old honeymooners who flew all night, then took
the hour bus ride out to Keukenhof to wander around

Yes - i'm gorgeous.   Drizzling rain.  Wet hair.  Wet clothes.
Freezing to death.  Ted at least remembered his umbrella

Windmill inside Keukenhof

Clog molds outside the windmill

Me in the big flowered wedding gown.  I
had to climb a ladder to get up there.  HAHA

True Love take one

True love take two

We shared a grilled ham and cheese and a Diet Pepsi for
lunch.  Cheese in The Netherlands is extremely tasty. It was
so good I had a ham and cheese the next day, too. We were sitting
on wet hay bales at this wooden table to eat.    

It's all Dutch to me

Even though I was freezing, we needed to have a Dutch ice
cream cone.  The consistency is different than here in
the US.  Still pretty tasty.  

Display of flowers

There are those old farts again

Centraal Station.  All the trains go in and out.  There are
restaurants inside and stores.  It's quite impressive inside.

Old farts - again

OK - I'm apparently really impressed with this old church
I have a bunch of pictures at different times.  But, I do
love old churches.  I wish I had gone inside.

From across the canal

The only working windmill left in the city of Amsterdam

Houseboats.  People live in them.  They have to pay
a premium to rent the mooring space.  And it rents
by the square footage.  We saw some big ones and some little ones

Heineken Brewery

Some of the buildings had very impressive sculptures and
such on them.  I thought they were lovely.

This was the top of the other church.  This one is just down
the street from Anne Frank's hiding place.  She wrote about the bells.
They go off every fifteen minutes.  She said how she had
become accustomed to the sound - that it made her feel safe.
But her sister and mother did not like them going off every fifteen
minutes.

I just loved this house that was right on the canal.  Just
something about it.  Most of the houses/buildings are built
right next to each other.  This one sat alone.

The line to go into the Anne Frank Huis.  We stood in line about
an hour and a half to get in.  It was such a remarkable experience
I just felt honored that I got to share in it - that I got to be
there.

Freaking freezing!!!  That's my new nifty hoodie.  And we
needed some hot chocolate to warm me up while waiting
to get into the house.

After going to the Anne Frank Huis, Ted and I went down the street
for dinner  We went to a place called "Pancakes".  They specialize
in Dutch pancakes.  You get one pancake - it's very thin and has an eggy
consistency.  Almost huge crepe like, but a little different.
I ordered mine with butter and raspberry jelly/syrup stuff.  It
was really quite good.  

Ted's had apple crumble and ice cream

We found the Royal Palace on our  way back to Centraal
Station.  This is the roof top on the backside.  A statue
of Atlas with the World on his back

Royal Palace

All in all, I did not love Amsterdam like I love Paris.  I know I shouldn't compare the two, as they are two completely different places.  I am glad we went.  I am glad I got to see the sights there, it was definitely worth it.  And that first class ride?  Ted is asking when we can do that again.  Besides - I still have twenty four Euros - I guess I have to go back somewhere.