The Netherlands

Canals, bikes, tulips, etc. 

The Netherlands is known for a landscape of canals, tulips, windmills, and bicycles.

We finally made a trip together. My dear friend Melissa and I have been planning our first travel together. We decided to go to Amsterdam on a cold November weekend. 

The Netherlands is a small country.  Ironically, Amsterdam, as the capital, is becoming one of the biggest cities in the world. Traveling around is easy with their excellent public transportation.

When in the city of canals, you have to experience being on the canal.  We paid for a canal tour, and we sure did have a great time. We had the best view of the gabled houses, historic churches, houseboats, and numerous bridges, including the "Skinny Bridge."

Amsterdam is well known for its bicycle culture. However, walking on a busy street in Amsterdam can be dangerous if you're not cautious. You will be hit - not by car but by bicycle. All around Amsterdam are bike paths, bike racks, and bicycle parking stations. A tourist can rent a bike, act like a local to blend with the crowd. We didn't rent a bike, but merely looking at the bike enthusiasts was already a fun thing to do.

Statistics say that "78 percent of people in Amsterdam, 12 years and older, own at least one bike." It's an interesting fact to know. There's nowhere in the world, such as the world of bikes in Amsterdam. 

 "Anne Frank House" is a famous tourist spot in Amsterdam. "She was a young diarist, hid from Nazi persecution from 1942 until she was captured  with her family and 4 other inhabitants in 1944."  The House preserves the secret annex where she hid. If you are into history, Anne Frank would be delighted to meet you.  I met her on the street, and I said hi. 

Besides the bike and the canals, Amsterdam is most famous for tulips.  Besides sunflower, the tulip is another favorite flower. It wasn't the season for tulips when we visited. So I have to set that date for my next Amsterdam trip.  Though I have experienced the tulips festival in Seattle, seeing it in Holland would be a different experience. 

I didn't leave without buying a wood bouquet of tulips. They are forever fresh and sits in my living area. It's a lovely thing to remember my first trip to the Netherlands. 

The weather led us to enjoy a nice dinner with wine in front of the blazing fire.  What a cozy view, but I needed a thick blanket to warm me up.  It was a wonderful night to remember.  

A beautiful country, and another memorable trip with a great friend.