TOUR OF EUROPE: Amsterdam

Belgium Waffle

Amsterdam via Brussels, Belgium.  If you ever go through or to Belgium EAT A BELGIUM WAFFLE.  That is an absolute must! 

Now I know the first thing everyone thinks about when they hear the word Amsterdam they think two things: Marijuana and Red Light District.  I'm saying this because like many others that is what I thought as well.  Instead though people should think of things like: Anne Frank, Bicycles and Quaint.  Amsterdam is absolutely gorgeous, prior to visiting however I thought it would be shady, sketchy and dirty.  COMPLETE OPPOSITE. 

One: it is so so safe. 
Two: It does not smell like weed everywhere, in fact you hardly smell it at al unless you pass a "coffee shop" that sells it.  
Three: The red light district is not what you think, while yes prostitution is legal there, it is intertwined with regular business and and shops. Literally you see families walking right past the alleys and doors with the women at the windows.  And yes there are really red lights about the doors. (Hence the name.)
Four: If you know how to ride a bike you should rent one and ride it around the city and do as the locals do, just don't get hit by another biker.  
Five: They have awesome Indonesian and Thai food as well as some kick butt fall off the bone ribs!  
Basically Amsterdam is not what you would expect, and totally worth a visit.  Sal lost his backpack on a bike tour, he realized this 20 minutes after taking it off and leaving in a square we stopped at and what do you know... After speeding the the streets to rush back and find it, it was still there untouched and everything in tact.  Like I said such  beautiful and safe place.  The Anne Frank Haus is so moving! You walk in and immediately everyone is in silence, walking through the house, watching the informational videos, reading the excerpts not the walls, everyone was so respectful. Growing up reading her diary and then years later actually walking through the house where she was hiding, seeing her room, walking up the narrow staircases, seeing her actual diary and reading some of the pages that she wrote in her handwriting. Words cannot describe this experience. 
Oh and we visited a cheese and wooden clog factory while there... as lame as that may sound to you it was worth it! Super neat! 

Tips: 

• Walk, walk, walk. Amsterdam is pretty small so you can walk just about everywhere and experience the beautiful weather.  
• Go to the Anne Frank Haus.  It will move you. Whether you have read the book or not, this is a definite must on a visit to Amsterdam.
• Go to the Magnum Ice Cream Shop where you can Customize you very own Magnum Bar for like 4 euros.  Totes worth it!
• Rent a bike.
• Watch out for bicyclists.  They have their own lights and lanes. And they are EVERYWHERE. 80% of transportation in Amsterdam is by bike.  
• Explore. Walk through the red light district, it's interesting. 

Hostel:

• StayOkay is the name where we stayed
• Pros:
• It was located right next to Vondel Park, which is pretty central to many things in the city
• Good breakfast similar to the one in Paris but in a larger quantity
• Large rooms!
• Clean
• Neat bar/grill downstairs
• Cons:
• I really can't think of any