Amsterdam

Things are finally caught up so I finally have enough time to write our latest memories in Amsterdam!

After we finished the incredible India trip for 6 weeks, we headed to Amsterdam for a couple of nights before we flew back to America. The best decision ever! We landed in terrific weather and stayed at the NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, which is right on the corner of Dam Square. For some reason we got lucky and the hotel upgraded us to the nicest suite. Thank you so much to the hotel’s team. We started to roam around the city, canal by canal and got a glimpse of the medieval period.

Introducing Amsterdam :

There are so many things to do in the city! Here are some of my favorite tips:

• Take the canal cruise.

A great and relaxing way to view some of Amsterdam is by taking a cruise. Amsterdam is famous for its many canals. You can go for a day cruise or a night cruise, there’s the sightseeing cruise, the hop-on-hop-off canal bus, the pizza cruise, a cocktail, and many more. And if you’re together with your loved one I would go for a romantic dinner/candlelight cruise!

• The Red Light District.

One of the first things, besides coffee shops maybe, that tourists think of when thinking of Amsterdam is the Red Light District. It has its charm and whether or not you approve of the pragmatic approach to sex trade in the Netherlands, this is an area to be included in your list of areas to visit.

** Tip: Don’t take photos of the ladies as it might get you in trouble.

• The Royal Palace of Amsterdam,

is located in the very heart of the city on Dam Square. It is one of three palaces that are at the monarch’s disposal thanks to an Act of Parliament. It is often used for Royal Events and official receptions and open to the public most of the year.

• Amsterdam Cheese Museum.

Interesting museum on which Holland is famous: Cheese! It’s located across the canal from the Anne Frank House so it might be a fun idea to combine the both… and entrance is only one euro.

• Amsterdam Museum.

A complete museum about the city itself, well what better location to learn about the city, its history, culture, and traditions? It's located in the Kalverstraat which is one of the most famous shopping streets in the country!

• Jordaan District.

The Jordaan has risen from a working-class district to one of the upscale neighborhoods of the city and is known for the boutique restaurants, specialty stores, and galleries it houses. It's also known for its folk singers (among the Dutch that is of course) of whom you’ll find several statues.

Where to eat/drink:

For foodie lovers, there are so many varieties of food from inexpensive to the Michelin starred restaurants. But the one that we had such an amazing meal at is Hotel de l’Europe which is right along the Grand Canal (AMAZING food, amazing view!), and dinner at the Bord’Eau. You can’t go wrong.

Amsterdam has about 250 coffee shops and most of them are located in the Red Light District. From psychedelic to hipster-ish but also from very local ones to more touristic places, each of the Amsterdam coffeeshops has its atmosphere. They are not only to smoke weed, but you will surely find one that suits you perfectly. ** Due to the allowance of cannabis consumption, the Netherlands is well-reputed to be a very liberal country. This is true but you should be aware of the Dutch law and the rules inside a coffee shop.