amsterdam

we do lots of fun stuff over the weekend--this blog is a testament to our weekend warrior spirit. last weekend, we really adventured both far and wide with a short trip to amsterdam in the netherlands. being away from the kids and from work for long periods of time is out of the question at this stage in life, but a brief stint in one city for a special occasion isn't. as a gift to one another for our tenth wedding anniversary (!!) we visited the city that everyone, everyone, everyone describes as "wonderful" and "awesome" and "beautiful." we had to see it for ourselves. we had only thursday through saturday, but it was enough to feel like we had a proper adventure, and for now my wanderlust heart is full.

we are the nerdy tourists. look at the train station selfie, taken immediately upon arrival. it's embarrassing. 

but the trains! the roads! the bridges and bike paths! the infrastructure! it's amazing.


from the train station we took a leisurely walk through central amsterdam, crossing canals, and risking our lives by stepping into bike lanes. we finally found our hotel along the picturesque herengracht canal. but, to be honest, the entire 10 minute walk along canals is 100% picturesque. at every turn, you are treated to well kept beauty. i couldn't stop taking pictures (like i said, we are nerdy tourists).

but look!


and look!


we found our cute hotel (the times hotel, and we HIGHLY recommend, and if you book and use the code return15, you can get 10% off, so you should consider this, and you're welcome),


located our adorable attic room,


deeply appreciated our new view,


dropped off our bags and risked our lives yet again by descending the impossibly steep 5 flights of stairs to head out into the city.


we wandered about, through the central square,

 to a perfect lunch at an outdoor cafe at a table on a bridge over a canal,


and generally were agog at the picturesque city.







we took a self guided tour through the oldest building in amsterdam, the oude kirk (old church)


the floor is cemetary (and home to rembrandt's wife, some noblefolk, and a member of my very own lineage [right, dad?]),


the ceiling is constructed just like the hull of a boat,


and the whole place is quite beautiful.



from there, we walked along the river to westerpark in the west of the city. the old gas and electric works are located in the large westerpark, and have been converted into office and entertainment buildings. one of these small buildings serves ice cream cones and dutch beer, so obviously we stopped there. from there, we walked to a little space we had read about--buurt boerderij ons genoegen. i don't know what that means, but i do know that i liked this place. it was a tiny farmhouse with expansive gardens, at the edge of a riding school and grazing pasture, just outside westerpark. the flower and vegetable gardens were spectacular. the old farm house had been converted into a cafe on the first floor and a yoga studio on the second floor. the tables were outside and scattered throughout the garden. it was a wonderful find, and we made ourselves at home with a table in the shade and two bottles of their homebrew.





the walk back was long and hot, but thoroughly enjoyable. after a good dinner and a nice stroll through the nighttime city (those canals get all lit up at night--it is very pretty), we returned to our hotel, where we slept the deep sleep of the jet lagged dead.


and that was just the first day.
get ready, because i have 2 more days to tell you about!