Catching the Magic: Amsterdam

Today we decided that we wanted to go to Amsterdam to see the Anne Frank House. We got up fairly early in the morning and took the bus to the train station. When we got there, Anne, Mary and I realized that we didn't have our Eurorail activated. Apparently we had to do that before we could use it, so the other three went on ahead to Amsterdam and we stayed, because we had to wait for the train office to open :( We walked around town looking in little shops along the main strip that had most of the shops that Monchengladbach had to offer. We finally got out tickets validated, which was simply writing in our passport numbers on the ticket and the beginning and end dates (she didn't even stamp mine). If we had known that, then we could have gotten three more hours in Amsterdam...bummer. We ended up taking a train to a town called Utrecht in Germany before making it to Amsterdam. When on the train from Utrecht to Amsterdam, the German border police were going on the train checking passports. They were definitely judging everyone on the train and asking for passports based on appearance. I had the hood up on my sweatshirt, so they asked to see my passport, I put my hood down, and as soon as I did, they asked if I was American, and then said 'never mind.' I thought it was odd, but at least I didn't have to get it out!

We arrived to Amsterdam and walked around for a while, finding a shop that sold fries that are supposed to be famous in that area. We got them, and honestly, they tasted just like normal fries...oh well, I did eat them in the Netherlands, so I guess that counts for something, right? We met up with the other girls that had gotten there before us, and walked to where the Anne Frank House was located. There was a long line, so we took turns standing in line and walking around in surrounding neighborhoods. It was absolutely gorgeous, and it looked a lot like a cleaner version of Venice, Italy. Many of the buildings were tilting and at an angle, because most of Amsterdam is built on water and is also sinking, also like Venice.

We went into the Anne Frank house, with two of the girls looking young enough that they let them get in on the child pass, which was highly entertaining. There were no photos allowed inside the museum, which stunk, but it was amazing to see where Anne Frank had hid from the German Nazis. The museum consisted of the building that her father's office was in and the building next to it that the museum had renovated. The whole thing wove back and forth from the modern building to the actual one. Walking into the first room, you would watch a short video about the Franks or that part of their hiding, and then go through the room. At the end, there was an interview with Otto Frank, Anne's father, about the publishing of the diary into book form. It was really neat, and heart wrenching to hear him talk about his daughter the way he did. You could tell that he loved her dearly and just wanted to fulfill her dreams of becoming an author. Towards the end of the tour, there was a display with Anne's diary and many other pages that she had written short, fictional stories on. She had amazing penmanship, which was probably something that was more heavily focused on back then, what with the lack of technology and all! There were sensors sitting below the diary and other books so that if people tried to take pictures of anything that the sensor would go off and security would be notified. At the end there was a book that you could write a note in and/or sign, and I did, with the words "you are finally free" because that was something that I remember had been emphasized in her book, while she was in hiding, not being able to make a sound or go outside. There was a gift shop (of course) at the very end that had The Diary of Anne Frank translated into various languages, which was neat to see what covers had been chosen for particular languages.

Afterwards, we walked around outside, looking at the different buildings, boats and canals. Then we decided that we wanted to go see the infamous Red Light District. That was quite interesting to say the least...and an eye opener for sure! Since the smoking and selling of marijuana is legal in Amsterdam...guess what it smelled like?!? It wasn't as strong of a smell as I would have guessed, but after living in San Diego with Paul and smelling his neighbor's apartments, I know exactaly what it smells like :( Another thing that is different in Amsterdam is that prostitution is regulated and legal. Within the red light district, there are windows that women will stand in in order to get a customer. Don't worry though, part of that agreement in allowing them to work is that they have to have all of the main parts covered...well I guess that was good for us as we walked down the streets. It was a bit shady at times, with men following groups of people and asking if they would like to buy something from them (more than likely drugs), but they didn't bother us...because they knew better! There were a lot of windows with women in them, ranging in all shapes and sizes, as well as a lot of bars and weird shops that sold things that should never be purchased by anyone. It was not an experience that I would have taken back, but walking there for half an hour was plenty of time...for sure!

We took the train back from Amsterdam to Monchengladbach and a bus back to base. It was good to come back and not have to worry about getting a hostel there for the night. Hopefully tomorrow will be another great day!