Amsterdam

I can't believe a place like this actually exists. Also, I can't believe our luck. The weather was PERFECT. Sunny and warm, we walked all over Amsterdam getting lost and disoriented between canals, but quite happy with the experience.

Highlights included:
1. The Canals. While this thoroughly contributed to my disorientation (a map was not helpful), it also added a slightly Venetian aspect to Amsterdam. Without the smell, filth, and ridiculous crowding of tourists (well at least in most parts).
2. The Van Gogh Museum. I always knew there was something special about Van Gogh. The fact that a picture or postcard of one of his paintings just can't evoke the same raw emotion or sentiment that seeing his actual painting does may have something to do with it. For this reason, I refuse to put up any images of his work because it just cannot do an ounce of justice to what this man created. On a different note, I really liked the architecture and layout of the museum in general. There were so many people there since it was Saturday afternoon, but it didn't feel nearly as crowded as the Musée d'Orsay, for example. The curation was also done so well. The museum centered around Van Gogh obviously, but his influences were also displayed and sometimes in conjunction with one of his paintings. For example, he replicated one of Millet's paintings from the Realist era and both works were displayed side by side.
3. This amazing shoe store and T-shirt shop. I wanted one of these pairs of shoes so badly, but sadly they were out of my price range. I did end up getting a pretty cool sweater from this small T-shirt shop that screen-printed right then and there.
4. Red Light District. Again, how does this place exist? Prostitution is legitimised in Amsterdam and while I'm not sure how I feel about prostitution in general, I think it's pretty amazing that they have been able to institutionalise a practice historically-frowned upon as a vice.

5. FEBO. Didn't think fast food could get any faster, didja? Well, welcome to FEBO -- vending machine fast food joint extraordinaire where you put in a coin, and a burger comes out!