Flashback Friday – Amsterdam & Munich

Posted: April 30, 2010 at 12:22 pm

I have to say I am really loving doing the Flashback Friday posts! It is fun to remember such a great trip. Plus, who doesn’t love to look at travel pictures? Thanks Janetha for starting such a fun post idea! This week’s Flashback Friday will show my stops in Amsterdam & Munich during my 2 month exploration of Europe. Let the party begin! Unlike the party I will be attending this afternoon. Dentist appointments are so fun, right? *please note the sarcasm*

Oh, Amsterdam. I’m sure you would think this would be the highlight of our vacation. You would be very mistaken. I was pretty disappointed with Amsterdam and would have much rather spent the few days we stayed there elsewhere. When we planned the trip my friend & I were both in our intense partying phase. When the trip actually came…not so much. We still decided to hit up Amsterdam because we had heard things about how beautiful it is and the history is interesting. Plus, we had to say we at least went!

It is true that Amsterdam is pretty. Especially the Amstel River that runs through the city. And it is true that there is interesting history. Visiting Anne Frank’s house was pretty cool.

amstelriver2 Amstel River amsterdamhouses

It is also true that the Red Light District has hookers in windows and pot is readily available. We were offered some within 10 minutes of our arrival. No, I did not have any. I have never had the desire for it, and so have never tried it. Below is a picture of the Red Light District (mid afternoon and clean version), but also a scandalous shot of a carving in the ground. Can you tell what it is?

redlight

handboob

Another part of Amsterdam that was nice was the countryside area. We walked about 2.5 hours out to some windmills. I must admit we were mildly disappointed it was summer and not spring, so there were no fields of tulips to admire. Also, please excuse the poor picture quality from bad cameras and scanned photos.

windmill

And that was about all the excitement we had in Amsterdam. No crazy stories to share. Munich was better though. Not only did it have interesting history, but also fun in the name of the Hofbrauhaus. 😀

In Munich, we stayed in a hostel called The Tent. It was actually more comfortable than some places, even though we were sleeping on the floor.

tent meonfloor

We also went on a free tour that included the Marienplatz square, a funny music tower…

Marienplatz munichtower

…and biergartens. Now those are fun places! Who doesn’t like being outside with a bunch of music, food, beer, and fun? We tried out a real bratwurst at the biergarten.

brats

We did save the majority of our beer fun for the well known beer hall called the Hofbrauhaus. We enjoyed a pint of beer and a ginormo pretzel. Yes, I put down all of that. Best beer I have ever had. I don’t even like beer much, but could have had two of those suckers.

beer

Also, the World Cup was in Germany at this time so there were a ton of crazy soccer fans all around. We bonded with some cute Swedish dudes. I was even dubbed an honorary Swede, since that is why they originally approached us. I can’t tell you how many people asked if I was from Sweden. Or just spoke to me in Swedish expecting me to understand.

swedish

It wasn’t all fun and games in Munich, however. We did take a short trip outside the city to visit Dachau, one of the biggest concentration camps during the Holocaust. It was so disheartening to see.

dauchaudauchau2bedstoilets

Even with some examples of what they endured right in front of us (unbearable living conditions, gas chambers, photos of the executions on display, etc), it was hard to fathom what it must have been like for those people. I do not understand that level of hatred. And while reading The Help, it is obvious that we have been guilty of the same types of things here in the US. Sadly, hatred like that still exists and I long for the time where we don’t have to live with it anymore.

  • What things of history interest you a lot? I have never been a big History fan. But I will say that World War 2 and all that happened during it actually touches me and draws me in way more than anything else. It was weird to actually see parts of it on my trip.
  • Do you like beer? I am very much a wine, margarita, and martini girl. Those are the only drinks I ever get. But, I would be a bigger beer drinker if beer like that was more readily available.

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No Comments to “Flashback Friday – Amsterdam & Munich”
  1. Even if Amsterdam wasn’t the highlight of the trip, at least you got to visit right?! I do like beer, but it’s got to be a good beer. No Bud Light or Miller Light for me. Ick. I also enjoy wine, but not margaritas. They always look good, but I can’t stand the tequila. Happy Friday!

  2. Holly says:

    That is interesting, because I really don’t have a desire to go to Amsterdam…and everyone looks at me like I’m crazy! However, I would LOVE to visit Dachau. I read “Night” by Elie Wiesel in 9th grade, and it was so touching that I remember crying. EXCELLENT book. Thank you for sharing this part of your trip with us!

    I LOVE beer. I mean, pretty much any beer. Guiness (draft), Bud Light, Coors Light, Bass…but my fave is Corona Light – with a Lime. 🙂

  3. Sarah says:

    Hmm…I’m pretty picky about alcohol, in general. I like thick, dark beers (like Guiness), pear or apple-based white wines, and lime-infused drinks (like Mojitos).

  4. Katie says:

    Oh my gosh…my heart breaks when I see those concentration camp pics. 🙁

    I wish I was more interested in history, but sadly I really have never paid attention to it…(but does the bible count…because I love that!)

    I HATE BEER! EWWW! Haha..sorry if anyone loves it!

  5. Mellissa says:

    I love history and am fascinated buy just about everything, hence my strange love of historical fiction.

    I like some beer, but would pick wine over beer. Unless we are tailgating. Then it is beer 🙂

  6. cardiopizza says:

    I love beer and I have to say I would have totally taken advantage of the weed…I know I know, not so healthy for a healthy living blogger 😉

  7. Ameena says:

    I went to Amsterdam for the first time last year and honestly was really disappointed too! The only highlight was seeing Anne Frank’s house and having a chocolate waffle. Otherwise, it was beautiful but rather dull!

    Sorry about your Express jeans…maybe you can take them to another location, say you lost the receipt and get a store credit? It might be better than having jeans you don’t like taunting you from your closet!!

  8. lisaou11 says:

    I love that you stayed in a hostel and slept on the floor! how worldly traveler of you! I love it 🙂

    I absolutely LOVE history and pretty much the only time period that DIDNT interest me is WW1.

  9. The Holocaust Museum in DC is pretty disheartening too. I can’t imagine the real camps. 🙁

    I like the 1920’s! I really like reading literature from that time.

    Beer is ok. I could take it or leave it. In college, I liked it a lot!

  10. Fun! I get so envious/excited when I see pictures of people traveling to Europe because I’ve never been. You can best believe that I’ll be over there in the next couple of years, though! And I’m with you – noooot a huge fan of beer. But give me a vodka soda with cranberry and we’re good =)

  11. RedOne says:

    History fascinates me. Every time I come upon a new nugget of information I find another period I want to study. I’ve been to Munich and Dachau as well…did you visit Neuschwanstein?

    I don’t currently drink, but when I did it had to be hard liquor.

  12. kbwood says:

    YOU HAVE GORGEOUS EYES!!
    i just had to throw that out there!! for real!!
    im not a big history girl-but i do find it interesting!

  13. homecookedem says:

    Andrew really wants to go to Amsterdam some day! Andrew and I both really like history – we are the dorky couple that watches the history channel on a friday night… not that I have a very good memory when it comes to history, but I just like listening to stories about how life used to be.

    There are a few beers that I really like – Sweetwater Blue and Leinenkugel berry weiss – I guess you could say I like the fruity beers! 😉 I also love wine, margaritas, mojitos, and sangria!! But I haven’t been drinking too much in 2010. Just haven’t felt like dealing with hangovers… And also with PCOS and being insulin resistant, I really just need to avoid alcohol altogether.

  14. inmytummy says:

    I love the big pretzel. I would totally eat that.

    I like some beer. I usually order wine when I’m out, but sometimes I will get a beer.

  15. Cindy says:

    I stayed at the Tent too!!! $7 a night, I still remember that. Spent too much time on Mike’s Bike tour (and too many Litres of Beer at the Hofbrauhaus), so I don’t remember much else!!

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