A Weekend in Amsterdam

We've just arrived back at "home" at our apartment in Maastricht after a great weekend in Amsterdam!
Friday afternoon, we attempted to meet up with Jeff, Gwen, Kirsten, and Marley (the other 4 Canadians) at the train station to take the train together to Amsterdam.  We had a bit of miscommunication though, and ended up on the train with only Jeff.  (Apparently the other girls were waiting for us in the cafeteria in the train station rather than meeting on the train.)  So Jeff, Ron and I took the 2 1/2 hr train ride from Maastricht to Amsterdam and then waited for the girls to arrive.  While waiting, we tried to check out the tourist information centre, but it was closed, so we went to plan B which was to have a beer at a pub across the street from the train station while waiting for the girls to arrive.  (The train leaves every 1/2 hr from Maastricht to Amsterdam, so we didn't have to wait that long.)  Gwen, Kirsten, and Marley found us quickly and we booked a hostel over the phone and headed that way on the tram.  We checked in at our hostel (we were able to book a "dorm room" with 6 beds in it so we had no strangers staying with us) and freshened up before heading out for dinner.  We found a Mexican restaurant and then went out to an Irish pub later on called "Slainte" (sa-LAUN-chey) which made me feel at home since we have a same-named pub in Hamilton!
In between dinner and the pub, we took a walk through the infamous Red Light District.  Even though I'm clearly not into the whole prostitution scene, it was interesting to see scantily clad women displaying themselves in windows attempting to entice customers.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but found the Red Light District impressive in that it debunked a few of my former notions of prostitution: #1 - you have to be attractive and slim to be a prostitute, #2 - working conditions for prostitutes are poor.  Au contraire; we saw many women wearing lingerie dancing in windows who were vastly overweight.  Additionally, you should know that all prostitutes in Amsterdam are Dutch citizens and are part of a union!  This is truly a "career" they have chosen for themselves, rather than being "forced into it" or seeing no other viable option for employment.  Perhaps it's the nurse in me, but I couldn't help wondering just how unsanitary the beds behind the women in the windows must be...do they change the sheets or have a shower in between "clients'?  Ugggg....
Anyways, the liberality of Amsterdam's "sex industry" complete with many "toy" stores, open prostitution, and superfluous condom shops was a very eye-opening experience for both myself and Ron.  One thing to add to Amsterdam's liberal approach is their acceptance of marijuana.  There are copious "coffee shops" (where you can't get actual coffee, but hundreds of varieties of weed are available) and the smell of a joint is normal while walking through the streets and over the canals.
On Saturday, Ron and I went to the Van Gough museum and walked around the four story art display (Emily Enns, you probably would have loved it!) compete with over 200 paintings and 500 drawings by Van Gough.  I'm no art historian or connoisseur, but I always love visiting an art museum on trips.  We got to see a few of Van Gough's famous paintings up close and personal including his self portrait and "sunflowers".  There were also some works by Paul Gauguin and - my favourite - Claude Monet.
From the museum, Ron and I headed to the Albert Cuyp market which housed 4 city blocks of vendors selling everything from clothing and boots, to baby strollers and luggage, to cheese and fish, to bicycles and umbrellas, to fabric and handicrafts, to fresh flowers including lots of tulips, to pantyhose and underwear, to old and new books.  Anyways, you get the point that the market is quite diverse!  We wanted to head to the old Heineken brewery for a tour, but were too tired so went back to the hostel for a nap.  We were woken up by the P.A. system announcing the hostel's happy hour which we indulged in accompanied by Jeff and a deck of cards.  Saturday evening we went out for dinner at a Moroccan restaurant to celebrate Gwen's birthday and then headed to a club to dance the evening away.  I guess getting married has made us old: Ron and I were the first ones to leave the club....at 2:30am, mind you, while the rest of the gang stayed into the wee hours (they may have even seen the sun rise...)
Today we went to the Anne Frank "Museum" located in the actual house where Anne and her family hid in secrecy from Nazi Germany.  I have never read Anne Frank's Diary, but it was quite a somber and reflective experience to walk through the rooms where Anne and seven others stayed in hiding until being betrayed and taken to a concentration camp where all but Anne's father eventually died.
After the Anne Frank House, Jeff, Gwen, Ron and I (Marly and Kirsten stayed in Amsterdam a few hours longer) made our way back to the train station but made a stop for traditional Dutch pancakes for lunch.  We boarded the train and chatted and laughed most of the way back to Maastricht.  It was dinner time by the time we made it back to our apartment, and with the combination of being away for the weekend, our tiny fridge, and everything being closed on Sunday, we ordered a pizza for dinner and are now ready to call it a night.
Ron starts his school work tomorrow online and I'm back in class.  We're not sure where to head to next weekend, but are open to suggestions!
We love that so many people are reading our blog and encourage comments as we still often feel homesick despite our exciting adventures!
Love,
Robin (and Ron)
P.S. Aunt Karen, perhaps this is a blog to "edit" before reading to Oma and Opa!

 At the Maastricht train station ready to go to Amsterdam

 At the Mexican restaurant on Friday night

(from left to right, Jeff, Gwen, Kirsten, Robin, Ron)

 Amsterdam canals at night

 Robin in love with all the fresh flowers

 Klompen!

 Having a snack of "pofferjes" (small, sweet pancakes) at the market

 Robin in front of a cheese stand (75% of the cheese in Holland is Gouda)

 Robin and Gwen at the club for Gwen's 25th birthday

 Robin and Ron at the club

Ron in front of the Amsterdam train station ready to go home