Before dinner we changed into our newly acquired H&M digs and then set off to find the restaurant our concierge recommended. I wish that I could remember the name, but it now escapes me. We picked it because it was vegetarian friendly for me and yet had some nice meat dishes for my brother.
We left ourselves with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery along the way.
It took us about an hour to walk to the restaurant, thus it was around 10PM when we finally sat down to eat. This would be the earliest we ate dinner for the rest of the trip. I am used to eating late, since I have spent so much time in South America, especially Argentina (no one eats later than Argentines!), my brother, on the other hand, was in a bit of culture shock.
Another thing that my brother found shocking, was the fact that he could legally order alcohol, being that he was only eighteen. I wish I had taken a picture of his face when he ordered a glass of sangria and the waiter replied, “white or red?” and not, “Can I see your I.D.?”
After our decadent four course dinner, we decided to see the Red Light District. We got terribly lost on the way there, however it did not phase us in the least bit, as Amsterdam at the night is visually spectacular.
Eventually we found the infamous quarter where window shopping takes on a whole new meaning. My brother and I could only stomach about five minutes of the “window displays” before we left. I am not going to make any kind of social commentary on prostitution, although I will say I was totally creeped out by the whole thing; not really with the ladies of the night, more so with the men standing there drooling at the sensual delights in front of them. Maybe if George Clooney or Javier Bardem had been dancing behind windows in their boxer briefs I would be more sympathetic?
We both needed a drink after that experience, so we found a nearby pub. As soon as we sat down, jetlag really hit us and we could barely finish our drinks. On our way back to the hotel we agreed that Amsterdam was a lovely city and we looked forward to returning in a week, but that we were ready to move on to Spain!
I hope to visit Amsterdam myself in the near future. It really does look beautiful at night.
thanks for sharing.
~WW
Gorgeous pics!
What stunning photos Andi! Hunkie hubbie and I hope to visit Amsterdam someday soon.
Bubbly in Europe. That’s my idea of a good time!
GORGEOUS pics!!!
Those night time shots are really beautiful with all of the colors!!! Some of my fave that you’ve had 🙂
Hey Andi, that’s you’re brother and sister song :). I really love that shot with you by the water. The scenery is very pretty, you won’t see that type of building and look in here, glad you went. 18 and no ID? great place to visit for him and his friends heehee
Oh, those photos make me so homesick for my favorite City. I’ll be there for a about 10 days before Thanksgiving and I can hardly wait!
wow
I love your pics!
I love that you continued the music link before the post. Songs always take me back to a place, and more importantly a feeling,
Love the pictures of Amsterdam at night and the lighted canals.
You certainly take great photos. Their composition is very good.
Love the lit up canals. Beautiful
Your photos are so beautiful they look like paintings. I haven’t been to visit Amsterdam since I was 14 on a school trip, now I really want to go back!
Amazing photos Andi — so professional, so beautiful. And needless to say I love the clothes you scored at H&M.
p/s: I can’t believe there’s another “Agnes” commenting above! What are the odds? 😀
Loved Amsterdam blog!
What beautiful pictures…I especially like the last 3. Seeing all those bridges reminded me of then I was in Amsterdam and got so lost because the bridges all looked the same to me!
Those last ones are gorgeous!
Very nice site!
Very interesting pics of Amsterdam, indeed!
I love that song, have been listening to it all summer! Amsterdam is such a beautiful city 🙂
Good read Andi! I got a sneak peak at the red light district as well. It is definitely an interesting topic and cultural discussion!
Amsterdam is such a cool city… I could spend months there (though my liver would beg to differ!)
Like everyone else has been saying, those photos of the canals lit up at night are beyond gorgeous. I’d go to Amsterdam just to see those. Looks like you and your brother had a good time there! (And I think the red light district would have creeped me out, too…)
Amsterdam really is a lovely place. I felt the same way about the red light district. We strolled through quickly and moved on.
I love long days in summertime Europe. It kinda throws you off, doesn’t it? And it makes late dinners and late night clubbing make a lot of sense! These are really great shots of the city!
So awesome!!!
FUN!
I LOVE your sense of writing.
I wanta go with you!!!!
Awesome writing and pics!
What an incredible experience, Andi. I sincerely hope my time there is as amazing as yours.
I didn’t want this post to end!
Nice post!
Neat!!!! 🙂
Thank you very much for sharing…….great article and informative. Thanks.
You’re welcome, glad you liked it!