FOUR DAYS IN AMSTERDAM {DAY TWO}
I thoughtfully designed our four day itinerary as I wanted to see everything and I knew we would only have four days. When it comes to travel, I am a go-getter. My itinerary for this trip was ambitious and we didn’t end up completing my entire list, but I am happy I set a plan and we accomplished most of it!
Several weeks before the trip, I purchased tickets for the Anne Frank House. Here is a link to the website: http://www.annefrank.org/en/Museum/Practical-information/Online-ticket-sales/
I highly recommend buying tickets in advance. Trust me it is a massive time saver! Anne Frank House is known for long lines so this system proved to be well managed and efficient.
Before our 11:45AM Anne Frank House tour, we hit up a traditional Dutch pancake breakfast at the Pancake Bakery. If you go to Amsterdam, you MUST eat here for breakfast. I consider it to be unbelievable as in “knock your socks off” delicious! We both LOVED our pancakes which filled us up for the rest of the day. The Pancake Bakery, tucked away in a basement in the Jordaan neighborhood, is a small, casual, and cozy traditional Dutch restaurant. Due to its popularity and amazing food, a small line formed outside. We granted ourselves plenty of time for breakfast. In cases like this one, I don’t mind waiting in a line because I knew it was going to be worth it!
Just down the block from the Pancake Bakery stood the Anne Frank House. As suspected, the area held quite a crowd, but we prepared ourselves for fast lane access with our prepaid tickets! I found myself extremely moved by the entire experience. I noticed a difference between a visit to a Holocaust museum and the Anne Frank House. The empty house and space where the Frank family lived during World War II serves as a journey through the writings and eyes of a young turning of age Jewish girl and not the historical event as a whole. My body felt chills during the tour knowing the backstory and imagining what it must of felt like to live in this small apartment space for almost two years.
Ari proclaimed Jordaan neighborhood as his favorite Amsterdam activity.. The canals, museums, courtyards, and store/house fronts embody a ton of character. As a more quiet area of the city, we thoroughly enjoyed Rick Steves’ guided tour through this historical district.
Next, we walked more of the beautiful city. On our way to Rembrandt’s house, we found the one Armenian church in Amsterdam, Dam Square, some great people watching, and a delightful restaurant!
White Asparagus continues to be a Dutch springtime delicacy. The Dutch coined phrases like “white gold” or “queen among vegetables” to describe this delicious rare vegetable. Luckily for us, we sampled the seasonal local favorite. I consider myself a vegetable lover so I enjoyed every bite of this delicate and more mellow flavored veggie. Its white color comes from the lack of sunlight during growth. Fascinating! The asparagus never gets a chance to turn green without photosynthesis called etiolation.