Farewell Amsterdam

I'm currently writing this blog post on the six hour train ride from Amsterdam to Berlin. Unfortunately, the train doesn't have wi-fi, which is a real tragedy for all of the faithful readers who will have to wait until we get somewhere that does to see this.  Because this is a travel day, we were only able to do a few things and not enough to actually correspond to the typical blogging categories. So as much as I love categorizing events, this will just have to be a summary of today's activities.  

Bonus: I was able to use my very rusty Italian skills to help out an Italian family at the tram stop who looked as confused as we were had been on our first day. I could remember probably about 75% of the words I needed to say and understood just as much of her.  There are so many Italians around now that I have secretly enjoyed eavesdropping on their conversations just for practice. 

We started off the day by heading to the Blommarkt or flower market located on the Singel canal. The stalls were full of beautiful fresh flowers, tulip bulbs for every type of tulip imaginable, and kitschy souvenirs for sale. After determining that tulip bulbs likely wouldn't make it through customs, we took a lot of pictures instead. Of course we enjoyed this activity as there is no shame in being an unapologetic tourist sometimes.  

We were also able to go into a lot of Dutch cheese shops that mostly sold various types of Gouda but also different types of goat cheese. We were able to sample any cheeses that we wanted which was delightful. Leah had thrown around the idea of getting some cheese and crackers for the train ride but didn't want the large wheels they sold because that seemed to be too much. As I am writing this, I am starving so that was a bad call. Lesson learned for train to Prague...

I did purchase a bag of stroopwaffels, thanks to a very good recommendation and they are absolutely wonderful. My only regret is that I didn't try one on the first day because I would have purchased many more had I realized how delicious they are.  My best description of a stroopwaffel is two thin waffle-like cookies (or a very thin round waffle cone cookie?) pressed together with a honey syrup in the middle. Aaaaaaaamazing. In my version of heaven, there are stacks of stroopwaffels next to Pinkberry dispensers and mini cheesecakes. (Of course my heaven is full of food - what'd you expect??) 

After the flower market/cheese paradise/stroopwaffel experience, we visited the Museum Van Loon, which is a canal house that the (obviously weathly) Van Loon family inhabited and has since turned into a museum where all of the rooms are set up like they were in the glory days. Being a history fanatic and a lover of historical period homes and furnishings, this was a very cool experience.  My favorite rooms were the blue toile bedroom and the kitchen. 

All toile everything!! Curtains, bedding, wallpaper. These folks were committed to a theme. 

This kitchen is set up to be like how it was in the early 1900s - reminds me of Downton Abbey 

Delft tiles on one of the kitchen walls and nothing but cooper cookware (swoon)

Gotta love some vintage canisters

Another explosion of the same print

Frescoed walls are always my favorite a la Firenze

Chandelier and ceiling in the foyer

More Delft 

Back view of the House from the gardens 

After the museum, we retraced our steps from the other day and tracked down the shop where Leah had originally seen the phantom and elusive frat tank. She found the one she was looking for and all was well, just in time to catch the train to Berlin.  

Our time in Amsterdam has been absolutely wonderful and I'm already thinking of a future trip where I can come back to Amsterdam and see more of The Netherlands, but hopefully in spring when the tulips are in full bloom. 

 Train time! 

As of now, we are a little under an hour away from Berlin. The stroopwaffels and leftover wine from last night's dinner have come in handy as we didn't have time to each a proper meal yet today. I tried to buy some food on the train but when I asked the salesperson if they had any snacks, he thought I asked if he had any sex and it was an awkward exchange so I just paid for a Coke and left. 

Lunch of champions and poor planners. 

First thing on the agenda for tomorrow is finding a Birkenstock store and investing a pair. Turns out my mother was right and I should have packed more sensible shoes for all this walking. The little flats I normally love do not stand up to trekking. I'll learn one day to listen to her :) 

Needless to say, we are looking forward to our arrival in Berlin! 

Almost there - view from the train