Hallo! So for day 2, I woke up pretty early so I could go for a run in the nearby area because I think this will be the best way for me to become more acquainted with the area. I discovered some more really cool sculptures in Oosterpark and then ran down the canals for a bit.

Then we had the breakfast at the hostel which was really good and I got some much needed coffee as well. We then went to have a talk with a prominent engineer, Karel Bockstael, about sustainability in aviation. I thought this lecture was incredibly interesting because Karel is so passionate about sustainability and is very knowledgeable about the topic. I don’t know much about the aerospace industry; I believe Pitt doesn’t even have a program for it. But it was really interesting to hear about they are looking into hydrogen and biofuels as sustainable forms of fuel. Or how shorter flights are so much more fuel efficient so it is better to take a trip with a lot of connections versus one incredibly long-haul flight.

I also loved hearing about his minimalistic approach on life and how we should live simply. It is amazing to hear how interested this community is in sustainability and slowing climate change and caring for our environment.

We then got our chance to explore the city. Our first stop was to take a picture with someone dressed in a minion costume. He turned out to be promoting a group with the university and asked us to vote for them in a poll of some sort. This definitely gave us a glimpse into the activism in the area.

Then, we got on one of the trams to head towards the Rijksmuseum. I absolutely love their public transport system. It is so easy to use, clean, and seems like an incredibly efficient way to travel around the city. My favorite part of the day was definitely walking along all of the canals and just looking at everything around me.

We then went to the Anne Frank House. It is a beautifully solemn museum that shines light on a tragic piece of history. It was very informative and engaging and was definitely a place you have to go to in this city.

Overall, today was a lot of walking but it was a day of good exploration. As I am posting this, I have gotten to 25,000 steps which is 12.2 miles or almost 20 kilometers. I have still yet to get dinner so we will have to see what my eventual total is.