After a 17 hour travel day full of online poker and less than one hour of sleep, we landed in the Netherlands at around 6 am to a beautiful sunny day. We met our amazing tour guide, Raha, who welcomed us and gave us some introductory information about our day. As we were leaving the airport on the way to the hotel, we noticed about three car-less parking lots, which were instead filled with hundreds and hundreds of of bikes and mopeds. After we unloaded our bags at the hotel and got on the train to enter Central Amsterdam, we even saw people bringing their bikes on the trains.
We could tell from the very beginning of the trip that biking was the preferred mode of transportation in the Netherlands. The large bike presence upholds the importance of sustainability in the Netherlands as biking uses minimal fossil fuels and is a pollution-free alternative transportation to using a car. As Amsterdam specifically is very touristy, biking also allows for easier transport among highly populated areas in places where cars would get stuck. However, after almost getting hit by several bikers, we soon realized that it is just as necessary to watch out for them as it is for cars.
The train we took into Central Amsterdam was a double-decker train, so of course we had to sit at the top to get the best view. I thought the idea of a two-floor train was super interesting and functional in a country such as the Netherlands where public transit is widely used. I had never seen this before in the United States since there is no need for the extra space that comes with a double-decker bus since most people travel by car. I was amazed to hear when Raha told us the train had a first class section, distinguished by red seats versus the traditional blue seats. Initially, I was confused by this idea, but it makes sense that some people traveling long distances by train may want to ensure they aren’t left standing, since those buses packed up very quickly. This was evident from every train we took where the majority of us were left standing in the aisle.
Once we arrived in Central Amsterdam, we commenced the “Fault in our Stars Scavenger Hunt,” where we were able to tour several famous tourist attractions and historical landmarks. We were first sent to the Saint Nicholas Basilica, a beautiful Roman Catholic church in the very center of Amsterdam that we were able to enter. It had beautiful high ceilings and incredible architecture which incorporated various neoclassical styles and was unlike any church I have ever seen in the United States. We then visited several different historical sites such as the Amsterdam National Monument and the Anne Frank House by walking all over the city. We wanted to get as acclimated as possible to our home for the next week.
As the jet-lag slowly caught up to us, we ended the day at a restaurant in Waterlooplein called Coco’s Outback, where I was able to try a kangaroo burger (yes, a burger made of kangaroo meat) for the first time. It honestly might have been one of the best burgers I have ever eaten, and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to try a food I am not usually exposed to. This first day gave me the perfect introduction to the culture of Amsterdam, and I am excited to try all the exciting things this new city has to offer throughout the next week. See you tomorrow Amsterdam!
