After a long first day of travel, flying from the Pittsburgh airport to Boston and (unsuccessfully) trying to sleep on the flight from Boston to Amsterdam, we arrived in Amsterdam this morning early at around 6 am. We met with Brian, the liaison for the trip in the city, and he got our trip underway, jumping us right into the deep end of getting to explore the city and all the wonderful things it has to offer. I immediately was struck by the efficiency, prominence, and cleanliness of the Amsterdam public transit system, an impressive testament to how the city has taken the time and effort to build a well-run system of public metros, buses, and trains. As we went along the train route on the way to our hotel, I looked out the window at the local infrastructure and was very impressed by how well integrated bikes, buildings, and roads were in their ability to build an effective flow of traffic. I also found it surprising how few cars were on the road, understandable given how walkable the city showed itself to be throughout the first day of travel. It made me a bit frustrated thinking of how the US has been unable to achieve this to nearly the same level of success as the Netherlands, but hopefully people like me and my Plus3 group experiencing this up-close can help inspire change.

Once we arrived at the hotel and dropped off our bags, we then took the metro again into the city center, where we got to see Amsterdam in full force. We went on a scavenger hunt to get a better sense of the city and its layout and my group, Desi, Umur, Ben, and Gary, immediately got to solving the clues we were given and running from location to location. The first location, the St. Nicholas Basilica, was a beautiful church (which I have attached an image of). I really found it interesting how diverse the use of older buildings across the areas we walked was (as some like the Basilica maintain their original purpose while others have become nightclubs and bars). The canals were also a major highlight of the scavenger hunt. The local boat tours passed by as we walked through the city, and there was a distinct beauty in how the canals in the city are laid out and operated. There also was an interesting contrast between the older looking architecture and the distinctly modern feel of how the streets were operating with various bikes, trolleys, and buses weaving in and out of the crowds walking by. We saw several monuments and statues, including a memorial to the Dutch victims of WWII (that my relatives told me to look out for when I came to the city!) I enjoyed being able to get a rundown of the city’s layout through a fun activity, and the group got so caught up in it that we ended up winning the scavenger hunt by a wide margin. Activities like this helped a lot with getting to better know the people I will be spending the next few weeks with and the city I will learn to know!

Next, my group and I used the few free hours we were given after the scavenger hunt and before check-in to the hotel to explore the city further. We searched for a place to get some lunch and struggled to do so for a bit until we found a peaceful cafe along the side of the canal. We enjoyed some coffee and stroop-waffles and, taking Brian’s advice, rested the pastry on the top of the coffee cup for a bit to warm it up and soften it a bit. It was absolutely delicious, and I now know a bit more about Amsterdam’s culinary culture! Unfortunately, around this part of the day the jet lag from the flight over started to hit me, and I legitimately started to doze off in my chair while we sat at the cafe. Seeing this, we decided it was best if we headed back to the hotel and took a quick nap before dinner, and I ended up appreciating this much needed shuteye.

After my quick nap, we took the metro again to a restaurant in the city center, at which we ate an authentic Dutch meal of sausage and mashed potatoes with gravy. It was excellent, and I noted how still-water, which is extremely common to have at dinner back home, is less common here in Amsterdam, a cultural difference that will definitely take some getting used to. We finished the day with a quick dessert run, and then we all turned in for the night to prepare for tomorrow (the first full day we spend in the city.) I loved getting to experience some of Amsterdam today, and I am excited to see how much more the city has to hold for us as we move into the more structured part of our trip tomorrow. The city has continually impressed me so far, and I hope that the rest of my days are as informative as this one!