Truly Dutch

I can't believe that I only have 3 weeks left in Amsterdam. Time has flown by faster than I ever could have imagined! I've grown to LOVE my little life here, and I'm actually a little nervous to go home to the US. I've become so comfortable here. Amsterdam is my home now. I feel truly Dutch!

Here are 10 reasons that explain how I'm on my way to becoming a real-life Amsterdamian:



1. I always order beer with dinner because it's cheaper than a glass of water.

2. My heaviest coat from home now feels like a light summer sweater compared to the fur-lined coat I wear here.

3. I crave cheese. Lot's of it.

4. I'm no longer surprised that when I order a coffee it will only provide me with three sips of liquid. No venti iced coffees over here, no sir.

5. I find myself huffing and puffing and rolling my eyes with the rest of the locals every time I get stuck behind tourists while riding my bike. They're just so slow! Ding ding ding. Get out of my way please.

6. It doesn't shock me at all when I see cats EVERYWHERE. In bars, in restaurants, in my backyard, in windows, eating from my dinner plate.... Cats rule this city.

7. A glass of wine...or two...with lunch seems completely normal.

8. My hair smells SO strongly of cigarette smoke every time I wake up after being in bar or club the night before.

9. All my colorful or bright items of clothing have been sitting untouched in my closet for the past 3 months. In Amsterdam it's black, black, maybe a little grey here and there, and more black.

10. I find myself cheering and fist pumping with the rest of the locals when a Dutch song is played in a bar or club. I still have no idea what the words in the songs mean, but I like them.

Cat in a bar!

The only size coffee available. I usually want like...seven.

Midnight in Paris

I know its been a while since my trip to Paris actually took place, but the trip was just too magical and the memories too wonderful for me to pass up sharing my experiences with you! Paris is a city I've wanted to visit since I was a little girl. Seeing the Eiffel Tower has always been dream destination. Something about the graceful romance and the beauty of the lights at night....what little girl doesn't dream of visiting Paris? Finally having the opportunity to travel to a city of my dreams - the City of Light itself - was UNREAL!

I flew to Paris with Haley and Mariana, Haley's roommate and best friend from home. She visited Amsterdam for a week and then we all went to Paris together. Mariana is such a sweet angel! And of course Haley's always wonderful. Together, the two of them were simply the best travel companions!

Mariana!

The best thing about Paris is that there is SO much to do and see! Our days were filled to the brim with adventure and so many incredible photo opportunities. I don't think I've EVER taken more photos in one weekend than I did in Paris. Our first day in the city was a total whirlwind... First stop? Sacre Coeur!

The famous carousel at the bottom!

Looking at all the stairs I have to climb... Can you find me?

We made it!

Artistic Attempts.

The highest point in Paris! What an incredible view.

Next we were on to Moulin Rouge and our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower! Mariana and I both teared up a bit when we first saw it... Yep. Totally embarrassing. We were...umm...tired? By the time we returned to Amsterdam, we actually visited the Eiffel Tower three times!! Once during the day, once at night, and once in the morning to beat the hugeee line to climb to the top!

Place du Tertre - The famous artists' square near Sacre Coeur! We made a quick pit stop here for a much needed
lunch break complete with French bread and espresso of course!

Moulin Rougeee!

Fun in the rain!

First glimpse of the tower!

Fighting on all around the world.
(Notice the child in the bottom right corner...even he wishes he was a Trojan!!)

So happy!

Incredible experience <3

For dinner I tried escargot. And you know what? I LIKED IT. It tasted like butter and garlic. Sure it was a little chewy... but who can say no to butter and garlic? It also didn't hurt that we had a delicious pitcher of Bordeoux to wash it down with...

My first taste of true French escargot.

My favorite day in Paris was our trip to Versailles! I loved it. It was a beautiful day spent with great friends in one of the coolest places I've ever been. The gardens were ridiculous. I could have spent hourssss in the gardens alone. It was also interesting to explore the grand estate and learn about the different rooms of the mansion. Seeing Marie Antoinette's bedroom and the Hall of Mirrors was such a treat! I would return to Versailles in a heartbeat. Take me back!!!

P.S. Sorry for the overload of photos. I just couldn't help myself... (And these are only a few compared to the 300 I took just in Versailles!!)

Entering Versailles!

Hello palace.

Every room had the most incredible murals on the walls and ceiling!

The Hall of Mirrors

Only the start of the gardens!

Twins.

"Don't look at me."

Completely inconspicuous.

Casual sacrifice.

Jumping for joy! Look behind me.... So so so beautiful!

Haley's attempt... Perfection.

I SWEAR WE'RE NOT TOURISTS.

Happy girl.

After dinner it was time to visit the Eiffel Tower again. This time at night. The Eiffel Tower when it's all lit up at night is something that everyone deserves to see. So classic, and absolutely magical.

Just a giant nightlight, right?

We took quite a few selfies.... Doesn't this look like a green screen?? Too funny.
We couldn't get enough!

The only things we're missing are a loaf of French bread and a bottle of wine.

Light show!

All three evenings we ventured out into the city to experience the night life in Paris. I'll let the photos do the explaining...

Two for one in our hostel!

Reppin' the Deeg with a few sailors on the street. :)

Checkin out the Paris club scene.

Why yes, that is a French crepe with Nutella.

Waiting for the Subway at 6 AM. The first train of the morning!

Our last day in Paris was full of last minute sight-seeing! Haley had a paper to write, so Mariana and I got up as early as we could drag our little (or big in my case) butts out of bed to make it the Eiffel Tower to beat the line. We grabbed a quick piece of French bread on our way out the door (free breakfast at our hostel) and raced to the tower! We only had to wait in line for about 10 minutes and then we were on our way to the top!! Unfortunately it was a bit foggy, as you'll see in the photos, but still such a great experience. From the Eiffel Tower we were off to see Notre Dame and then the Louvre! Busy busy day! But so worth it. :)

Up we go. It's so foggy you can't see the top!

View from the halfway point!

Hello Paris!

Now this is the view from the top... All we could see was an infinity of white from every side.

Front of Notre Dame. 

Notre Dame.

The line to get inside the building where the line to the Louvre starts.... Craziness.

We made it in!!! Andddd then we ran out of time.
Well...I guess I'll see ya next time Mona Lisa?

Goodbye Paris! Until next time. I know I'll be back eventually. :)

xo Kel

Failure.

I have ABSOLUTELY failed at updating my blog over the past month! I am so so sorry, and I promise new posts are coming soon. Keep checking back over the next few days...posts on Paris, Prague, Berlin and my wonderful life in Amsterdam are COMING SOON!

Veel liefs en dikke zoen van Amsterdam!!
(Lots of love and a big kiss from Amsterdam!!)

Kel :)

My BEAUTIFUL home! One of my favorite days in Amsterdam so far.

A Trip to the Edge of the World

During my first week in Amsterdam I signed up to go on a weekend trip to Gronigen with CIEE, the program that organized my study abroad experience here in the Netherlands. At the time, I had no idea where Gronigen was or why we would ever want to visit... but hey, it's a free trip right?? So two weeks ago, the special weekend finally arrived. I packed an overnight bag and loaded a giant bus filled with sleepy students at 8 AM. I still had absolutely no idea where we were going, what we would be doing, or why we would want to go. Yes, I could have easily done a little research on the city, or even opened the itinerary sent to me by CIEE, but what's the fun in that? Much better to be 100% COMPLETELY unprepared... (My futile attempt at sarcasm)

SURPRISE. It turns out, we were to go kayaking through the canals of Gronigen.

Well...I would have dressed a little differently if I had known, but at least I got in my morning workout, right?!

Thank goodness it was an absolutely beautiful day!

Friend on a houseboat.

Soaking up a little sun and enjoying the view.

Later that afternoon we ventured out to climb the clock tower and explore the little town of Gronigen. Thankfully CIEE took us to a delicious pancake brunch after our kayaking adventure, providing us with the energy we needed to get to the top of the tower. There were so. many. stairs.

View from the bottom...

After a steep spiral staircase on a full stomach of pancake...the stunning view from the top!

After dinner we decided to check out the Gronigen nightlife of course! Much to our surprise, it was so fun! Apparently, Groningen, which is in the northern Netherlands, is home to a large university with lots of young people and a vibrant nightlife scene. Our favorite spot was called the Three Sisters, which had a rotating bar, a great DJ and a room full of hot Dutch boys. Yet another surprise from good ol' Gronigen. :)

Our CIEE leader Erik with a classic photobomb.

Annabel and Renee, two of our other CIEE leaders, dancing the night away. I love them!

The awesome bartenders dancing on top of the rotating bar.

The next morning, after a few somewhat difficult hours at the Gronigen Art Museum, we hopped back on the bus and drove as far north as we possibly could. We drove until we hit the coast, or as I like to call it, the edge of the world.

Where are we?
The CIEE group looking a little confused.

The farm we visited produces their own Dutch wine and grows a variety of delicious fruits and vegetables. They let us sample the wine and pluck a few fresh carrots out of the ground. Why not?

One of my favorite parts of the day...

Fresh squeezed juice and homemade bread.

Carrots!!

We washed them in the creek nearby and had a healthy snack!

Standing at the edge of the world...
(More specifically the northern coast of the Netherlands)

Just being me :)

I don't know if I'll ever make it back to Gronigen, but I had a wonderful time! Thank you to CIEE for a weekend of great friends, great food and great memories!