Am I really already in my third week here?! Time is just flying by and I have lots to share. By the way, it is absolutely gorgeous in Amsterdam today. I just went for a walk in search of iced coffee (everyone drinks it hot here!!) and was blown away by the beautiful weather. I wish it could be like this everyday!!
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| A perfect day in the Jordaan! |
Last week was a whirlwind of fun activities! I was lucky enough to get to celebrate the birthdays of two of my new friends, take a day trip to see a rural outskirt of the Netherlands, visit the zoo, go on a food tour of Amsterdam and attend about a gazillionnnn orientation activities, ALL IN ONE WEEK!
Mackenzie turned 21 on Tuesday, so of course we began celebrating Monday night. We tried to give her a big American birthday celebration (Smirnoff pregame and all), but as you can probably guess, turning 21 just isn't a big deal in Europe. We went bar hopping in Leidseplein, making sure to announce to just about anyone with ears that it was MACKENZIE'S 21ST!! Downside: no one seemed to care. Upside: all the bartenders heard our obnoxious shouts and brought us lots of free birthday shots and champagne!! (I'm still convinced it was nothing more than strawberry-banana juice and sparkling apple cider. Shhh don't tell Mackenzie, she couldn't tell!)
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| Happy Birthday Mackenzie! |
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| Ready to hit the town! |
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No successful 21st goes without fast food at 3 am. Welcome to...Chipsy King.
The Del Taco of Amsterdam. The only thing they serve is french fries
(with toppings of course)...ALL NIGHT. Very dangerous. |
On Wednesday, we took a day trip to the outskirts of the Netherlands to visit Hoorn, Medemblik and Enkhuizen (Nope, I can't pronounce them either). We traveled by bus to Hoorn, where we boarded an old-fashioned steam train to take us to Medemblik, where we boarded an old-fashioned steamboat to take us to a historical fishing town in Enkhuizen. A very LONG day of traveling, but it was all so fun! Great picture opportunities, beautiful weather and, of course, plenty of bread... I had the best day!
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| Steam train! |
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| Surprise coffee and sweet pastries for the train ride :) |
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| SHEEP EVERYWHERE! |
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| Windblown...love these girls! |
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| A typical house in rural Holland...so perfect! |
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| The girls in Medemblik! |
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| Butterflies in the sun. |
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| Relaxing by the water. |
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| Beautiful Medemblik. |
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| All aboard the steamboat!! |
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| Lunch :) |
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Dutch sunbathing!? Captured this just moments before her grandfather walked
over to pour beer on her head. Hmm....can't really explain that one. |
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| Haley <3 |
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| We made it to the fishing village! |
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| Old windmill! |
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| Drying the fish. |
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| Beautiful day to be outside :) |
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| The birthday boy casually taking a sun nap (in preparation for celebrations later that night...) |
I know I've mentioned this before, but Dutch children are just too cute!! Look at these little ones in some traditional Dutch outfits...
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| Check out those clogs! |
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| Little house on the prairie? |
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| She almost started crying after I took her picture....oops! |
That night, we celebrated Peter's 22nd birthday. He wanted Mexican....and actually found a Mexican restaurant in Amsterdam!! Not as good as California Mexican food of course, but still an exciting find.
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| Happy Birthday Peter! |
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| With the birthday boy! |
There's still so much to share!! A post on the zoo as well as my first week of classes are both coming soon! Missing everyone at home SO SO much! xo
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