I love Amsterdam

I love Amsterdam.  I'm not sure why I can say that I love it, after being here for only two days.  I've liked it since we first got off the bus, in the dark and rain.  Maybe it's the size and layout -- the city is small enough to be easily walkable, but big enough to feel like a real city. The streets and canals are arranged in a semi-circle, so it's hard to get really lost.  Maybe it's the people -- everyone here is so nice! Lol, especially after being in Paris a few days ago.  Maybe it's the many, many bikes, and how the cobblestone streets are wide enough to accommodate separate tram, car, and bus lanes. Or maybe it's the delicious food like stroopwaffles, pancakes and fries with mayo. I really don't know. I just know that I like it here.

Today was fantastic. It didn't rain at all, which may be a first. That's not the only reason it was good, though :) We got up kinda late, which was so nice.  After a breakfast of carrots, bananas, and nutella, we headed out to see the center of the city.  In no particular order, we wandered up and down lots of streets of shops, picked up our tickets to Germany at the post office, ate stroopwaffles, fries with mayo, pancakes with toppings like cheese and spinach, went all the way up to the 9th floor of the library to look over the city, figured out how the water clock in the science museum entrance works, went to the Waterlooplein flea market, saw pretty lights, watched boats on the canal... It was all pretty wonderful.

We also spent some time walking through the Red Light District. I can't honestly say that I enjoyed that, but I'm glad we went. Yes, it bothered me to see girls my own age standing in little red lit window booths on the street, displaying their bodies for the people passing by. Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, and the Red Light District is a popular sex tourism destination.  It bothers me a lot, and makes me sad. I can only pray for them, and hope that those girls are there by their own choice. I'm glad we went, though, because it reminded me that even if the rest of Amsterdam seemed pretty perfect to me, there is a different side.  In our world -- both in people and places -- there is always that other side. That bothers me too, but I believe that that's something that only God can fix.

Anyway, today was pretty great overall. Lots of good conversations with Kirstyn. So many prayers. So much good food. So many smiles :) ~lil-bridge

Agreed with all of ^this, with the exception being the red light district was actually my favorite part of Amsterdam so far. Hard to explain. But we're taking it easy tonight back at the O'Moore's and it's got me thinking and praying :) ~KJ

a tram

SO MANY BIKES

Fries with mayo!

water clock at the science museum

Dearest Hunter, we miss you. Every time we see something with an owl on it, we talk about you.