AMSTERDAM!

Hello! So i just got back from an amazing trip to Amsterdam. Also my first trip outside of Italy so far. I have to say though, I definitely underestimated the amount of money i would spend on food. You might laugh at this but honestly, I get tired of the food in Italy. While it is all very delicious, variety is far and few between the copious amounts of pasticcheria, caffe bars, and pizzerias. Holland has all types of food and they specialize in FRIED food! I basically went between asian food and pancakes and waffles each day and it was delicious! Pictures below to prove it.
On our first day we checked in to our hostel called The Flying Pig Uptown. This was my first hostel experience and it was actually very nice. It felt like summer camp because in the mornings we would go downstairs to this big living room and you just make your own breakfast and hang out.. there were christmas decorations and a house cat and it was really great to meet all of the people because they are from all over the world and they are there travelling around Europe or studying abroad. I've never had an experience quite like it.
One of the days we went to the Van Gogh museum where I had some sort of artistic epiphany. I was so fascinated to see Van Gogh's life and career from the beginning to the end and to see how he was inspired. A true pioneer he was!
My other favorite place was the Taschinski theater. It was built in the early 1920s in the Art Nouveau style which I love. Catherine and I saw "New Years Eve" in the most beautiful theater, in amsterdam, with lots of candy... it was a pretty amazing experience i would have to say.
Aside from the cold december weather, Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful and charming cities in the world and i hope to go back in the spring when all of the flower fields start to bloom.
Anyways, its good to be home again but I miss you all and enjoy the photos!

cute little houses lined up along the canal

Wok to Walk...mmmmmmmmmm

It was supposed to rain all week but instead, there was a 5 minute blizzard and no rain the rest of the trip

Waffle with chocolate sauce. so good!

this was in front of the hostel

Van Gogh Museum

a park i can't pronounce the name of

swans in the red light district. Apparently they only hang out in this area of the canal.

bikes bikes! (their main mode of transportation)

This is the theater our movie played in. you can even get box seats like the opera!

its so cold but this waffle is so good!

this is the reality of the situation. 5 degrees celsius.

right out of a storybook

it just barely fits!

writing postcards!