Düsseldorf & Amsterdam

Much of my trip planning while abroad involved checking the Ryanair (budget airline company - think Southwest if flights were about a tenth of the price and Southwest tried to charge for every little thing from having a wallet AND a backpack to using the bathroom in flight) website for cheap flights leaving from Bologna. Most of Ryanair flights are from remote airports close to major cities, but there's always some sort of transportation that can take you to the more famous destination. While Weeze was never my dream destination, with roundtrip flights for 6 euro, the obvious thing to do is figure out how Weeze could be a stopping point to somewhere else. This is how I started to learn European geography. It turns out Dusseldorf is the closest city to Weeze, so we thought we'd stop there, but Amsterdam wasn't too far either, so we just decided to throw it into the trip just because we could. And that's why I love traveling in Europe.

While Dusseldorf might be more metropolitan than Weeze, it's still not a tourist hotspot. There's not a whole lot to do there, but it was interesting just to pass through. While living in Italy, it was easy to forget that some of Europe (Dusseldorf, for example) is actually quite modern. Without a long list of sights to go see, it was also kind of nice just to wander around the city and kill time in a new place.

Relaxing by the Rhine turned out to be an excellent way to kill time...

...as is chilling at the annual jazz festival.

Rheinturm.

Mmm....pretzels.
Mmm...mustard. Cheap travel trick: seek out samples. Free mustard? Why not?
Oh what's this? A market? With samples? Oh ja.

As much as I love Italian food, one great thing about traveling was the opportunity to eat something different. Not necessarily something native to that country, but just something not Italian. Thai food in Germany. Perhaps you can't call it good Thai food. Maybe you shouldn't even it call it Thai food, but having noodles that weren't pasta was still a treat. Even if it was the worst Asian food I have ever had.
After the quick stopover in Germany, I headed off to Amsterdam. I have to admit, when my roommate suggested Amsterdam, my first thought was, "I didn't realize that you were a pothead who has a thing for prostitutes." With its reputation as a crazy land of sin, I somehow forgot that it's also a European capital with interesting culture. And not just drug culture.

Pretty canal. Like Bruges, many people call Amsterdam the Venice of the North. Again, the cities share pretty canals and lots of tourists, but that's about it.

Tulips! The second most famous plant in Holland.
Cheese samples? I think so.
Another pretty canal.
Statue of Anne Frank. The house where the Frank family hid during World War II is in Amsterdam. The museum includes the Secret Annexe along with documentary clips and excerpts from Anne's diary. It's an emotional and inspiring experience, and since I can't say much more without making something very serious sound cheesy, I'll just say it's worth a visit.

I cannot remember who these busts depict, but I'm pretty sure this was in the Jewish Quarter. The busts of four musical icons: the one-eyed Johnny Jordaan, Tante Leen, Manke Nelis and Johnny Meyer. (Thanks, Dad!)

Vondel Park - a giant park in the middle of Amsterdam. I really love parks, so this was one my favorite places in the city.

Biking is really big in Amsterdam - both for tourists and residents. Easy way to spot a tourist - bright bike, interferes with traffic.
Clearly I'm not the only one who enjoys Vondel Park. We were really lucky that the weather was perfect during our visit.
Not the greatest picture, but in red and white letters, you can read I amsterdam. Current ad campaign for Amsterdam.

It's frustrating me right now, but I really can't remember what the name of this place is. I know that there were some big stairs I had to climb to take this picture, but other than that, I just don't know. Taken from the roof of the NEMO Museum.


On one of the days there, we decided to take a train out to neighboring town to see the pretty Dutch countryside.
WINDMILLS! And COWS!

Back to Amsterdam. I heard that there are more bikes in Amsterdam than residents due to the popularity of bike rentals for tourists. If you doubt it, see below. If you believe it, still go ahead and look at the picture, I mean that's why you're reading my blog anyway. Well probably not for this specific picture, but I mean....you know...not that I'm trying to force you to do anything....but umm....do whatever you want, man, I didn't mean to assume anything.

Not pictured: the hellish trip back to Bologna. Lots of planning can mean saving a lot of money. Plans falling through can mean a stressful day with 14 hours spent in transit and almost missing a flight home. As much as I love travel, sometimes the best thing is just being safe at home. I keep telling myself this hoping it will make me stop missing Europe so much...or I could just start planning my next trip...that sounds more fun.