I Amsterdam

Miles 

-        Amsterdam is the capital, and one of the most beautiful cities, in the Netherlands.

-        The European euro (€) is the currency in Amsterdam. The conversion is $1.12 USD to €1.

-        86% of Amsterdam residents are bilingual persons, speaking English & Dutch fluently.

-        It has remarkable architecture and is truly a sight to see.

-        Biking is the most popular means of transportation.

-        It is also easy to get around by using the tram and the bus (two of the three forms of public transportation used there).

-        Amsterdam has an oceanic climate similar to that of Great Britain. The warmest months are from June to August.

-        Winter months are very cold so prep yourself with your warmest gear if you intend to go during that season. I went in February and I must admit the excitement of exploring this wonderful city kept me a bit warm because otherwise, it might have been tragic.

-        Traditional dishes/foods you can find in Amsterdam are Stroopwafel, Kroket, Patat, Poffertjes, and Bitterballen, and Kaas.

-       Amsterdam has some of the friendliest people you will ever meet! it is also one of the safest cities in the world.

Wyndham Apollo Hotel

The Wyndham Apollo Hotel is located in the Museum Quarter of Amsterdam. The staff was incredible! They were accommodating, knowledgeable, and pleasant answering all of my inquiries with pleasure. I forgot my universal plug adapter and they let me borrow one for the duration of my stay free of charge! They even offered great recommendations for things to do. The lobby was beautiful, and the hotel's overall appearance was clean with great decor. Its location is ideal for getting around the city by foot, bike, or public trans.

Meals 

Waterkant

Waterkant is a cute modern canal-side restaurant that sits on the waterfront. The restaurant serves Dutch & Surinamese dishes, a wide range of beer, and has outdoor seating.

I know that it appears as though I'm advertising dipping sauces in this pic rather than the food (lol) but it wasn't until we’d completely devoured the meal that I realized the photo was taken from the wrong angle 😂. An AH-MAZING meal none the less! The mixed platter came with Pork ribs, dirty duck Red curry spring rolls, dirty duck Black pepper buns, prawns, and baka bana with homemade Surinamese peanut sauce. The beer is called La Chouffe. It is comparable to Bluemoon.

Café Het Concertgebouw

Café Het Concertgebouw is an ideal destination for breakfast. Service was great, staff was friendly, and the food was delish! The breakfast selection I chose was koffie verkeerd (coffee and milk similar to a latte), fresh squeezed orange juice, croissant, spelt sunflower seed bread, a slice of fig-raisin bread, raspberry jam, Old Beemster Cheese, ham and a boiled egg. A nice finishing touch was the stroopwafel which is two thin slices of dough, similar to a waffle but harder, with a caramel filling in between. It’s even better when dipped in the koffie verkeerd.

Pinkies up 🤘🏼

Febo

Febo is a new innovative way to think of fast food. Your meal is dispensed from a vending machine. Crazy right? The Cheesy, which is basically a cheeseburger and reminded me of a big Mac, was pretty good. Side orders, such as French fries, and drinks can be purchased at the counter. The meal was pretty good but the experience of new age fast food takes the cake.

Crepes & Waffles 

Amsterdam is known for its waffles and I wasn’t leaving there without trying one. Crepes & Waffles catered to my sweet tooth with their mouthwatering waffle topped with Nutella and strawberries. An absolute yummy must try!

Vlaamse Frites 

French fries, frites as it’s called in Dutch, and mayonnaise is a very popular duo in the Dutch culture. Of course, this meant I had to try it. As much as I’ve made fun of my aunt for years for loving this combination, I have to say I really enjoyed it. The little square on the side is called kaassouffle. Kaassouffle is a Dutch snack with melted cheese and a thin dough wrapped around it.

Chutima Thai Food House

The local Thai restaurant is decent. The portions are okay, and the service was fair. The Thai décor was the highlight of the whole experience and I fell in love with the utensils lol. 

Memories

I Amsterdam card

I Amsterdam card is worth every penny! The 72-hour card covered almost everything I wanted to do while in Amsterdam and then some! This card grants you free access to over 40 museums, discounts on popular attractions and certain restaurants, as well as provides unlimited public transportation. The 72-hour pass cost $84 and is well worth it! 

Note: As of 2020, the price of the 72-hour pass is €95 which is roughly $105.

Heineken Experience

I give the Heineken Experience an 5 stars. This interactive museum offers an adventurous and unique way to learn about the Heineken brand and its product. For beer lovers or people looking for a fun new experience, I 100% recommend this.

Note: Admissions Fee.

Stedeljik Museum 

Stedeljik Museum is a heaven on earth for lovers of contemporary art. It offers a wide range of sculptures, paintings, and film that would appeal to most. 

Note: Free entry with the I Amsterdam card.

Red Light District: Sex Palace and Casa Rosso 

The Red Light District is one of the biggest/well known attractions in Amsterdam; and it is as interesting as you would imagine it to be! Although it is filled with people at all hours of the day, you get the true essence of The Red Light District at night.

Note: you’re not allowed to photograph or film the women in the windows. I learned that the hard way lol.

Sex Palace

Located in The Red Light District, the name speaks for itself! Going to the Sex Palace was one of the coolest experiences in Amsterdam. I felt like LL in the “Doin It” music video. I won't disclose what I saw because I want to encourage you to go and see for yourself! The two-minute peep show is €2, and you have no idea what you're going to get until the curtains go up. I recommend this for those who are open-minded, adventurous, daring and not easily grossed out. 

Casa Rosso 

Casa Rosso was disappointing. The entertainers should have been more engaging in their performance and entertaining the crowd. They gave off the vibe that they were forced to be there rather than it being something they enjoy doing. Some acts even had full-on conversations in the middle of their performance. It wasn't all bad. There were two acts that I enjoyed, however I wouldn’t recommend going here.

Note: Admissions Fee.

Van Gogh Museum

The art museum is dedicated to Van Gogh and artist in his likeness. Here you can find the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s artwork! The Van Gogh Museum is great for classical art lovers. The museum displays the history of Van Gogh alongside his work. I was disappointed that the two paintings that I really wanted to see, "Starry Night" and "Sunflower", weren’t there when I visited. "Starry Night" (ironically enough) was in New York (where I live lol) and the "Sunflower" was having maintenance done.

Note: Free entry with the I Amsterdam card.

Amsterdam Tulip Museum

Tulips are yet another staple of Amsterdam. The Amsterdam Tulip Museum teaches you the history of tulips and how they made their way to Amsterdam. It is a relatively small museum, but it is informative and something quick and interesting to do if you are in the area. The gift shop offers a variety of tulip seeds for purchase.

Note: Free entry with the I Amsterdam card.

Science Center Nemo

Science Center Nemo is a science museum filled with children ranging from the ages of about 4 to 12. However, it isn’t limited to that age range. Science Center Nemo has five floors with each one offering something different from playing with energy to learning more about yourself. The museum is an interactive and engaging way to learn about science. 

Note: Free entry with the I Amsterdam card.

Canal Cruise

Touring the canals is the perfect way to see the city! This tour fully allows you to delve in and admire the beauty and architecture of Amsterdam. As you’re cruising the canals, your guide is explaining the city’s rich history. You’ll pass by where Anne Frank hid and even learn how the city got its name.

Note: Free entry with the I Amsterdam card.

Rijksmuseum

I didn’t go inside the popular museum, but the entrance of the museum is where you can find the famous “I Amsterdam” sign. I recommend going at the crack of dawn to minimize the amount of people in your photo. If you look closely, you can see me sitting on the “t” 😂.