Amsterdam Days!!!!

I had such great days ! I gave myself a goal and I will go more into that in a minute right now I want to tell you that I have not problems asking for directions or help with something, but I have not wanted to ask anyone to take a picture of me. So on my 1st day in Amsterdam I told my self that I had to just do it ask someone and hand over my camera to someone. So I walked around Amsterdam with the thought in my mind that the 1st person I hear speaking english I want to ask.

I went to a park and kept thinking you have to ask, I walked around the beautiful park, I took some photos (non- of me really.) One that did not turn out so great.

So on to where EVERYONE else was. The park had some people just not a lot. Very nice peaceful place.

So I went where I thought I would find more people in the more touristy places. I wanted to walk so that is what I did I walked and walked and walked.

Getting out of the park I ran into a couple who I heard speaking in english so I thought to myself you have to ask now. So I open the conversation up with something like, Oh excuse me where are you from? ( I saw a canada button, on the bag.) The couple told me from Canada. Me: "Oh, wow. What brings you here?" ( I did not get their names.) Them: "Oh well we are just traveling, This place is so beautiful." Me:" Oh, yes, it sure is." Them: "Well we are late for a tour." Me: "Good-bye, enjoy your trip."

I walk another way, without even one photo of myself in Amsterdam. I kicked myself, thinking why didn't you ask?

Now picture this if you well, I am around a million people walking past so many, many people. I still am not able to ask a question that I think everyone has asked a time or two in their life.

I walk and I walk until I find yet another couple only this time the woman has a camera in hand, so I thought you can do this, just ask. So I go up to the man and say could you take one picture of me?

Hand him my camera and pose.

I am now thinking yay! I did it! I asked someone the question that I felt so scared to ask.

Carrie and Greg are their names and they are from Canada Toronto. She works for a company that builds/ supplies/ manufacturers equipment for hospitals. Greg I don't know what he does we did not go into that very much.

In Canada there are some really nice, friendly people. By the way here in Amsterdam I feel like I need an English accent. I don't know why I mean almost all of the people here have some kind of an accent. So I might slip into an English from the UK that is.

The 1st day that I was with Carrie and Greg we walked and talked and we made our way around they showed me how to get to places and told me what time things were, all those kind of things.

We spent the whole day together and had so much fun! I really feel like they are going to be good friends of mine. 

That night we went to dinner, What a great time that was! We talked about anything and everything. It felt like we had a party with just the 3 of us and the owner and people working at the restaurant also very nice and welcoming. On my way out to find a place where I could get on-line. There sat a good looking man alone, As I passed him he said "Hello."  I looked and said : " Hi." I smiled and tried to open the door. He said: "Push." Me: looking at him "Thank you." Off I went I was gone, moving on to find a place to be on-line. I was so mad at myself, he was so good looking and he talked to me 1st not me going after him. Any way if its meant to be it well be. that is what I have to say about that.

So now after drinking and being merry, I needed to catch a train, I did not find a room in the center. You see at the time that I booked a room I did not feel like I needed to be in the CENTER.( We all learn some of us the hard way.) Now I know please everyone when in Europe book a room at a hotel that is in the center for at least a night or two.

Carrie said that they had planned to go out to the WWII museum and wanted to know if I wanted to join them. They were going to rent a car and go out to the country, well outside of the city.

So I got up early on Sat. Here I am on a trip seeing the world, I wake up at like 6am every day no matter what time I go to bed so for the most part I feel rather sleepy. My day to go and see more of the netherlands a part that I might not other wise see and with some really great people. I was however very sleepy that day and in the morning I was kind of quite in the car and than after such a wonderful experience I was reflecting on the day we just had so I did not talk much.

I now have an even better idea of just what war looks like. I was so glad to go see this place where so much had happened I mean I did have some idea of war and In my mind war is not the best way to do things, I also don't really agree with people who think that they should give their life to a country. To me no country is wroth fighting for, Yes I am proud of some things my country has to offer but not enough to die for the country. 

So being at this WWII museum got me thinking, If I feel this way about life, during the time that this awful thing happened did even one man of the men feel this way as well? 

Now here is a little something about my family I had two wonderful grandfathers to me they were fun, funny men. Both of them and hearing the way that they might have raised their children made me think  wow, I guess that these guys learned how to do better later. One of my grand fathers fought in WWII and after you go to a place like where I was you get an even clearer picture of why maybe someone is the way that they were. I mean you can only do your best that is all you can do.

So their last night here we went to dinner again this time to an Italian Restaurant. No cute single guys there.

By the way the food here in Amsterdam is so good I mean OMG!!!! I love the food here, the people are so friendly and kind. I have been finding that where ever I go this far.

Smiling and being kind and looking like you are a native really helps.

Sunday came and went by so fast I did a lot I went to museums and the anne frank house that was so touching.

The thing that I don't understand is how one person could do something so bad to so many people. To me being kind to all people no matter what they look like is far more important, I have be finding that to be kind to people gets you much farther. 

So one thing that I have found in both Spain and Amsterdam is everyone thinks that I know things about public transport or even where things are. So people walk up to me speaking Spanish or Dutch, asking me. I smile and say in english: "I am sorry." and the people might now speak back to me in english and say the question again. This time I say: "Oh, I am sorry I don't know, where are you trying to get to?" They tell me and I say: "Oh, I just happen to be going that way I can help you get off and tell you what way from there you are on your own."

Monday I was alone again, I have to say that it is nice to be alone sometimes.

I have enjoyed that part of the trip a lot. You sure meet a lot of people when you are alone.

I met a lot of new people. So many and it has been so much fun.

I have gone to a few museums these are the ones that I went to in Amsterdam I have been to Van Gogh, Rijks, Het Rembrandthuis, and the History of Amsterdam. People that is over the past seven days. I have also been too the Airborne Museum too (WWII) oh and the sex museum and for my last day Madame Tussauds. 

I can now say that I have been to the Anne Frank House as well. I really think that the Anne Frank House is one of my favorite places. If you ever get the chance to go please do.