Just a taste . .

I started a post on the airplane with the help of an open bar provided by Delta Airlines, let’s just thank them they did not have free Wi-Fi. I forget how much I hate being jet lagged and how it can throw me off mentally. The plane ride to Amsterdam was nine hours long with the twelve hour layover in Amsterdam. I felt like a zombie by the time we got on the plane to fly to Florence. Amsterdam feels like a dream but I had a blast.

The flight was long but they had free movies, free HBO and ShowTime and other TV shows to keep me occupied. Little did I know that Delta gave out an unlimited amount of beer and wine. Danielle (my roommate) and I consumed quite a lot of wine and a good nap in. Not only did they have free booze, but also served us three meals, I have never been so happy on an airplane. Once we landed we received a bottle of wine off the plane courtesy of the Coug flight attendant that was serving us (Go Cougs!).

Lucky for us the airport had baggage storage and downtown was only a 20 minute train ride away. There is plenty to do and see in Amsterdam within a 12 hour window. Danielle and I first visited Anne Frank's huis. It was really cool to be in something that was a huge part of history but also a littlee creepy/depressing. You're not supposed to take pictures inside but I snapped a picture of where the bookcase was that covered the opening of their hide out.

The next place we went to was the I AMSTERDAM sign. 

Walked past Von Gogh's Museum, wish we would have went in, I love his art.

After walking around for a bit, we ate and Danielle’s jet lag started to kick in so we made a meeting spot at the train station where she rested and I went to venture into the Red Light District

Red Light District was not what I expected, it was laid back and full of junkies. I would go back but never alone. After I took this last picture I had this gut feeling that something was not right and realized I was being followed by some creeper. He was a tall extremely thin man looked to be late teens, early twenties, and looked to be Cambodian. He was wearing a gray sweat outfit and holding a bag of fruit and was licking his lips at me. I will never forget that look. First thing that came to mind was the movie Taken. I saw him and turned around and went three different ways and he was still right behind me staring at me. Luckily there was a cop nearby and I asked him to point me in the direction of the train station. Unfortunately he was a tad busy but a local girl overheard me and told me she was on her way and that I could walk with her. She was incredibly nice and we walked and talked until the train station. The creeper followed us until we were about a block away. I definitely learned my lesson. I am never roaming the streets alone in Red Light, even if it is in the day time. Found Danielle and went back to the airport. I could not wait to leave Amsterdam haha. I am now in Florence staying at hotel because we cannot move into our apartments yet. We have our first dinner as a group so I should get going and will write another entry sooner or later, but that is it for now!