The initial reason we wanted to go back to Amsterdam is that we missed reserving Anne Frank tickets as they sell out weeks in advance. After visiting the first time, we were excited to go back and hit everything we didn't have time to do. Right after we got off the train, we got on a ferry and headed to the northern part of the city, to the neighborhood of Buiksloterham. As we were coming into the dock, we went past this cool Botel with rooms in each of the letters. First off, the neighborhood of Buiksloterham is SO cool, an old industrial area turned hipster, art-focused, nightlife center. We went to the STRAAT Museum and were completely blown away. Huge paintings fill up the warehouse and you can even catch artists working on new pieces in the back of the gallery. I can't say enough good things about the art here. There is so much to see and each piece is different from the last. I would 10/10 recommend. Isaac for scale. One last picture of the gallery - they also had a few non-painting pieces like this rug mirror and the giant flamingo in the back. There was a cool open cafe on the second floor that allowed you to see the whole exhibit from above. There was also a special exhibit featuring Shepard Fairey's work, the designer of the Obama "Hope" poster from the 2008 election and founder of OBEY clothing. After the museum, we headed back into the center of town, close to the Anne Frank house. It was a little rainy - made us feel at home. I'll never get tired of these canal views. While we waited, we decided it was a good time for happy hour. We went to a bar right next to the popular Tulip Museum and Cheese Museum and got a great spot under the umbrella along the canal. With the Cheese Museum taunting us, we knew it was our duty to try out the Amsterdam cheese. The cheese board came with 4 of the best cheeses we've ever had - straight cheese, no crackers. A perfect happy hour. There are no pictures allowed at the Anne Frank house, but as you probably know, is a unique and memorable experience. The museum is so well done - the story alone is incredible but the tour of the house really brings it all together. We definitely left with heavy hearts but were really glad we were able to have the chance to visit. After the museum, we headed to our hotel and walked through Westerpark that houses not only beautiful gardens, but sports fields, event space, and restaurants. The next morning we walked back through the park to enjoy the sunshine while it lasted. We passed a group of kids playing in a Saturday morning Korfball tournament. Yes, you read that right - look it up. We sat and watched for about 10 minutes trying to figure out what we were watching. Isaac was patiently waiting for dumplings when this heron popped out of nowhere! It seems that he too was waiting for dumplings. Our sunny morning went to grey and windy in about 5 minutes, but nothing could damper our excitement for dumplings. Along with dumplings, we got a huge crepe and springs rolls. A picnic feast! The little dumpling shack is a delicious local gem. We had also gotten tickets to Fabrique des Lumières, an immersive audiovisual experience with videos playing on every surface. The day we went happened to be the premiere of the new program, Destination Cosmos. It was such a cool experience with different places to sit and enjoy the program. This is a shot from the far end of the exhibit, on the second level. As you can see, everything is lit up around you, creating engagement with the art in a whole new way. There was also a room of mirrors in the center you could sit in and see the visuals reflected on all walls, ceiling, and the floor. After the show, we walked over to the city center and wandered in the farmer's market. A bustling Saturday! After some window shopping and some fun souvenir stores, we made our way to the train station, stopping at the library just before. The view of the sunset and the city was insane! There is no way I would get any good studying here if I had a view like this. Isaac and I opted for a grab and go meal on the train consisting of a sandwich, sushi, and handheld protein yogurts. A meal fit for royalty. And the perfect way to end our weekend trip - a gorgeous sunset.
