European {Honeymoon-inspired} Travel Journal: Amsterdam, p.2

Entry no. 2: Amsterdam

Welcome back for part 2! If you missed part 1, just click here to catch up. And make sure you scroll down  for CB's top tips on visiting Amsterdam.

Flower markets are sprinkled throughout the city and they hold some of the most delightfully organic arrangements I've ever seen ... I believe the sign above translates to "If you only had me." And with the incredibly affordable prices, your love could buy you a bouquet for every day of your honeymoon stay. ;o)

I found the coolest antique silver decanter label to hang around a favorite bottle of liquor at that little Antiek shop above ... the store was tucked away in a side street and filled with loads of curious things ... my absolute favorite kind. I love finding a little {or not-so-little!} antique relic to take home with me in every city we visit - the best kind of souvenir in my book.

That tiny black and white house on the left just may have been my favorite ... so humbly sized and the glossy black and white façade has such a classic appeal ... I'd love to see the attic space and how it's decorated inside!

Despite having visited the city twice before, I had never made it to the Van Gogh Museum ... So glad we made the trek this time ... see my tips below for more details.

And, of course, I had to re-visit The Anne Frank House. Despite the tragic history surrounding the structure and its former inhabitants, there is always so much beauty and inspiration to be found here. I love how several insightful and often optimistic lines from Anne's diary are printed on many of the walls inside the Secret Annex.

Seriously, I could not get enough of the lovely vintage beauties I kept spotting ... wouldn't it be so fun to scoot around the city's streets in a vintage Mini or Alfa Romeo?!

Love that magical morning light on the left ... slowly filtering through the clouds and bathing the city in its warm glow.

I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse at our stay in Amsterdam and I would certainly recommend this gracious city as a lovely honeymoon destination. I loved visiting in the early autumn ... the summer crowds had died down and we didn't have to wait in line at all to get into the most popular attractions that can sometimes command an hour + wait or more. The weather was lovely, too ... a little chilly in the morning and then warming up in the afternoon.

And, of course, I jotted down some of my tips in case you plan to visit the capital city of the Netherlands, too ...

CB's Top Tips for Amsterdam:

-- This could probably be said for most European destinations but I would strongly encourage wearing comfortable walking shoes in Amsterdam ... or at least opt for a stylish pair of ballet flats in favor of heels or wedges ... the sidewalks were ridiculously uneven and with thousands of quick-moving cyclists and cars sharing the same space, I found it best to have good footing.

-- There are a slew of tourist attractions to be found in Amsterdam but chances are you won't have time to see them all. If you're short on time, make sure you at least swing by The Anne Frank House. The tour is self-guided so you can spend as little or as much time as you'd like in the house. I've always found the visit to be incredibly powerful and moving, despite the crowds.

-- Also try to fit a jaunt to the Van Gogh Museum into your schedule. While his work has permeated modern culture with prints in most every coffee shop and dorm room, I found it an amazing experience seeing the original works in person ... the mountainous globs of vibrant paint, the signature swirls and the extraordinarily thick brushstrokes ... it almost seemed like there was a palpable energy radiating forth from many of the paintings.

-- Do take a canal boat cruise - whether for lunch, dinner or just a sightseeing tour, you'll get a special view of the city with lots of prime photo-taking ops.

-- While certainly not the most romantic or endearing segment of the city, I don't think a trip would be complete without at least a brisque walk down Warmoesstraat, located in the heart of the Red Light District. If anything, the sights found along these streets {and side alleys} will surely spark a lively dialogue about how countries deal with such moral issues so differently. Consider it a learning experience.

-- If you have time, explore beyond the city limits. You'll often find an interesting mixture of starkly modern buildings alongside historic windmills in the country. Also, in the springtime, The Keukenhof offers a beautiful view of perfectly-manicured garden grounds robust with colorful tulips. It's only open from late March through late May but is definitely worth a trip if you'll be in town.

If you have any tips, insights, suggestions or comments, I'd love to hear them! Hope you enjoyed the second installment of the European {Honeymoon-Inspired} Travel Journal! Happy Honeymooning!

Did you miss the other entries of CB's Travel Journal? Click here to catch up! ;o)



{All images by me}