Sunday we left Copenhagen and arrived in Amsterdam and made our way to our hotel. It reminded me of a place we stayed when I was in France. It was adorable and fancy. Then we took the tram to the Lloyd Hotel. Interesting place that was transformed throughout time. At one point it was a prison, but apparently they kept them in the basements and if they were bad they would put them in the cell. Some one also said they would chase the prisoners around to tier them out so they simply didn't have the energy to escape. Later on they gave it to a bunch of artists who could do what ever they like, like take out walls, to make larger studios. Now its a hotel and there is a restaurant that we ate at.
After lunch we went to Borneo Housing, which was designed by West 8. I could notice their work by the bright red bridges. They were pretty cool and wacky. I felt like I was in an amusement park walking up the one. The facades were nice to see because none of them were the same. They each had their own character unlike most housing developments in the US.
Upon return to Amsterdam we had the rest of the day free. Naps were well needed before we went on a hunt for dinner. We found this really cool place in a library. It was called something like Viviano. It was cafeteria style where you go and order your food from different lines. We had a great time! Afterwards we wandered around to try and find a bar. Our wanderings lead us into the red light distrct. There were so many different reactions in our little group. It was really funny to see. One of my girlfriends was loving it looking at all the girls. One of my guy friends was like a little boy in a candy shop haha so giddy. I was more or less indifferent about it and somewhat appalled and a little on the uncomfortable side. My other friend was even more uncomfortable than I was. I felt awkward looking at them but was way more uncomfortable by the creepy men around. We finally went into this quant little pub. The bar tender was some character. He was born and raised in Amsterdam but his accent sounded almost australian to me. He had this biker mustache and a tattoo on his head of himself pushing a lawn mower. I think he said it was symbolizing him going bald? But I don't remember exactly. We stayed for a drink and then headed home. Climbing into bed felt amazing.
Monday March 5th
We started out our day at BO6 architecture bureau for an office visit. Nothing really too exciting to talk about here. But after this we had the rest of the day on our own in Amsterdam. I wandered around with the Prat girls to go see part of the newer housing complexes and part of the old with intricate canals. The house boats in this area were really cool to see. Most were extremely old some looked like junk yards. Then we wandered to a park. I thought it was beautiful but the girls I was with were like "why would he suggest we come here?" I think its because spring wasn't quite here yet and the lawn had some dirt mounds. It would have been nicer if it were sunny out and the flowers blooming.
After this I broke off on my own because they wanted to go to the Heineken Brewery and I didn't really care to do that. SO I went to the photography museum called Foam on my own. I wanted to get some inspiration for my fairly new hobby of photography. A lot of it I think I could have taken a picture of. I think I took a couple pretty good ones on this trip.
Then instead of going back to the hotel before dinner I wanted to go to see the Southern Cross Church, which is the first church in Amsterdam. Now this church is in the Red Light District, but it was 4 oclock in the afternoon so i figured I had nothing to worry about right?..... Wrong... I turned a corner to go down a narrow side street and found to the left and right of me almosted naked women in the windows waiting to be "bought". There was no turning back now.. I was by myself so I walked as fast as I could and tried to look like I wasn't uncomfortable... But in reality I have never been more uncomfortable in my life. So many creepy men wandering around the area. And then when I got to the church you had to pay to go in. (Ironic to have a church in the red light district no?) So i just walked around the outside and saw this hefty woman with her boobs pressed up against the window. Gotta have variety right?
On my way back I avoided going through the district and walked about 10 mins out of my way to dinner in this building that looked like a castle. Before dinner I saw my friends go into I waffle so shop... I joined. we had dessert before dinner :) One of their stories of the day was one of them made a new friend. Some guy came up to her with a map over one eye and asked where central station was. She pointed out the direction and the guy was like "your not lying to me right? are you sure?" She started to laugh. hahaha he was clearly high out of his mind. They saw him a little later... he was still lost with the map over one eye.
After dinner we went to a Spanish Guitar Concert. Not what I was expecting. It was basically a never ending concert with an orchestra playing accompanied by a spanish guitar. I fell asleep....... All plans of going out that night were squashed after the 2 hour lullaby. Also I've come to notice that Europeans LOVE to applause.... they seriously don't stop clapping. I found it the strangest thing when the conductor was leaving and going up the steps, he stopped at the top and turned back around for an encore of applause. He didnt just do this once either....
Tuesday March 6th
Today we left Amsterdam for a day in Utrecht. Here we looked at buildings on the university campus as well as visiting the Schroder House. It was smaller in person and I think its pretty ugly. I like the concept but not the execution. Its really neat that you can change the upstairs floor plan opening and closing different walls to make 4 separate rooms.
After the Shroder House two of my friends and I got lunch at a place called the Basket (there was a basketball court on the roof). I ordered my first drink at 21- hot chocolate with kaluha_soo delicious.
Old Utrecht feels like a smaller more quant Amsterdam with canals that have ledges close to the water. My friend and I wandered around for a bit and got a drink at a coffee shop. So much cheaper than Copenhagen.
Birthday dinner was so delicious! 5 course meal soup, pasta, salad, chicken with pepper sauce and dessert! They also sang to me and brought out my dessert with sparklers on it. Our TA also bought everyone truffles for my birthday :).
After dinner it was back to Amsterdam. Before we went out we as the days would say "warmed up". We met up with friends from the other group and we went into Cafe Club Smokey. I had such a blast! Most fun birthday I have had in a while. Couldn't have asked for a better night for my 21st.
Depart for Germany~Wednesday March 7th
3 hr bus ride to this really sweet renovated industrial place in Germany called Zeche Zollveren. I think this was one of my favorite stops. The place used to be a mine. Most of the buildings were renovated and are now museums.
Then it was back to the bus for Cologne. 1st stop Kolumba Museum. The way the architects incorporated the ruins in with the new architecture was really done well. We had very little time in the museum but I wanted to go to the Cathedral more anyway the Kolner Dome. I absolutely love cathedrals. There is something so moving about them. The architecture is amazing and building them themselves is an art. So much history in them.
Then we departed for a night in Dusseldorf. We had dinner on our own at the Brewery House. I don't think I like German food very much. I ordered blackened sausage thinking how bad could it be... the flavor was good but the consistency was not what i was expecting. and was weirded out by it. Stuck my fork in it, and it was mush.... don't want to know what exactly it was that I was eating or what it was soaked in.
March 8th-9th
Hamburg Germany- Not much happened here.... we went on a tour of a development on the harbor and then had a couple hours on our own to keep wandering around the area before dinner... way too much time spent there. The next morning we had free as well to explore. We mainly wandered around the expensive part of town looking in shops. (wish we wandered in the cheaper end) oh well. Before we left for Copenhagen we had lunch, buffet style, I ate soo much!
On our way back to Copenhagen we had to get on a ferry. First time I've seen a train on a boat, and a giant tub of nutella...
