Day 13--Amsterdam

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We took an overnight train to Amsterdam and arrived around 10am. We figured we would be unable to check in yet so we dropped off our bags at the train station and headed for the main part of the city. On our walk around we found Madame Toussaud’s Wax Museum. We were able to take pictures of and with famous people both dead and alive. Justin was finally able to meet and take a picture with the Pope. We were also able to take a picture with Johnny Depp—from his younger years. In the book there was pictures of a Pirates display…unfortunately this was not there so we were unable to take pictures with Jack Sparrow or Elizabeth Swann.
With the Madame Toussaud’s tickets we got tickets to the Amsterdam Dungeon. This was a historical haunted house. We learned about Amsterdam’s bloody past—like Soul Merchants who would trick or capture people into being crews on ships. At the end there was a mini roller coaster we were able to ride.
After that it was close to 2 and we decided to check into our hotel—Hotel de Gerstekorrel. After checking in we learned that we were on the top floor of the building and had to climb very steep, narrow, twisting steps—this was not fun and a little treacherous (especially for my clumsy self). Needless to say, we tried to avoid having to go in and out too many times.
We then took showers because there are not showers on the train and they were much needed. On our way out we had some famous Holland fries (we assumed they were famous because everyone we were eating them).
We then headed over to the Heineken Brewery for the Heineken Experience. During the Heineken experience we were able to walk around learning about the history of Heineken and see how it is made. About half way through the tour we were put into a ‘ride’ where we became one of the Heineken bottles through its being made. After the ride we were able to do a tasting of Heineken and learned that the best way to pour a Heineken is to leave some of the head on it, take a water stick and run it across the top—this traps the carbon dioxide in and keeps the oxygen out. We continued on the tour, seeing different ads that have been made for Heineken, and seeing their different bottle types. At one point, Heineken bottles were made to be able to stack together and then make inexpensive homes. We were able to bottle our own beer that had our name printed on the label. At the end of the tour we were able to go to the Heineken bar and received two drinks. Justin and I both tried the Heineken Extra Cold. This meant that the lines and tap the Heineken came there were insulated with ice—we were able to touch the ice around the outside. The bar tables changed over time to the different parts of the world. Each time the city that was started changed on the table the pictures around the wall would change as well. Also on the table when you placed your glass down a Heineken coaster appeared under it and would follow the glass as it moved around.
After leaving the Heineken Brewery we walked around the city for a little while. We got some New York Style Pizza for dinner because we didn’t know the difference between a legitimate bakery and a bakery for pot.
Then around 10 we went to an ice bar. The beginning half of the bar was heat themed before entering into the ice part. The walls were red and there were illusions of heat and fire around the room and warms drinks were sold such as hot chocolate, and coffee. Then we were able to go into the ice bar. But before entering we had to get a pair of gloves and a warm winter jacket. In the ice bar we were served a drink in a glass made out of ice. Everything was made out of ice—the walls, bar, benches, tables. There were a few stools that were plastic and the benches had think fuzzy padding on them so it wouldn’t be freezing when you sat down. We were able to stay in the ice bar for a half hour then had to go back out to the heat bar. We then left the bar and headed back out to the city.
We headed towards the Red Light District to walk around for a little while. Sex shops and coffee houses (aka pot shops) were more frequent than Starbucks. The pattern was coffee shop, sex shop, windows. The Red Light District isn’t what Hollywood makes it seem like—the girls in the windows wear something like a swim suit or more.
We walked around the Red Light District for a little while then headed back to the hotel for some sleep.