I Heart Amsterdam

 So, what's been shaking on this side of the pond?  Well, prior to leaving the States, Leah and I had somewhat planned a quick trip to Amsterdam because: a. it was close and b. neither of us had been there before.  There were a lot of details that still needed to be worked out, but we really couldn't do anything until the last minute.  For example, I had been closely monitoring the train ticket prices for about a week, but we couldn't purchase them until we knew for sure we would make it on the flight... BUT, we definitely needed to buy them ASAP because the prices increase exponentially the closer you get to departure.  Also, Leah had been diligently researching hotels, but that also depended on...

1. Both of us getting on the flight
2. Locking down the train tickets at a reasonable price
3. Figuring out how we could get to the train station early enough to make a 06:25 train (they say the Metro starts running between 05:00 and 05:30, but...they're French..enough said.  We had invested too much into this little adventure to rely on the Metro)

As you can see, there were a LOT of factors that were all intertwined and dependent on each other...but, somehow, someway, all of the stars aligned, and we got everything straightened out!  Thanks, in part, to Mom and Jonathan figuring out how to buy 2 round trip train tickets, in French, mere seconds after Leah and I headed down the jet way. 

So, as soon as the plane touched down at Charles de Gaulle, we literally hit the ground running to get all of the other details worked out...starting with a quick nap followed by a turkey and lamb falafel from a life changing restaurant in the Jewish Quarter...

Here's a picture of Grandad and I in front of the restaurant when he came to visit. I've been there once... or twice...

Our alarms went off bright and early the next morning at 04:30, we met our taxi at 05:00, and before we knew it, we were on a train to Amsterdam!

Waiting to board the train

 

A visit to the Heineken Museum

The Heineken Museum had a lot of interactive things to do...including a video sing-a-long to a traditional Dutch song.  I couldn't keep a straight face the entire time and eventually gave up to head over to the complimentary tasting in the next room.  Feel free to check it out and have a good laugh at our expense.
 Heineken Video

Leah and I agreed that these mini Dutch pancakes were the highlight of the trip

Look at all of the powered sugar goodness!!!

We ventured over to the Red Light District to see what the fuss was about...apparently the swans liked it too

This is a parking deck with over 2,000 bikes!

One of the problems with living in a city full of canals...

While it was pretty cold and foggy, Leah and I felt that we had conquered Amsterdam in the 2.5 days that we were there.  Between walking around, visiting the Van Gogh Museum, strolling through the Red Light District, relaxing on a canal tour, and, of course, eating lots of food...including (but not limited to) Indonesian fair and French fries (apparently both are specialties), we thoroughly enjoyed our whirlwind trip.  But, alas, it was finally time to head back to ol' Paris.

As soon as we got back to my apartment, we quickly changed and headed out to celebrate New Year's Eve --- Parisian style.  We really didn't have much of a plan except to be at the Eiffel Tour at midnight, so we grabbed a quick dinner at the only restaurant that was open and not ridiculously crowded (it was mediocre at best...hence, the plethora of space), but made it back to the tower just in time for the clock to strike twelve.

Champagne toast!

La Tour Eiffel at midnight!

Aside from the crowds, the tower did the same light show that it does at the top of every hour...no fire works or anything.  Oh well, we still had a really great time ringing in 2011!

Bonne Année!!!

- a tout à l’heure!