MASON • A SUMMER ABROAD | Part 2
7 Countries. 12 Cities. 6 Weeks. And, boy, it sure has been crazy.
We are so excited to have Mason back with us again as she shares about her travel experiences while studying abroad in Prague. She is studying in Prague(like right this very moment!) on a studying abroad program with the University of New York. Mason is taking us along with her as she & her roomie explore what Europe was to offer. We are so thrilled to have this venturesome Kappa Alpha Theta woman back with us again! She’s having a fantastic time but is ready to get back to her Theta sisters at Gamma Phi Chapter at Texas Tech University to begin her Junior year & see her sisters!
Mason is with us for a full Mini Series! Meaning she will be coming back and sharing about several of the places she is traveling, giving tips on what to do (like when to buy tickets for the Anne Frank house & where to find the best pancakes!), and telling you stories as her wonderlust heart explores a new city. She is even sharing some of her own personal snap shots she has taken during her explorations of the countries.
So, without further ado (because let’s be honest, y’all wanna hear about Amsterdam from Mason). Here is Mason’s 2nd Mini Series entry about her time in Amsterdam! Did you miss Part 1? Hold up, we totally recommend you check that out first – did we mention, she was in Germany? Que heart eyes here, y’all!
The Netherlands: Amsterdam
Technically my next stop was Prague, which is where I am doing the actual studying . . . “studying”, but lets skip ahead and come back to Prague later. I now have a new travel buddy, my friend and roommate Kenzie, who is studying with me in Prague, and we are ready for our first holiday, as the Europeans say. Now, Amsterdam is somewhere that I had heard about from other friends of mine who had studied abroad previously, and after extensive Pinterest research, we booked a flight. Equipped with one backpack and a passport, we made our way to Amsterdam.
I really did not know what to expect from the city most famously known for its Red Light District and smelling like weed. After taking the cliché, but must have, picture next to the IAMSTERDAM sign; Kenzie and I had a walking tour almost immediately, which turned out to be perfect planning. Although walking around with a backpack full of clothes at 8 in the morning didn’t seem ideal, we could no have been more wrong. Amsterdam was perfect. Streets lined with townhouses, leaning and crooked from age, with canals running through them was breathtaking. After learning our way around the city we were off to do our own exploring. The flower market is a definite must as well as the flea market just down the road (Kenzie actually bought a jean jacket there. I’d say that’s a pretty cool souvenir). We went to the Anne Frank house the next day but not before indulging ourselves in the traditional Dutch Pancakes from Pancakes Amsterdam. PRO TIP: Anne Frank is something every tourist should do, be sure to book your ticket online the day before. Trust me. Our favorite pastime, however, was wandering the streets. We stumbled across the Jordaan district, which just so happens to be the perfect spot for a spontaneous photo shoot, which Kenzie and I obliged to do. If you leave Amsterdam with less than 100 pictures, you’ve done it wrong.
See every city from the water.
Seriously. Everywhere looks different from water. That is something I came to realize after our canal cruise Friday night. There is something magical about viewing Amsterdam from a boat. The lights were reflecting off the water in such a way that it felt like a Nicholas Sparks movie – completely unreal but you couldn’t stop looking. If there is one take away from this let it be this: see every city from the water. You can thank me later.
The next day we went to a museum. Yes, alright, it sounds boring, but what about if I tell you it was the House of Bols museum? The House of Bols is an interactive cocktail experience that leads you through what it takes to make a great cocktail, and bonus, you get a free drink at the end. In this self guided tour, you will visualize, taste, smell and hear the process. You even get the chance to create your own personalized cocktail at the end! It was definitely a once in a lifetime sort of place. But then again, so was our next stop. Judge us all you want but Kenzie and I went to see A Dog’s Purpose. In Europe. When we have only limited time in Amsterdam. Y’all, when we saw the theater on our walking tour that first day, we knew we had to come an experience it. Possibly the most extravagant theater I have been in apart from some on Broadway in New York City. With its Art Deco influence, the Pathe Theater ups the ante with velvet curtains, an ornate ceiling and balcony seats. Look at it. Y’all will see why we just had to go. Also, something completely unexpected that came from this trip was our obsession with Thai food. Thai food in Amsterdam, weird, right? Every restaurant we tried was closed because it was 10 at night, but this little Thai place near our hotel was open until 11. Neither of us had ever had Thai before, but we were desperate. And now our lives are changed forever. It has become Kenzie and my quest to try Thai food at least once in every city that we visit. So far, we have been successful.
Alas, our time in Amsterdam was up. School was calling. But I will never forget how the city inspired me with its laid-back lifestyle and artistic flair.
P.S. EAT STROOPWAFFELS. Eat them all. You won’t regret it!
To Do:
– Visit the Tulip Fields in a Holland day trip
– Rent bikes
