An Amsterdam Adventure - European Exploits

A vacation in Europe is arguably the most sought-after holiday—cultivated in us through books, movies like Eurotrip, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Letters to Juliet, French Kiss, Under the Tuscan Sun, to name a few, and of course the adventurous tales of other travellers. In June 2016, my sister and I were beyond thrilled to go on a month-long Europe trip to some of our favorite destinations—France, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK (pre-Brexit). And what’s more, this was our first international sister vacay!

For aspiring globe-trotters, here is some info that might help with your visa, itinerary, and holiday planning:

1. Depending on your passport, you might need a Schengen visa. If you do need one, apply to the consulate in the country where you will spend the majority of your trip. I chose the French visa application centre since we would spend most of our summer there. My advice is to do it on your own and avoid unnecessary agency fees.

2. Always book your flights/trains/boats and hotels/hostels/tents in advance because:

 The consulate needs proof of your safe travels and RETURN to ensure that you don’t waste away on their land and resources, backpacking your life away with no intention of going back (damn them!). Also, it helps them determine the period of your visa validity.

 It will considerably increase your chances of getting the visa approved.

 You can always cancel these bookings at a later date (so choose refundable options) if you have a backpacking expedition in mind.

3. Do your research! I cannot stress enough the fact. Online reviews seriously help when booking hotels or Airbnb (as illustrated in our Paris blog). We recommend Airbnb all the way. Especially on your first trip, living with the host can prove invaluable (indigenous knowledge and what-not).

4. When travelling with someone, find you a downright awesome person, so they plan/book the itinerary while you sit back and enjoy the ride. For me, that person was my sister, Raina. She used skyscanner.com for flights, loco2 for trains and booking.com or Airbnb for stay.

All this pre-planning may seem overwhelming but trust that it is necessary, exciting and worth your while. Either way, nothing prepares you for the adventure you are about to embark on.

Now, back to our story.

FIRST STOP - AMSTERDAM.

On June 11, 2016, I took a flight to London to meet Raina, who resided there at the time. The journey started brilliantly with an upgrade to business class by Etihad Airways (the in-flight Arabic symphonies transport you to the enigmatic middle-east and give major Sex and the City 2 vibes).

Our flight to Amsterdam was the following day, so we bided our time shopping and strolling beside canals, Oxford Street, and Knightsbridge.

As we were wrapping up some last-minute packing and booking a taxi to take us to Gatwick airport (on the outskirts of London town), we realized to our horror that the flight wasn’t at 8 PM as we had presumed but in 45 minutes, at 4 PM. Now, knowing us, we were bound to find ourselves in a sticky situation at some point during the trip, but neither one of us expected it to happen before the holiday had even begun!

Not giving up till the eleventh hour, we raced across town to catch the flight, to no avail. So we booked another one which, to our delight, was at 8:30 PM. Even though we were moving at lightning speed, hopping from cabs to trains, we barely made it in time.

Essential YG Travel Tip: If not included in your ticket cost, always check in your baggage online as it is so much cheaper than paying at the airport. We paid heavily. Each time.

On June 13, after an hour-long flight, we arrived at Schiphol airport, Amsterdam! The cops outside the airport were very helpful and insisted on getting us a cab, but we decided to uber it to the hotel instead. Things that transcend language—hailing cabs, buying liquor, making friends, making love, and being kind. OK, that was five, and there might be more. We had made room reservations at Golden Tulip Amsterdam riverside in Zuidoost, on the city outskirts.

Best. Decision. Ever.

We woke up early the next day to one of the most stunning sunrise vistas. The glass wall in our room projected this view:

A few yards away, a river canal stretched horizontally from end to end while its shimmering silver surface reflected shards of sunlight in all directions. Beyond the creek lay a vast expanse of lush green grasslands that seemed to kiss the sun at the horizon. A lone barn stood against the boundless prairies at the river banks while a young lass trained some horses near it.

It was a scene right out of Anne of Green Gables.

We called for room service before setting out on our day’s adventures, and it nearly cost us more than the price of the food itself. So from then on, whenever we needed in-room dining, I would go down to the restaurant, pick up the tray of food with a flourish and bring it to the room myself. It was an option provided to the guests by the hotel.

Self-service du jour!

Since these were the first few days of our vacation, we were proud of ourselves for saving in small ways. But the amount we spent on stuffing our faces to satisfy the raging munchies during our Amsterdam travels overrode all futile attempts at budgeting.

We had packed for a summer vacation, but Europe was saturated with cloudy weather and intermittent downpours. So we borrowed an umbrella from the hotel to save ourselves from the relentless weather. The reason I mention this is because it was no ordinary umbrella but rather a mysterious, miraculous one that kept getting lost and finding its way back to us in the most astonishing ways throughout this trip. You will find us talking about 'the umbrella' in all our European tales.

In Amsterdam, for instance, we kept forgetting the umbrella (without fail) at every cafe, bar, and shop and would always frantically rush back to retrieve it. It became a running joke between us, all puns intended.

This hilarity ensued throughout the first day, so when we were finally retiring for the day, we decided to wager on never losing the umbrella. We took its picture (see below) to mark the beginning of our umbrella escapades, and sure enough, just as we entered the hotel, the realization struck that we had forgotten it yet again by the sidewalk. Moreover, right where we captured its image.

We found it, of course, until we lost it again in Paris. But more on that later. 'The umbrella,' as we now call it, turned out to be our one loyal travel companion.

One of the most enticing aspects of Europe is its scenic beauty, which oozes out of every nook and cranny. Even the road from the hotel to the metro station was a striking vista. After acquiring our Amsterdam Travel Ticket, we set off toward the city center. Then we took a tram to Leidseplein, home to the famous Red Light District, The Bulldog Palace, the Anne Frank House, and many museums. Museum fanatics must invest in the Museumkaart for free access to around 400 museums in the Netherlands. You can buy it online or at Amsterdams Uitburo in Leidseplein.

The Red Light District is home to brothels, sex shops, museums, coffee shops, peep shows, strip clubs, etc., catering to the eclectic tastes of people. Amsterdam prides itself on embracing these generally criminalized activities wholly and liberally. The cordial atmosphere attracts party lovers from the world over!

YG Travel Tip: Always have cash in hand.

YG Travel Tip for Amsterdam: For yummy space cakes, check out Coffeeshop Voyagers and Cafe Easy Times.

We had some riveting interactions with people from around the globe who were just as enthralled by the city. We bonded over the cultural shock of indulging in the city’s finest offerings without any legal repercussions.

We ran into a couple of friends from India and relished some drinks with them at a riverside bar. Strolling or cycling by the canal while gazing at the panoramic city-side and its vividly colored buildings was another gratifying experience.

After squinting through the hazy blur of our Amsterdam memories for any other fascinating stories (which we cannot seem to recall), one thing is for sure—it was laden with legions of laughter and thrilling experiences that left us ecstatic!

It brings an age-old adage to mind: “People will always remember how you made them feel.” It is true with places too, and the vibe in Amsterdam is so dazzling and rich with history and culture that I hope to return soon someday and spend a considerable amount of my life in this delightful city.

After a three-day adventure in Amsterdam, we bid the jazzy burg goodbye and headed to our next destination – PARIS, the city of love and light.