Amsterdam….where to begin!? This city offers more than just hookers and marijuana! It’s tree-lined canals are a million times prettier than Venice’s building lined ones….that with the beautiful Vondel park plus fun different shops everywhere makes it an amazing city to visit!
Beautiful canals!
Brad and I arrived to our couchsurfer Simchah waiting for us at the train station. He’s not
Simchah and Herring!
exactly a typical-looking Dutchman …he’s tall but actually has some skin on his bones, and has a headfull of dreads! Very cool vibes! We immediately went to rent bikes while he gave us the low-down on the rules…
1. Look everywhere (for tourists mostly!!)
2. Give way to the right
3.Don’t be afraid to use your bell!
So on we rode with our massive backpacks on ha! Simchah first took us to the coffee shop he worked at and treated us to a cappuccino before heading to his humble abode to drop off the packs! The town is just incredible to ride around in….bike lanes EVERYWHERE! The bikes rule the city! There’s a parking garage dedicated to BIKES at the train station!
Backpacks and bikes!
Come nightfall Simchah took us to this underground “lighting festival” put on by a squatting community! We rode all the way out to the shipping warehouse and were terrified upon entering when there was a massive clap of synthetic thunder! We walked down a pitch black path to an exciting world of art, music, lighting and fire! This community had made something beautiful out of junk and free stuff they found! Taking a bath 20 feet above ground, chilling out in tree chairs and abandoned school buses are just a few things they enjoy!
Synthetic Lightning!
The best part of the night was after midnight (officially my birthday!) when they put on a tribal fire show! I imagine it was a scaled down version of burning man. Everyone came out painted
Fire show!
in robes, banging on trash cans, with bags of sawdust and fire! It was incredibly impressive, and by the end of it…they had burned down this whole contraption!
By the time we finished exploring, took the hour-long bike ride home, and got to sleep it was 6am and the sun was riding! So the next morning was a late start, but Brad and I eventually went out with the bikes and explored the red light district a bit before having a really nice lunch/dinner in Vondel park! It’s so massive with fountains and gardens and playgrounds….it can be explored for hours!
With a fairly easy night enjoying each others company….we were rested and ready to spend time with the family 
Vondel Park!