I Amsterdam!

I always wanted to visit Amsterdam, it’s one of my favourite cities in the world. I had heard so much about this city of Canals, Drugs and Sex. To me, it was a city where you could do or be anything.  Netherlands’ very liberal set of policies makes some other countries look like they don’t understand life. (LOL)

So many things their laws permit you to do that are illegal in other parts of the world. From smoking weed to drinking at 16 (less than 15%) to purchasing sex from a shop window. Amsterdam was …. let’s just say, an experience. Did you know Netherlands was the first country to legalise same sex marriages? you welcome. Lol

I’m not sure I chose the best time of the year to visit as I went in January and it was extremely cold but I was busy acting like a strong babe who was used to the cold just because I live in Glasgow… hmm it was cold o! Anyways, before I forget, I was on this trip with Bobby (my only brother) and Kenechi (my cousin) who just loves me. Hehehehe!

First thing we did as soon as we got to the hotel and had breakfast was to take a walk. It really was a long walk as cabs were so expensive and we couldn’t use bicycles like everyone else because we didn’t know much about the roads at that time. We walked past several canals and I got tired of counting, they were so beautiful. Amsterdam is a city tied to water and it grew around its canals.

It was a lovely walk, I must add… except for the cold and the number of times I almost got knocked over by a bike. Bikes are to Amsterdam like jollof rice is to Nigeria (err just because I can, permit me to say Nigerian jollof is the best, dont argue with me please. It’s against the law). Okay back to my point, the city loves bike and I think I’ve heard people say there are more bikes in Amsterdam than people.

The Rijksmuseum

I’m not really a fan of museums, and Amsterdam has quite a lot. I particularly liked this one though because behind it, I found my picture spot! One major thing I do before I travel to any city is to find their most photographed spots online and when I eventually get there, I try my best to recreate any pose I had previously seen.

I really don’t know how many ‘I Amsterdam’ signs there are in Amsterdam but I am aware of two, one at the airport and this one right here just behind the Rijksmuseum. This especially is one of the most photographed spots in Amsterdam.

(It was Kenechi’s birthday and once again, she wished to be as tall as yours truly) LMAO
For the love of street food…

One thing we did that I felt was totally overrated was the ‘Heineken Experience’, I don’t know why it’s on the Amsterdam ‘must do’ list but in my opinion, it wasn’t anything mind blowing.

The Heineken Experience is just a tourist spot created in the old Heineken brewery, right on the canal on Stadhouderskade. They don’t brew Heineken there anymore but it now serves as an ‘experience’ to show visitors exactly how it is made.

Towards the end of the tour, they give you free beers and teach you how to drink Heineken but it’s not rocket science, you just drink the damn beer. Also, considering how much we paid to get in, it wasn’t free beer after all…hehehe

(Mummy in case you are reading this too, its apple juice i’m drinking please)

I loved the Amsterdam Ice bar where everything from the chairs to the cups was made of ice. I don’t have to tell you it was freezing in there. They actually give you special jackets and very thick gloves before you go in.




Feel free to chew the glass when you are done drinking. It’s all ice.

The night before we left Amsterdam, we had to visit the Red Light District. I don’t have pictures from that visit because of course you are not allowed to take photographs of the women in the show glasses waiting patiently ……for ‘customers’. It was an interesting experience and I would love to take my mother there, just to see the look on her face. (I’m already laughing hard)

Thank you for reading till the end lol.

Love,
Ezinne Akudo