Amsterdam!

We had a great day in Amsterdam on Sunday. Normally Sunday is host family day, and we wanted nothing more than to spend the day with our families, but schedules didn't work out, so Hector, Kevin, Jessica and I all took off by train to go explore Amsterdam. We missed the time with our hosts, but we truly appreciated getting to explore such an amazing city!

 On the train to Amsterdam!

Our first stop was the Anne Frank House. What an amazing place that was. I've always been fascinated by WWII and the events of the Holocaust, so I knew I needed to see the house of Anne Frank. Pictures weren't allowed, so I found some pictures online that help depict the secret annex Anne and 7 others lived in for 2 years before being captured and taken to the concentration camps.

 

The Anne Frank house as it was in the 40s (left) and present day (right). The facade is of the warehouse, not the annex. The street view goes to show how well the annex was hidden from view. You couldn't see it from the street.

The warehouse (left side) and the back annex (right side). The 8 people in hiding lived in the back annex that was hidden from view.

The moveable bookcase that concealed the hidden passageway to the back annex. It was a big step up and a low ceiling to enter the passage, so you had to be very careful.

Anne's room that she shared with Fritz Pfeffer. She decorated the walls with newspaper and magazine pictures

The stairways were INCREDIBLY steep and straight up, and during the days, the families couldn't open the windows or curtains a single inch. They lived in silence during the day so that the warehouse workers below wouldn't know they were up there. They didn't run water, walk on the floorboards, talk, sing, cook, or anything for fear they would be discovered. Eventually all 8 were captured and taken to the Nazi concentration camps. 7 of the 8 perished in the war - only Otto Frank, Anne's father, survived. He played a vital role in preserving the annex as a museum and publishing Anne's diary for the whole world to read. It was unbelievable knowing I was walking on the same streets and floors as the Frank family and the Nazi soldiers who invaded Amsterdam. What an experience.

After the museum, we walked all the way across town through the Flower Market to visit the Hermitage Museum where the Van Gogh paintings had been temporarily moved. We explored the Van Gogh exhibit and then continued on to see the rest of the city!

Train station

The whole city is built over canals. It's great!

 Flower Market!

Just a funny moment. We thought Kevin was recording a video, but it was a picture! I love the faces!

We ran into Mika from Japan!

It's all about the wooden shoes! =)

I played the tourist card and bought some clog slippers. I LOVE them - such a great decision, and now I'll always have a little piece of Holland with me!