Amsterdam, Netherlands

How had I never been to Amsterdam? I feel like everyone has spent some time in this charming city, yet I never had the opportunity until this summer. I wasn't sure what to expect and all I really knew of Amsterdam was that they had a tulip festival in the spring and a red light district at night. I was excited to learn more.

I had mentioned to Leon while we were in Germany that I would have loved to gone to a concentration camp. I've already mentioned the special place in my heart for holocaust victims, and I think concentration camps are the most real place to be reminded of what happened to our brothers and sisters half a century ago. So, Leon suggested after we checked into our hotel to hop on the bus and check out Anne Frank's Annex.

In front of the Anne Frank House

Our Amsterdam family shot

There was a serious line to get in, but Leon insisted I had to see it, so we took turns waiting in the line while the other would walk around the neighborhood and take in the city. Ok, he stood in line while I walked around the neighborhood and got my taste of beautiful Amsterdam. He had his Snickers and a sleeping child, so it wasn't too rough on him. Leon had been to Amsterdam before and was excited for me to get my first gulp of the beautiful canals and flowers and buildings. 

bikes lined every canal way

The architecture was exquisite

This is Amsterdam

Pictures weren't allowed in the actual house. But boy was I glad I had this amazing opportunity. I read the Diary of Anne Frank years ago, but never really understood it until these moments. The moments I spent standing on the floors she stood, climbing the insanely steep steps she climbed, and imagining the dark quiet days she spent behind the bookshelf in her father's old jam factory. I read an excerpt from the diary about Jew's bicycles being taken. I'm sure that could sound silly to someone who hasn't seen the bike lined streets of Amsterdam. But after strolling through the neighborhood my heart broke for them because I really understood the culture behind the bicycle in Holland. The story of this family touched my soul to it's most sensitive parts. I couldn't help but silently cry thinking of the childhood that was lost and the fate that awaited her. 

Anne's father was the only one out of the four Franks to survive the concentration camps.  He was given her diary by one of his employees who was helping them hide and decided he would have it published. This was a special place and her father was a special man. I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to remember her and visit such a place.

She always wants her picture taken by obscure statues. This was hanging out outside the restaurant we had lunch at. Don't mind the headband we were in Amsterdam. It's all part of the experience.

By the time we finished making our way through the Anne Frank House, we were famished. We stopped at a little restaurant and had some delicious food pretty similar to the stuff we ate in Germany. Unfortunately, it was cash only and Leon had to find an ATM pronto. It took him at least a half hour, so I got to know the workers at the place pretty well and Ellie got to sample some pretty disgusting dutch candy.

Then in true Johnson form we decided it was time to get some ice cream and stop at a playground.

My best bud

I couldn't stop taking pictures of the canals.

She is in her element

We played hard. It was a really dirty playground and I felt bad for Jet because there were cigarette buds everywhere, so he couldn't really play. But Ellie played enough for the both of them. We have to throw in some stuff for the kids so that they will enjoy traveling as much as we do.

Oh and Gelatto is the Johnson downfall

After we tired the kids out, we headed for the city center. There were a few street performers, but for the most part Amsterdam seemed pretty mild. Nothing like some of the other city centers we had visited that week. It was quiet and kind of sparse. The empty streets made it seem lifeless. It was beautiful, but lifeless.

city center

Then we realized it was like 9pm. No wonder the city was so quiet they were all hanging out in "other" areas. Our kids were asleep and I just had to see "it". My Papa told me about his trip to Amsterdam and said he had visited "it", so I figured if a 75 year old was comfortable "it" couldn't be that bad. I had to go to the red light district. It was crazy. I definitely found the Amsterdam nightlife. The streets were full and it was loud. There were inappropriate things everywhere. I was blushing at every corner. We couldn't bring ourselves to actually go in any shops, but the window displays were enough. 

Then we walked by a church and literally across the street were windows with red velvet curtains hung and a red light across the top. There were signs everywhere saying, "no pictures, please?". All of a sudden the curtains were raised and there were the saddest looking women in the world. They were sitting on their stool, in their plexiglass, glow in the dark stall, wearing their skimpy bikinis and refusing to make eye contact with anyone. They were lifeless and my whole heart broke for them. It was so sad.

That is the world we live in though. Those type of things right across the street from our churches. What an analogy for life these days.

We left the crimson lit area pretty soon after we entered it and set off on a romantic stroll. Romantic it was. Both kids were fast asleep and the sun was setting on the beautiful city of sin. The canals were sparkling in the moon light. And my beautiful husband was pushing a stroller containing our first born. I couldn't have loved the man anymore. He gave me a dream vacation, an amazing summer, and a really, really happy life.

Sometimes we switch places so we can have a picture in the same spot.

We found a perfect little restaurant and used our last night together in Europe to enjoy some yummy danish desserts. We had a beautiful view of a canal and were drenched in the moonlight. It was perfect. Then it started to rain and we ran to the bus as fast as we could. Elles was getting drenched and we couldn't help but laugh because she sleeps like a log and didn't mind the water one bit. 

Our view.

The night was over and we were headed for the coast in the morning. I was missing our British Isle and I was dying for my sweet California sunshine. It was the perfect vacation that has left me with memories I will cherish for my whole life.