Week 13: Easter

This weekend was Easter! We got Friday and Monday off of school and traveled to Amsterdam. The first day we wandered around the city and took a canal tour. We visited the human body works exhibit there where they have preserved human bodies and staged in a museum exhibit. Then we went to dinner at an Italian restaurant. We also found a street carnival in the middle of the city and went to ride some of the rides including a giant swing.

The next morning we woke up early and went to the Keukenhof Gardens. This was a giant park full of tulips and other flowers. We got there as soon as the park opened to beat the crowds and took lots of pictures with all of the flowers. It was also kid's weekend so they had lots of games and fun activities to do. We had a nice lunch in the park and then headed back to our hostel for a nap.







Later that afternoon we headed into the city to the Heineken factory. We did the Heineken experience which showed you the process of how the beer is made and the history of the company. At the end we got to taste test the beer and then went up to a bar on the roof of the factory to drink and enjoy the views of the city. That night we headed over to the largest floating Chinese restaurant for dinner and then went to check out the red light district.



The next day was Easter so we got up early to go to Easter mass at a nearby church. Because it was a local parish there were lots of families with cute little kids and everyone was super friendly. At the end of mass the priest gave all of the kids chocolate Easter eggs and welcomed all of the visitors at the church. After mass we went back into the city and had brunch at a pancake restaurant and ordered some mimosas to celebrate Easter. Then we walked across the street and went to see the Anne Frank House. We started off with a short 30 minute program with an overview of the history of the family and how the diary was published. Then we walked through the house and saw the rooms where they lived. I was surprised how big the house was and also how loud the floor boards were. During the day they couldn't walk around because someone downstairs would've been able to hear them. At the very end of the museum were pages from her original diary which was amazing to see. It was a very emotional experience. That night we found another Italian restaurant for dinner and walked around the city before heading back to the hostel.

The next day we, once again, woke up early and went to see the Van Gogh museum. It was really cool to see so many of his paintings and learn about his life. Then we headed over to a new restaurant called The Avocado Show. Everything on their menu is made from avocados. It was so delicious. Overall it was a great weekend!