Holland is a region in The Netherlands known for its beauty, serenity and incredible cheeses. Before arriving in The Netherlands I did not know much at all about Dutch Cuisine. During my time there I spent most of my meals attempting to eat as much cheese as possible. Gouda is my favorite and their most popular cheese, so I was one lucky gal! I also tried a mustard soup in Zaanse Schans that was surprisingly souper good! Our first few days were spent in Amsterdam, a city that feels more like a quiet, peaceful town than it does a loud bustling city. I think that has a great deal to do with the sort of transportation the Dutch use. In Amsterdam, it is more common for someone to use a bike as their primary form of transportation than a car or tram. This creates a symphony of bike bells rather than car horns to score the sound of the city. Amsterdam is unlike any place I have seen before and when you are there, you feel as if time is somehow standing still. Unfortunately, I was not able to see the Anne Frank house because you had to book tickets months in advance, a fact we were not aware of until a few days before our travel. Although I have been fortunate to have seen a lot in my travels, the Anne Frank house is what I regret not seeing the most. I have always been fascinated by Anne Frank, not only by her story but because of the person she was. I have read her diary multiple times and every time I am amazed by how wise she is at such a young age. She wanted to grow up to be a writer and have stories touch others and in death that goal was accomplished. I have always wondered if given an option, would Anne have chosen to grow old and live a mundane life or would she suffer a short life so that millions could be touched by her story? What which you choose: acclaim in death that helps millions comprehend a horrific period in time or a long, painless but unmemorable life? I can only hope that we all strive for somewhere in between: a fulfilled life spent making each day a bit brighter for those around you. These were the thoughts that cluttered my mind as I wandered through this amazing city. I pictured Anne, locked away in hiding for two years while the world continued on without her. (Anne Frank's House is the fourth house in from the left) Now on to some more cheery stories. On our last day in Holland we went to a place called Zaanse Schans. Zaanse Schans literally translates to chocolate river and is nothing short of a fairy tale. The houses look like the real life version of gingerbread houses. Cute, tiny houses with white frosted trim juxtaposed with farm animals and old wind mills truly created a quaint, charming atmosphere. Also the entire town smells like chocolate because there is a chocolate factory that makes the whole town smell like pure happiness. Three girls one shoe?!? Now that's a clog! Overall, my last abroad trip while studying abroad was a success. Of the 10 other countries I visited, no people were nicer than the Dutch. They are such a kind and welcoming people, anyone traveling there feels grateful to have met some of the nicest people in the world!
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AuthorI'm Angelisa. I am studying at NUI Galway for the semester and writing about my experience. Archives
June 2017
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