Click read more to see photos from my trip to Amsterdam!

I flew to Amsterdam on Friday, and met with a colleague there. I realized after hopping on the plane that I had never spoken to her on the phone, didn’t know where she lived, and didn’t have her home phone number.

All I knew was that she worked for Bloomberg. And that was enough for me.

We had a great time! Check it out:

Evalinde and Bernd on the tram


The view from Bloomberg in Amsterdam


Bloomberg Amsterdam has free chocolate ALL THE TIME! (In London, they have to hide the time when the free chocolate is put out because we grab it like vultures.)


Ok, so after I saw Bloom, it was time to see the rest.
It’s really fun to see a city with people who live there!


One of the many famous museums in the city.


Outside the museums, they sell reproductions of the more famous paintings.


An old-fashioned post card


The Van Gogh Museum is nothing to look at from the outside!


Van Gogh Umbrellas


Playing around with sepia


Evalinde translated this from Dutch, and I think it means something like, “Drawing is working and writing at the same time."


Trying to figure out where to catch our boat


I just love the canals!
(Evalinde just wanted me to point out that I was standing higher on a hill for this photo. =)~)


Kids walking dogs


People get around via bikes and boats


“Hey guys, turn around – let me get your picture!”


Evalinde in the sun


After waiting in line for 30 minutes, we finally got on a boat tour!


The following images are from the boat tour, which went all around the canals and by the Anne Frank house. (As in “The Diary Of…” -- The Frank family went into hiding when the Germans invaded Amsterdam.)

This church is in the Anne Frank house neighborhood.


We had a surprise rain shower that went away as fast as it came.




We met some Americans








Check out the tree house on that building!


The boat barely fit through these bridges! There were inches on either side. It reminded me of when I backed out of a tight parking spot once and busted my mirror on a concrete column. Good thing the boat drivers have more skill than I do!


A draw bridge on the Amstel River


It was sunnier than London, but colder!


Amsterdam used to be the center of Dutch trading power, where goods from the Indies were stored and traded.


Image from Dam Square, like the Piazza di San Marco in Venice, only less crowded


The Grim Reaper


Taste of home anyone?


Part of the National Monument


Me in a Dutch Shoe!


Warming up during lunch.
Evalinde’s hands are always cold. But my mom always said, Cold Hands, Warm Heart.


Lunch was goooood!


Back at Evalinde’s awesome apartment!


Apartment


After I took a nap, it was time to go out!

Bloomberg likes bright colors!


The flower market at night


Dinner with Evalinde & Bernd’s friends!
(We were late meeting them. When we were 15 minutes away, Bernd called and said, “We’ll be there in seven minutes.” – Which is hilarious because, who says that? Seven is such an odd number.)
Evalinde, AJ and Maartje


Us with Bridget Jones at Amsterdam’s main theater!


The canals at night


Places to go shopping!


Where’s the bar?


Finally, we went to The Koe (that means “the cow”) which is a bar. Evalinde and I left early so we could have fun on Sunday. Bernd stumbled home around 4 a.m., or so I heard. ;)

The End of my first day in Amsterdam!