Day 2-3

My Amsterdam escapade kicked off in a blur, thanks to relentless jet lag that demanded copious amounts of sleep. On April 3rd, I finally ventured to MOCO Museum, a spot I regrettably missed on my initial Amsterdam journey 7 years ago. The contemporary art on display mesmerized me, setting the stage for an eclectic day ahead.Following our art immersion, we refueled at Le Pain Quotidien, relishing their delightful offerings before succumbing to a much-needed siesta. Dinner at the hotel's restaurant left us underwhelmed, but our evening took a thrilling turn at Melkweg, where we immersed ourselves in the city's vibrant music scene. The following morning, we embraced the day with a hearty breakfast and a leisurely stroll through Vondelpark, soaking in nature's tranquility. A visit to Ton Pho Nuad Thai massage rejuvenated our spirits, providing a moment of pure bliss amidst our hectic travels. The genuine hospitality we encountered was a refreshing departure from past experiences, reaffirming the beauty of human connection. As nightfall approached, our quest for dinner hit a snag, but a fortuitous stop at Le Pain Quotidien yielded complimentary pastries, a heartwarming gesture from the staff. Our evening took an unexpected turn at Cafe Sound Garden, where an odd encounter left us on edge. Despite the unease, we embraced the spontaneity of travel, cherishing every unpredictable moment. Now, aboard the Eurostar bound for Paris, uncertainty looms, but our spirits remain unshaken. Navigating the labyrinthine corridors of Amsterdam Centraal station tested our mettle, yet with each challenge, we emerged more resilient. As the train hurtles towards our next destination, we eagerly anticipate the mysteries awaiting us in the City of Light.

It’s all a blur so far but I’ve had such jet lag and slept a ton. On April 3rd, I went to MOCO and saw some modern art. It was one of the museums I hadn’t been to on my first trip to Amsterdam. After that we went to le pain Quotidien for some food and then went back to nap. We went to the hotel restaurant for a lousy dinner and then went to Melkweg for a band . We walked home after that evening. The following day we woke up at 10:20am and ran downstairs to get our free breakfast before the restaurant closed. After breakfast we went back to the room relaxed a bit showered and walked through Vondell Park. We went to a massage place near our first stay at NH hotel. The place was called Ton Pho Nuad Thai massage. I got a 30 minute relaxation massage and my husband got a 60 minute deep tissue massage. It was a great experience and the people were very nice. I’ve had issues where I thought I experienced racism but this was a nice experience. After that we went home for a nap and I felt so utterly exhausted. We looked for dinner but we failed at that because we were at the time after lunch and before the kitchens reopened for dinner. We ran to Le Pain Quotidian before they closed at 5 and ate some sandwiches and pastries. We we given free pastries since they were closing and the staff hated waste and tried to give away food. That night we went to cafe sound garden and saw a band. We met this weird guy who talked a lot and asked us for Euros. He seemed like he was casing us like we were marked. My husband had to go to the men’s room at one point and I saw the weird man run after him so I ran downstairs and let myself be known by calling my husband’s name. That was weird cuz I didn’t know if he was going to rob him but my husband thought maybe this man was attracted to him or something. Right now I’m sitting on the Eurostar train headed to Paris. I must say there are no instructions- so we go to Amsterdam Centraal around 6:45 for our 8:15am train. There were. I signs and the station was cold. We sat at Starbucks and got a sandwich and pastry’s I then went to the information office because I was confused. The lady explained that I needed to use my barcode to enter the station then look for the platform 14a… this turned out to change and a woman alerted us to the change. We the went back downstairs to head over to 15a…. This caused me such anxiety because there are very few boards with information. Now I’m on the train and feeling ok. We will see what happens when we get to Paris….