My overdue trip reports since I returned from my trip in Europe at the end of Sept. First, I want to use this platform to thank you Sam and numerous volunteers who contributed and shared their knowledge and experience while I planning on this trip. Without all of you, my trip probably would not as enjoyable as it was. I visited Amsterdam, Belgium, and Italy over three weeks. In fact, my favour country is Amsterdam and I will definitely revisit in the near future.
Back in Sept, we flew directly from YVR to AMS. Stayed at Utrecht for 4N, and travelled between Amsterdam and Utrecht. I probably underestimated how much time I should have allowed to explore in AMS. We visited Van Gogh museum (one of my favours) and Anne Frank Museum. Perhaps my background is working in health care, I could totally make the connection and its impact of mental health in one’s life. While visiting the museum, there was a note talked about during Van Gogh’s early age, he experienced isolation and depression from his family and society. He had nobody to talk to, except one of his brothers. After, he left his home and started to express his thoughts and thinking through drawing.
Would I recommend Anne Frank Museum, perhaps no from my point of view. The museum itself provides a mixed of video clips and mostly audio clips in each room. I thought there would be a doll house (i.e. furniture) to bring us back how was the living condition and set up back then. It was a bit disappointed.
Also, we spent time to ride a canal in AMS. Each building has different design and color. I took lots of video clips and truly enjoyed one hour ride. Because I know I would miss this place while I am back to Vancouver.
I made dining experience at two different Michelin restaurants in AMS. Both experience were memorable. Their creativity, presentation, delightfulness, and customer service are top notch. No negative comment. I have to say that no matter what you do in your field, do the best you can! Because it takes a long time and life experience to be an expert in one’s field, especially being recognized and earns fame.
Utretcht is much quieter than AMS, I could imagine myself being here for a month and explore other nearby cities. I did pay a trip to the Miffy museum, and bought some souvenir. One morning, we had brunch at our nearby hotel. It was a lovely café, we had ham cheese croissants, hot chocolate, and latte. We evened face timed with our friends in China. What a fun experience. Technology does make people close in connection no matter where you are around the world.
The next stop, we took train to Belgium, and stayed at Ghent for four nights. Each day, we visited one city (Antwerp, Bruges, and Brussels). My favour is Ghent, Brugges, and Brussels. I enjoyed watching people on the street, browsing shopping malls, simply walking on the street, or sipping caffe Americano in a café shop. I think being a tourist sometimes you want to do everything in the trip, but due to external factors (delay from train schedule, or get lost by google map). This trip we still did a lot, but there are more places I have not yet explored.
Last part of the trip, we flew to Venice, and stayed for 3 nights. It was my second time and my mom’s first time. We both like the city of lake. The tourist wave seemed getting more crowd. We talked many locals and the city is always busy, perhaps lightly slower during winter month. We tried this small café specialized in making tiramisu. Oh, lord. It’s my favour dessert and we totally ordered 4 pieces, and still feel like eating more. We ordered black squid ink noodle at two different restaurants, and both dishes are tasty. How could you go wrong when ordering pizza, seafood, and Italian beers in Italy !
It was in Venice, I found all the small roads are easily get lost. I did have a map and depend on google GPS.