Amsterdam

Since I have never been to Amsterdam, the moment I land I am starting my sightseeing. There are so many things that I want to do and see while in Amsterdam. Since it is the largest city of the Netherlands (and also the capital), it will take me a lot of time to see and do all the things that I want to do. This is why I will be spending 5 days in Amsterdam. I am also doing this part of the trip alone, as I want to see the things that I have read about, and I also want to see what it feels like to be a tourist in the Netherlands.

When I am in Amsterdam I will be staying at the Luxury Hotel Sofitel The Grand Amsterdam. This is a 5 star hotel located downtown Amsterdam. This is important for me because I need to feel safe when I am staying in Amsterdam, since I will be travelling alone at this point. I wanted a hotel that is located downtown, so that it I do not have to waste time traveling to the places that I want to go.

Amsterdam is known for its multiple museums. I plan on visiting three of these museums during my stay in Amsterdam. I did a lot of research on which Museums I want to visit. I plan on visiting the Anne Frank House, which is a monument to one of the darkest periods in European history.

The second museum that I am planning on visiting is the Van Gogh Museum which showcases numerous masterpieces by one of the country's greatest painters Vincent Van Gogh.

The third museum that I plan on visiting while in Amsterdam is the Rijksmuseum, which houses one of the most important art collections in Europe. I feel that visiting these three sights will give me a good grasp on the culture of the Netherlands.

Now, it is time to have some fun and do the things that I consider more "exciting". My relatives told me that it is a must to shop at the De Negen Straatjies ("The Nine Little Streets"). De Negen Straatjies is literally 9 streets in a grid formation, with shops of all sorts. There are little boutiques, clothing stores, jewellery stores, etc. I have heard it is one of the best places to shop in the Netherlands and have set aside in my budget just for this day!

Then after spending most, if not all, of my money I would like to have a relaxing evening with dinner in a cafe followed by a canal cruise. This seems to be the best way to see all of Amsterdam, at a nice and relaxing pace.

Next I plan on visiting the Hortus Horticultural Gardens, which is also known as Hortus Botanicus, which is one of the oldest Botanical Garden in the world. There are more than 6 000 plants in the garden, and I heard it is quite a sight.

The last place that I want to visit when in Amsterdam is De Wallen, or more famously known as the Red Light District, which is a network of alleys containing approximately three hundred tiny one-room cabins rented by prostitutes who offer their sexual services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lights. The area also has a number of sex shops, sex theatres, peep shows, a sex museum, a cannabis museum, and a number of coffee shops that sell marijuana. I want to visit the Red Light District just because I have heard so much about it. It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Netherlands and I want to see what exactly it is. My family that has visited Amsterdam have all told me about the Red Light District and I feel like it would be a shame if I did not see it when I was in Amsterdam. It will be my most interesting place to visit and I am sure I am in for a shock, but it will definitely be an experience that I will never forget.