Noordermarkt

One of my favorite parts of Amsterdam was wandering through Noordermarkt on Saturday morning. Naturally I fell in love with the abundance of fresh organic vegetables and charming antiques, but my favorite part was undoubtedly the immense variety of cheeses. I'm a cheese-aholic as it is, (an unfortunate circumstance for someone as lactose intolerant as I am...) but let me just say that Dutch cheese is magical. Don't even get me started on how savory that rich Gouda was. 

After the market, Kelly and I stopped by the Cheese Museum - which pretty much takes the cake for the best museum ever. The Cheese Museum offers unlimited samples of every kind of cheese they sell, which basically meant that I had to take a million Lactaid pills and didn't have to pay for lunch that day. Jackpot.

Visiting local markets is always on the top of my list for whatever city I visit, and Noordermarkt is no exception. 

What are some of your favorite markets abroad?

Street Art in Amsterdam

Amsterdam can be classified as unique in many ways, but one of its most distinguishing characteristics is its street art. While I'm not a fan of absentminded graffiti that's created strictly for vandalism's sake, I think the beauty and talent found in real street art is completely underrated. I especially respect the work of artists such as Banksy who address controversial topics in their art, producing images mixed with satire and politics. 

The unusual and polemic street art found in Amsterdam makes the city stand out among others. My favorite street art in Amsterdam is on Spuistraat, right by Dam Square, but other intriguing images can be found scattered throughout the city. I have a newfound appreciation for street art after this trip - so I'll definitely be on the lookout for more this year!

Amsterdam

Last time I was in Amsterdam in 2011, I felt like I hardly had enough time to explore much of the city. When the time came for me to leave only after a few short days, I was already dying to come back. Thankfully, my little sis from my sorority just moved to Amsterdam to work as an au pair, which made for the perfect excuse to visit again!

The Netherlands will always feel special to me because my heritage is mostly Dutch. (Yes, in case you were wondering where a strange last name like "Likkel" comes from, I blame Holland entirely.) I loved being able to get in touch with my Dutch roots while exploring all of what Amsterdam has to offer. 

Part of what makes me fall head over heels in love with Amsterdam is how drastically different it is from Madrid. Charming brick buildings with intricate façades line the quaint canals, while curving cobblestone streets lead you to picturesque waterways and cozy cafés. The city's unusual architecture and colors of vibrant simplicity left me awestruck. Not to mention, Dutch people are incredibly friendly. If I ever looked lost, strangers would stop to ask me if I would like directions or if needed help getting anywhere. 

We had originally planned a day trip to either Groningen or Utrecht, but our plans fell by the wayside when I accidentally ate a bagel with gluten on Friday morning and was violently ill for the entire weekend. Celiac problems, much?  (In my defense, I ordered a gluten free bagel... but the restaurant accidentally served me a regular one. So of course I was raving, "Wow this tastes so good, I can't even tell that it's gluten free!" Uh huh. I was sick for five days. Celiac disease is a real and miserable thing, my friends.)

"Gluten poisoning" aside, I still had a marvelous time discovering the city with new eyes. Yes, I felt miserable, but I didn't let that get in the way of enjoying my time in Amsterdam. One of the many benefits of traveling is learning how to overcome adversity, am I right?

Holland feels like a cozy home away from home, because so many things reminded me of my family and my childhood. One day I'd love to spend an extended period of time in The Netherlands and get to know the rest of the country, including all of the places like Hardenberg, Lutten and Dalfsen where my family originally comes from. Amsterdam is a city where I could actually see myself living, so who knows, maybe one day that'll be going on my bucket list too. Until then, I'll be dreaming of someday returning to Holland and immersing myself in my Dutch roots once again.