City by City

Amsterdam, Netherlands

     We spend 4 days in Amsterdam and  I must say that it was really incredible. The beautiful Dutch architecture and numerous canals makes it well worthy of its nickname, "Venice of the North." Amsterdam is home to many museums, including the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. However, if you are really interested in the historical part of Amsterdam, I recommend a visit to the Anne Frank House. You get to witness first hand the living conditions of a Jewish family in hiding during WWII that inspired young Anne Frank to write her diary, which has sold millions of copies all over the world.
     Amsterdam is also known as the worlds' most liberal city. There is an abundance of sex shops and "cafes" where the menu has a few more options other than coffee. Or you can go to the market and buy some fresh squeezed OJ and and some poffertjes, which are both incredibly delicious. Lets not forget the Red Light District, where women legally prostitute themselves. Walking through the Red Light District I noticed a lot of the girls on their phones, looking kinda bored. I guess they had to hold them since they didn't have any pockets.
     Amsterdam is truly a lovely city though and well worth a visit. Just ignore the guy standing under a streetlight scratching his nose, mumbling "Hashish?". Getting around Amsterdam can be an adventure of its own. The city is laced with bike lanes for the thousands of bikers that speed through the city. You can also take it slow and enjoy lunch on a boat lazily drifting down the canal. Take a deep breathe and absorb all the wonderful smells in Amsterdam. You will hear a little voice in your head whisper, "I don't want to leave."



Antwerp, Belgium

     You don't often hear too much about Antwerp, mostly because it's not really a huge tourist destination. However, I found the city to be quite lovely. Rich with Flemish culture and Dutch architecture similar to that in Amsterdam, Antwerp is a great place to visit if you choose to go to Belgium. The Cathedral of Our Lady is immaculate! Many travelers of Europe often get sick of cathedrals(me), but it really is special in its' own way. Food of course is a good reason to visit anywhere that boasts something unique, and although not unique to Antwerp alone but to all of Belgium, is their ability to produce superior chocolate. They are not afraid to show it off either, with a chocolatier tempting you on every corner. Belgian beer is something worth mentioning. Strong and thick, served in a chilled glass and if you like beer or not, simply delicious.
     I was not able to stay in Antwerp for as long as I would have liked, but the city left a good impression. An important attribute for a city is to have good people. I found the people there to be really enjoyable, helpful and happy. During the lunch period, it seemed as if everyone left their shops to have a beer and dance in one of the city squares for some event written in Dutch, that I couldn't read. I was told though, that Flemish Belgians have a bitter rivalry with the French speaking Belgians from the south in Brussels. I find these odd rivalries more frequently since I've been talking to people. I met a family from Pisa,Italy who say that those from Pisa do not like those from Florence, which is only an hour away, and vice versa.  You see this all over the world.
     Before leaving Antwerp we visited an amazing market square, teeming with booths full of cheese, spices, breads and dried meats. The smell is a sensation of its' own, sampling is another! We left Antwerp with a full belly, a light heart and fantastic memories.



Limoges, France

        Located right in the center of France is the beautiful city of Limoges, famous for Limoges Porcelain. A city untouched and unspoiled by tourism, including all the overpriced restaurants and tourist traps, Limoges is a hub for authentic, urban French culture. You can walk the streets and settle at the Brasserie for a  cheap plat du jour, or visit the gorgeous, gothic Cathedrale Saint-Etienne and walk the luscious gardens that neighbor the eglise. Take a step back and admire the gargoyles that surround Saint-Etienne while you catch a fresh scent of the multitude of flowers that surround you in the garden. The museum adjacent to the gardens has a small Egyptian display and a large exhibit dedicated to the history of Limoges. Entrance is free of charge and well worth a visit.
     Limoges offers all of the basic pleasures of life, such as a movie theater that plays movies in French and English, plenty of restaurants and bars, and a few malls filled with great stores to browse. There is also a large opera house in the city center. It is the perfect destination to escape the crowd and see a French city without the tourist B.S. By the way, unlike most cities around the world, very few people in the city speak English, or if they can they choose not to. So prepare to really practice your French if you choose to visit Limoges.
     Gare de Limoges Benedictines, the train station, is large enough to get to many locations and has several trains daily to Paris, from where you can find a train to most cities in Europe. The average time it takes to get to Paris is about 3 hours. Neighboring towns of Limoges include the medieval La Souterainne and Poitiers.
     Beyond the city of Limoges is the beautiful country side of the region Limousin, in which Limoges is the capitol. The region is great for mountain biking, hiking, camping and many other outdoor activities.The small mountain range called the Monts D'Ambazac run through Limousin, making an excellent day trip to hike and explore the vast nature of the region Limousin.
     Jerry and I are staying in a little part of Limousin called Mallety, located just outside the town of Ambazac. Rolling hills appear just through the front door of the home where our host has so graciously allowed us to stay for the autumn. The walk to town is about 2 kilometers, which is hardly much of a sacrifice considering how beautiful the journey is. The road is lined with chestnut trees, oaks and blackberry bushes. It is not uncommon to find a local scavenging fallen chestnuts or setting off to pick wild mushrooms. Absolutely though, Limoges and its surrounding land is an incredible part of France, and if you love nature, I urge you to visit this breath-taking country.