Surprise Surprise it's the King's Birthday! Ft Bella

Last night I arrived in Amsterdam! One of my best mates Bella decided to join me on my travels for a couple of days in the place she describes as her "Home away from home." And, of course it's got nothing to do with the fact that you can smoke and drink INDOORS in the same bar ;) - got to admit it's pretty cool. She's been here a grand total of nine times now so thankfully I didn't have to waste time trying to find the best places to go and chill at, I have

my own personal tour guide free of charge whoop whoop!

In all my travels so far, I never been to a place that is so chilled, nothing seems to faze anyone in this gorgeous city. Everyone cycles or walks around at their own pace without fear and I feel immediately at ease as I walk out of the central station. Like London and Paris, it's a capital city but it's such a quaint little place that it doesn't have the same 'in your face' impact as the other capitals do. If you're looking to find somewhere to live abroad where you don't have to live up to any expectations and you don't want to be bothered by anyone then this is the place to live! Except on King's day!

King's Day is an annual Dutch holiday that celebrates the current King's birthday, the date will change every time a new successor ascends to the throne and will change between King or Queen's Day! It first started in 1885 on the 31st of August for Queen Wilhelmina who evidently was up for a massive street party because that's how modern day Dutch men and women celebrate. And I stumbled on this by pure luck! I didn't really research what to do in Amsterdam, except for the Van Gogh museum, which I'll go on to talk about in a bit, because I'm not a weed-smoker and it was only supposed to be a quick stop off on my way to Berlin. I'm soo happy I booked to stay another day by accident!

Me and Bella woke up this morning (well afternoon after a heavy night) and was welcomed by a teenager puking up in a plastic chair with his mates guzzling down cans of Heineken not really paying attention to their mate - the poor sod. Me and Bells looked at each other and said "That's weird it's only just gone midday." That wasn't as weird as walking out of our little alley where our hostel lies and streamed into a sea of bright ocean. Literally, everyone

was wearing this luminous orange everywhere! In their hair, on their shoes, some guys even decked themselves out in orange suits and top hats. We thought that's it Amsterdam has lost the plot! Everywhere we walked people were boozing, all the cafes and bars had taken to selling pints from their shop fronts and had some banging DJ's pumping tunes into the air. We walked down a little side road and saw some people that looked remotely sober so we asked what the hell was going on. Alas that's how we found out about the King's Birthday!

The whole of Amsterdam has been decked out with flea markets, food stalls, booze stalls and even cheap party boat tours down all the canals. Oh and as much as those party boats, and I say boats lightly there were more like big dinghies, look like the best parties every, the crazy people were standing at the helm, sitting off the edge dangling their feet just a few inches from the water and I'm there thinking it only takes one little drunk stagger and you're taking a quick dip in the canal my friend. It's cold enough without the unexpected swim so think we'll pass, but for 15 euros, it would definitely be worth the money for anyone who's not a wimp like me!

So yeah, also went to the Van Gogh museum and I was sooo excited! Not only is he my favourite artist of all time but I was finally going to be able to see

the Starry Night in the flesh *love hearts for eyes!* So I go in, walk up the first flight of stairs and see the famous Sunflowers masterpiece he created only using 3 shades of Yellow and the Almond Blossoms, a very delicate painting of his. And I was like yes this is like the best warm up ever to the grand finale. Go to the highest most point of the gallery, walk around and I do not see the Starry Night! Heart beating I go to the nearest assistant and he kind of laughs at me and says 'It's in New York." Not going to lie, a tear or two fell upon my cheek. Why wouldn't his most famous painting be in his gallery!!! As I write this I decide to google it and I find out it's been apart of a permanent collection in New York since 1941 in the Museum of Modern Art! It's totally my fault for not doing my research but still - GUTTED! Guess I know where my next stop is going to be after this European Tour!

Now to you guys who have never been to Amsterdam before I'm guessing you're going to want some goss on the best places to get monged out and relax well I can surely let you know. As I've already said I'm not one for the green green grass but that doesn't mean I'm not going to go in and experience the bars and cafe. My absolute favourite was the Wonder Lounge. There are few places in Amsterdam where you can drink booze and smoke weed, there are even fewer places where you can drink booze, smoke weed AND smoke tobacco/cigarettes. Wonder

Lounge just so happens to be one of those places. It's unbelievably chilled in this place, decked out kind of like how you'd imagine a Moroccan living room would be with drapes, cushions and padded benches instead of chairs and those really nice glass painted lampshades. The people you meet in these kinds of places are so free-spirited and relaxed you feel comfortable as soon as you sit down. There's no pressure on you to smoke or even drink, most of the people I see in these cafes and bars are drinking teas and coffees! There's also The Bulldog Hotel Lounge bar which is quite nice and not that expensive as it sounds, they have a pool table in there, bar, and free 'herbal mixes' for your joints (as you're not allowed to smoke tobacco in there) and rizlas of their own making!

My First night and day in Amsterdam has been just what I needed after the hours of travelling from London to Paris then Paris-here (a 7 hour journey) it really does make you feel at home!