Rotterdam

My first Saturday in the Netherlands was spent where I truly originated from - Rotterdam - the city Oma grew up in (and without her I wouldn't exist!). It's a pretty modern city, since most of it got bombed during WWII. The day I went also happened to be the day of an international carnival - so the city was packed. The carnival was interesting, loud, and longgggg. It was quite impossible to escape the blaring music of it or the crowds, but definitely added to the excitement of being there, and resulted in some crazy pictures! 

Centraal Station

My favorite part of the day was going through the market. It consisted of hundreds of tables selling anything and everything. A fruit stand next to an antique seller next to a table full of iPhone cases next to clothes next to fish. The girls I was with bought SUPER stroopwafels, one even had chocolate on it! All of the fruit and cheese stands gave out free samples, so obviously I was pleased ;) It was exhilarating walking through! 

The city hall - Oma and Opa got married here!! 

fruittttt ;) 

yummmmm

I also really enjoyed the harbor full of boats, which you could go on for free! I've always liked boats. 

Another note on the familiarity of Holland - the smellsssss. The poignant smell of raw herring when you walk by many food shops, the smell of cows/cow manure that permeates everywhere except for the center of Amsterdam, the sweet smell of fresh, hot stroopwafels, the smell of fries (with mayo of course) and croquettes, the smell of canal water (almost like the Charles)...

one of the few Dutch traditions I will NEVER take part in!