Netherlands
22 months ago
Amelia is going to be studying abroad there, and I want to visit her.
How to go to the Netherlands
It made me
worldy 
"fascinating"
How I did it: I took the train to Amsterdam from Hannover. I left late at night and got in in the morning, just in time for breakfast.
It was autumn andd the city was lovely -- cool, the leaves were falling. I loved the bicycles (with a guard to protect your pants) and the pedestrian friendly streets. I went to the red light district (as you do) at night and in the morning and it really got me thinking of the problem of prostitution in North America. Is it better to legally "sell" yourself in a lighted box or have 13 year old girls hiding behind dumpsters pulling t heir pants down and waiting for their next fix?
Of course the city is way more than that, and I went to museums and restuarants and cafes and just walked around to the normal parts of the city.
Lessons & tips: Try to get off the tourist path and see how normal Dutch people live. Go in the fall -- it feels so beautiful.
Resources: DB trains.
