Amsterdam it!

Greetings from the Netherlands! What a fun time it's been...what with the constant tiredness from the jet lag along with the weak value of the dollar against the Euro, it's like heaven on earth.

Apart from the complaining, it actually has been pretty fun. I've never been to Amsterdam before, but after serving my mission in France for 2 years, I was prepared for most of the little differences you see over here...little cars, a decent public transport system, and, of course, the chocolate. Even though each country is slightly different in items for sale, building architecture, and things of that nature, Amsterdam itself feels like a combination of several countries in one. When I walk down the street, I can overhear multiple languages. When in doubt, everybody speaks English. It seems to be the universal language.

I even found a "frite" stand, which of course is a famous treat in any Belgium city, so I was excited to have some tasty frites with...what is that...is that mayo? Not just any mayo. That's garlic Mayo! Just thank the almighty that it's not garlic miracle whip!

I could really go for some tripes with these frites. Look it up.

Today, I had the chance to visit the "Secret Annex", more popularly known as the Anne Frank house where the family stayed while in hiding during the Nazi Occupation. This was really a neat opportunity for me. I've always had a bit of an interest in World War II and the whole Nazi story, and it was in part because of the Anne Frank story that this became such an interest.

(Anne Frank House on the left, the museum/gift shop on the right)

Of course, wouldn't you know they wouldn't actually allow me to take pictures, and the small house was quite crowded. It was interesting how noisy the house was until we crossed into the secret annex area. Suddenly there was a quiet, almost as if those of us touring the building were now reliving the actual experience. Some of Anne Frank's quotes:

"Now our Secret Annex has truly become secret. Mr. Kugler thought it would be better to have a bookcase built in front of the entrance to our hiding place. Now whenever we want to go downstairs we have to duck and then jump." Aug 21, 1942

"Our little room looked very bare at first with nothing on the walls; but thanks to Daddy who had brought my film-star collection and picture postcards on beforehand, and with the aid of a paste pot and brush, I have transformed the walls into one gigantic picture. This makes it look much more cheerful." July 11, 1942

"You've known for a long time that my greatest wish is to be a journalist, and later on, a famous writer. In any case, after the war I'd like to publish a book called 'The Secret Annex'". May 11, 1944

On August 4, 1944, the people in hiding were betrayed by an anonymous tipster. Anne's father, Otto Frank, was the only one of the "people in hiding" to survive. One by one, they all died in various extermination camps. Anne Frank dies in Bergen-Belsen in March 1945, just days after her sister Margot. Both had contracted typhus.

Upon returning to Amsterdam in 1945, Otto wanted to make Anne's dream a reality and published her diary. The Annex itself became a museum in 1960. None of the room's have any furniture, as it was all removed by the Nazi's after their capture. The windows are darkened to give the visitor a very accurate representation of life in the Annex.

That's all for now. Hopefully my next entry won't be quite so depressing.