European Escapade - First Night in Amsterdam!

So the water disruption scheduled for yesterday did not take place after all! Thanks to the whole no-water scare however, my home is now squeaky clean from my frantic last-minute cleaning, the laundry is done and the cat’s litter box and water-fountain are also cleaned. My cats are content, the house is spotless and aside from the new job that came in today, I am free to resume my European Escapade!

Last I stopped, B and I had arrived at WestCord City Centre, which we had booked online prior to our vacation. Anyone heading to other European destinations like Italy any time soon? Don’t forget to book your apartments in Rome early. It’s always best to make early reservations as early-bird discounts are usually available then.

Situated in the heart of Amsterdam, WestCord City Centre is a mere 5 minutes’ walk to Dam Square, Central Station, Magna Plaza and more. Throughout our stay, we took plenty of pictures of the hotel, which boasts a modern elegant interior so feast your eyes on the beautiful WestCord City Centre.

WestCord City Centre

Lobby

The staff were helpful and we got settled into our room within minutes of arrival. Of course I was dying to see our room and couldn’t help wondering if it would be as tiny as I had pictured it in my head all this while. I read that most hotel rooms in Europe are tiny, though comfy and I was hoping this one will not shock me with its size.

Our room was located on the fifth floor and the hotel was really clean by the way. We opened the door to our room and hey, it was exactly like the photograph I saw when we made our booking online! As expected, the room was really tiny but like the many Rome apartments, Paris hotels and Amsterdam accommodation I had spotted online while scouting for a place to stay, ours was cleverly designed to ensure comfort, safety and convenience.

Our room in Amsterdam

Total Luxury

Our bed was really comfy and the sheets were clean and smelled fresh. We dove into the bed immediately to rest our weary selves after our flight from Liverpool before B got us a snack from a nearby Mc Donald’s. I remember tweeting online while having this Shrimp with Chilli Dip, which was yum!

And I especially loved seeing my name on the TV screen, thanks for the warm welcome WestCord!

Welcome Mariuca!

Mirror mirror on the wall

There was a small seating area, which we used to keep our luggage. The view from our window was just as lovely and we could not wait to explore Amsterdam and experience its many splendours.

Inviting

View from our window

And now, for the bathroom, which did not have a bathtub but was just as superb! I was a little skeptical about the so-called transparent bathroom walls when I read online reviews of this hotel but the reviews were exaggerated and they were really nothing to worry about!

Cool Comfort

Lovely Bath Scents

Done snacking, it was still light outside and the plan that night was to cover as many things and places possible within the next few hours.

Along our hotel

Bikes Everywhere

Indian Cuisine

Tram passing by

Dam Square was amazing even at night. It was a non-stop affair of tourists and locals gathering around the square, eating, shopping and enjoying the many different sights to behold in this expansive square. I will post more pictures of Dam Square from Day 2 of our Amsterdam stay but here’s a few to keep you going.

Dam Square

Where shall we start?

Prior to our trip, I had read online about the famous Fries found only in Holland so I was thrilled to see an outlet as we walked along the streets of Amsterdam. The secret is in their many different types of sauces and the moment I saw the list, I had my heart set on SambalSaus, which was supposed to be spicy. It was not spicy but it was definitely yummy and though the queue was long, it was worth the wait!

I want some fries!

SambalSaus Fries

That night saw us having a lot of fun and entertainment was uppermost in our minds. We popped into a casino, took in a lot of interesting sights, enjoyed a little bar-hopping and of course made our way to the famous Red Light District (RLD) in Amsterdam!

Unfortunately, we could not take many pictures in the RLD as there were signs everywhere prohibiting photographs but I managed to capture this shot of Casa Rosso, the erotic entertainment theatre. Entrance was €35 per person, in case you’re wondering!

Casa Rosso

By the time we found ourselves back in our hotel room, it was almost 3am and we were exhausted! Sleeping inside our cosy bed that night was just as exciting as the dreams I had that beautiful first night we stayed in one of the most amazing cities in the world.

Until my next European Escapade post, I wish you good night and I hope you’re enjoying my Amazing Amsterdam adventure so far.

WestCord City Centre by night

-FCC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-
MONICA
CAROLINE
LADY JAVA