This vlog is basically me making my Amsterdam bucket list happen in real time. I’ve wanted to visit Amsterdam forever (especially in April for tulip season), and I realized it was literally my last free weekend of study abroad—so I booked everything super last-minute. The train tickets were booked, I almost didn’t go, and I genuinely got emotional because I realized how much I wanted this trip. I ended up doing a little workaround through Brussels, took a stop at the Amsterdam airport, and finally made it into the city (with my giant, heavy backpack that was already hurting my back five minutes in). Once I got there, I had a classic solo-travel hiccup: I went to the wrong hostel location because of the address in my confirmation email and had to trek across the city before it got fully dark. But after that, it was the best time ever. I met up with Ashley, hit a flower market, found the best €3 stroopwafel situation (because the trendy spots were trying to charge €10), attempted a museum that was definitely not free, and then we rented bikes and rode around the city like locals. We ended the day with fries, a canal tour (we upgraded to wine + cheese and fully committed), cheesecake/ice cream, and a little “who knows where the night will take us” moment—aka my favorite kind of travel day.