Adventure is out there!: Rotterdam

On Monday, I started off the day as usual, waking up early and going to Dutch class with my Belgian unit mate. In class, my unit mate and I found out that we both needed to be in Rotterdam the next day, but she needed to arrive that night already. Somehow, she convinced me that it would be a good idea for me to go with her that night and spend the night at her friend's so that we could go together. It was a terrible idea. I was almost falling asleep on the couch by 10pm, and our train left was leaving at 11pm. Besides one girl, I'm older than the entire unit, so they all keep telling me my tendency to fall asleep everywhere is because of my old age. I am 20. But ok.

Anyway, it was a nice trip despite my exhaustion, and it was nice to spend time with her. We arrived in Rotterdam late Monday night and arrived at her friend's house. We had our priorities in order, so the first thing we did was set off on her friend's bike in search of a McDonald's. We found one that was closed and continued looking for like an hour (we were really hungry...), and eventually, we finally found a 24-hour one. The prices here are ridiculous!!! I was explaining all the American prices to my friend in comparison with the Dutch menu, and she thought it was odd that I had basically memorized the entire American McDonald's menu. One McChicken was 3.45 euros, and the cheapest meal was 6.70!!! But it's ok, we were so hungry that it was worth it.

After getting home after an adventurous night, we had coffee together in the morning and split ways because I had to meet my Museum Studies class at a museum there (the original reason I came to Rotterdam). It was a nice museum with many artists I'd only read about in my AP Art History textbook, so that was pretty cool!

The city itself was not extremely impressive to me. It is among the top three largest cities in the Netherlands (along with Amsterdam and the Hague), but in my opinion, it looks quite industrial and plain. The harbor was pretty, but other than that, I think I really prefer Utrecht. I was so happy to come home, even though it was just one day.

I'm now packing to get ready for my trip this weekend with my UW friend Sarah! We are going to Munich tonight -- can't wait! I'll blog about my trip next week! :) Below are a few pictures from Rotterdam and a few from Open Monument Day in Utrecht too (a day where all cities have buildings/private homes/historical sites open for free to the public).