My name is Gal and I am from Israel. I live in Tel Aviv, but, whereas I work for an international company, I travel a lot. In fact, most of the year I spend traveling across the World. Last week I went to Amsterdam. I’ve never been to Netherlands before, and the whole country and especially the capital city made such a great impression on me. I was fascinated with Amsterdam’s cultural heritage, especially the 17th-century canals of Amsterdam, located in the heart of Amsterdam, added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010. Other Amsterdam’s main attractions include the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Hermitage Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, Amsterdam Museum and many others.
And accommodation solutions in the city are plentiful! There are a great number of lovely Amsterdam’s hostels and I rented a beautiful apartment in a hostel near the Central Station, within a few minutes walking distance from the the Royal Palace and National Monument. Dam Square, the Royal Palace and Rembrandthuis, can also be easily reached on foot.There are a lot of bars, restaurants and shops in the neighborhood as well.
Additionally, trams and metros run from there to all important city locations. My apartment had a TV and computer with the Internet connection. From the bedroom I also had access to the small balcony with the breathtaking view over the city. Moreover, the apartment had a completely equipped kitchen and a TV lounge. I especially liked the large windows in the living room that allowed plenty of natural light inside.
During my stay I visited the Joods Historisch Museum, the center of Jewish culture in Amsterdam and the Anne Frank House with a permanent exhibit based on the story of Anne Frank. I also visited the old Jewish cemetery and the Raw Aron Schuster Synagogue. Visiting these places remained me of my Bar Mitzvah twenty years ago. Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah are Jewish coming of age rituals and they are very important in our tradition. According to Jewish law, when Jewish children reach 13 years of age, they become responsible for their actions, and they become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah (plural B’nai Mitzvah). During the Bar Mitzvah ceremony the young man or woman is being called to read the Torah, a Haftarah portion, or both at a Shabbat or other service. It also includes a celebratory meal with family, friends, and other members of the community. That day all the loving ones were there for me and even today I remember how excited I was.
However, I spent a wonderful six days in a charming hostel in Amsterdam. I will definitely visit this city again.
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