Amsterdam.
Known for its bike pedestrians and long canals, Amsterdam is a city made for strolling around. Our connecting ight landed about midday in the city and allowed ust enough time to grab the train from the airport to visit the city centre. lean, modern, and relatively fast, the train dropped us off in front of houses and waterways built centuries ago. e stopped for lunch at afe Heffer, ate borenkool traditional potatoes , and drank Aperol spritzes, the local summer drink of choice. efore saying goodbye to our layover city, we took a canal cruise that educated us on the rich history and modern culture of the city. y far the most impressionable part of the cruise was learning about house boat ordinances, vehicles lost in canals, and the challenges of living in water-locked city. A er a few hours on the ground, we were back to the airport for our next stop. Author Kian Hervey is an Engagement Specialist at Southwest Airlines. When she’s not taking advantage of her travel enefits and e lor n the world, she calls allas e as ho e. ou can connect with her on LinkedIn or @40Magazine on Instagram.
Madrid.
It might be the siestas or late dinners, but Madrid seems to come alive at night. e had a late checkin to our hostel and faced peak levels of hanger by time we arrived. A er refueling our bodies with empanadas and a some sleep, we hit the pavement for a tour of the city, seeing the presidential palace, par ue el retiro, and San Miguel Market. San Miguel Market is famous for its fine food stalls and fair prices for fresh food. e sipped fresh mo itos, drank robust wines, and e perienced Spanish churros con chocolate. At night, we many American and foreign tourists at two night clubs, one with live music and another with rave air. Our time in Madrid ended with brunch views that couldn t be beat. irculo de ellas Artes is a must see for any visitor.
