GRASSHOPPER ENOUGH SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next stop.......Amsterdam!! After the worlds shortest flight (especially compared to the first haul), we touched down in Amsterdam at Schipol airport. We once again loaded up the back packs and headed off in the direction of our hostel. We dumped our bags very quickly and went to witness the best of Amsterdam! There are some beautiful buildings to be seen and finally we found some COLD BEER! Heineken was the beer of choice and with two for one at happy hour, we couldn't resist. After a few cold ones, we headed out on the town. The canals that travel through Amsterdam are surprisingly clean.
The main mode of transport in this fine city is push bike.....we were quickly introduced to this when Matt nearly got run over at the first intersection. Its amazing to see the locals handle themselves on these bikes! Its crazy when you see a lady with a baby strapped to her front, three bags of shopping on the handle bars and still managing to gracefully manouver the bike.
After a day of sight seeing, we hit the town for a closer look at the night life. We went to a few local pubs and experiened the real Amsterdam and its coffee shops!!!! Coffee shops are not to be confused with Cafes. The Cafes are what we know at home as a cafe. The coffee shops however, aren't what we know at home as a coffee shop..........Let me just say...you can get a lot more than just coffee!! We are in Amsterdam so I am sure your imaginaion will help you to work out what may be on offer there!!!!!!
Whilst at Happy hour ( for the second night), we were met by a guy in a red shirt that proceeded to tell us about some sort of pub crawl!!! As you can imagine, although we were in a country whose first language isn't english....those two magic words set off the happy bells in our Australian heads!! So it was decided........ A pub crawl could be fun! Aaron, Matt and Steve decided that the pub crawl was a definant 'goer'. Amanda, Shane and Cam thought we could handle the crawl SOLO... The three boys headed off with the tour group and some crazy shots that they assured us were vodka!! All accounts tell us that it was a VERY good night for the crawlers!! Cam, Amanda and Shane were quickly joined by Steve, who aborted pub crawl mission. We hit some of the local pubs and enjoyed sampling the beers that Amsterdam had to offer.
Shane and Cameron were very game and left us to explore the seedy red light district!!! The reports throw out words like "Seedy", red, "sleezy".........ummmmmmm...... thats about all we got out of them about this interesting mini adventure.
I need to leave this blog with one little remark that will probably make no sense to the outside world.....but feel free to ask you personal blogger for a more detailed explanation when they return (most amusement had thus far) Can I just say........."Coon Boots at 4:03aaaammmmmmmm"......
I almost fogot the most important part!!!!!! We picked up our newest addition to the tour.....The seven seater peugot affectionately known as 'Bessa'. We were met by a 'shim' at shiphol ariport who took Shane and Aaron off to collect the car. To be honest, the rest of us were a little concerned for their safety, but were happily surprised when they returned unharmed and with a shiney new CAR!! Let the road trip begin...Look out European drivers.....Aaron is behind the wheel on th wrong side of the road! Crazy business......

Well.....lets leave it there for now...... Next stop Belgium to little place called Brussels

Take care..Thanks for the comments...Love to hear from you all!!

Amanda, Steve, Shane, Matt and Aaron....

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