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Amsterdam is so cool! We got here yesterday after a VERY early morning flight (4am check in) and a night in the airport in London. We got to our hotel very tired, obviously, so we went to bed as the first thing to do in the city. We have come to realize that being tired does not make for good sight seeing, and as we are here for 7 days we have the time to sleep.
We went on a city bike tour today, it was amazing. Done by Mike's Bike Tours (note to everyone who plans to come here, these guys know their stuff) and took us all over the city, answered any and all questions regarding any and all topic. Very interesting history of the city, including their áhead of the times' policies on prostitution and canabis. The Netherlands was also the first country to legalize same sex marriage as well. Seriously, these people are so accepting and lovely to be around. There is a very fun, adventurous vibe about the city. It just makes you want to be out all the time exploring.
The city tour also brought us out of the city limits to a cheese
In the Park
Waiting for the Bike tour to start and clog factory (no joking, very dutch) The cheese was the best I have ever had and the clog man was hilarious. On the way back to the city we stopped at a hotel in which John Lennon and Yoko Ono had scribbled slogans and pictures of peace for a news conference held in their room (which they attended naked). The marker on the windows is still there, very cool, hope the pictures turn out. We also visited the street that the CANADIAN army pushed the Nazi's out of Amsterdam on. Very exciting, we Canadians in the group were quite happy to hear that.
After the tour, went through a wonderful park and stopped at a bar for a beer out on the cobble stone streets with the people we biked with. We met an Aussie couple from Sidney, Luke and Karra. Ended up having another 'beer' with them after the tour was finished. We are going to try and meet up with them in Berlin for another beer or meal or something. Pass on travel tips (they are going to Berlin on Thursday). Great people to meet. We met a couple at breakfast this morning and they told
us all about the canal paddle boats (like the one's on lost lake, the rentals for 2 people) to go down the canals here by yourself. We are pretty excited to do that!
Our hostel is worlds away from our last one. Its really big, 4 floors with loads of rooms. A bar in the bottom which has really cheap internet and cheap food. Great thing is that our room is on the opposite side of the building from the entrance so we don't hear the bar noise at night (we face out onto the canal instead, beautiful!) The showers here have EXCELLENT water pressure and you can actually select a decent water temperature. Its funny the things we take for granted at home. Everything here is so clean and the staff are very helpful. Lots of character.
Tonight we took a walk through the redlight district. Not scary at all, not as shifty as so many cities (ummmm like Vancouver?). The ladies were lovely in their windows with red lights above them and the transvestites were even lovelier in their windowns with the blue lights above! A very sufficient system so no one gets confused.
So
all in all, things are going very well. We are excited and have plans for all days. Off to see the tulips fields, anne frank museum, heinekin brewery, sex museum, canabis college, a day at the park, red light district tour/walk etc.etc. OH one more thing before I sign off. This place is the best, there are most bikes in this city than people. There are 1.5 million bikes around, and the only hills are the bridges to get over the canals. There are so many people riding, its very efficient. There are these little seats for babies that go riding with their parents right in the front of the bikes for the kids. Oh and we saw a bunch of people carrying their dogs in big baskets on the fronts and backs of bikes (a basset hound and a pitbull, so not small dogs). Basically everything is carried by bike here. Its amazing. Oh and this city is so small. Everything is within walking distance.... Or most attractions. Not more than like 40 minutes to the otherside of the main part of Amsterdam, very convenient. OH and the Central Station in Amsterdam look like a palace, no joke. Its
Bike Tour... at the cheese factory
and dan tried on the really big pair outside of the factory crazy. Hope to have the time to figure out pictures soon.
love to all,
robyn
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Ben
non-member comment
Nice report
A great report on your day in Amsterdam and some top quality photos also. The Coin is a favourite place of mine whenever I visit. Thanks for a fun read.