Amsterdam: Anne Frank Heis, Red Light District

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Arrived in Amsterdam to a very grey day with heavy fog and light rain.

We we're met at airport and led to our bus like Japanese tourists - following along in a group with tour guide holding up a sign so we could all follow, all while she was continually looking around to check we were all still with her!!!

Arrived at hotel at about 10.00am, left bags in room and headed out and have a look around Amsterdam.

Bought a Hop On, Hop Off canal cruise only to find that it wouldn't get us to Anne Frank Heis in time for our tour so had to walk anyway! After MANY wrong turns, finally found Anne Frank Heis and spent about an hour going through it - a very reflective and sobering experience!

From there we we finally caught on the Hop on, hop off cruise and headed back around to Central Station. After a brief rest at hotel headed out again to see Amsterdam after dark (4.30pm).

Checked out the red light district with small red illumated shop fronts, scantily clad women displaying what's on offer by way of provocative poses while talking / texting on their mobile phones! (Conjured up images of phone sex workers with curlers in their hair, cigarette in their mouth while doing their ironing!)

Dodged bicycle riders (they are everywhere and are Bruce's worst nightmare, but at least they aren't wearing lycra!). No need to visit any of the special cafes as we were passively smoking while walking along the street! Dinner at a Chinese restaurant and then finally head back to hotel.

By this time we had been up for about 36 hours so time for sleep.

Hoping for a clearer day tomorrow for some photo opportunities.

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