We made it to our Hotel/Hostel - what a dump! We have 6 bunk beds crammed into a double room and our bags don't even fit in the lockers, so each day we are left wondering "Will our stuff still be there"? So far it has, so again, lets hope this doesn't happen. Our room smelt of pot - actually our whole floor smelt of pot! We have to climb four sets of staircases to reach our floor. Nightmare with Dave's knees at the moment. Luckily, we're out most of the day and only return to sleep.
Lots of wandering around getting lost, and lots of canals. The Dutch certainly are an organised bunch. You dare not cross the road here or the footpath, without checking front back and sides. There are bike paths absolutely everywhere and the Dutch pedal like mad around town. They are all on these rickety style things with no gears and rounded handlebars. Momentum appears to be the key given you can't change up or change down gears.
Amsterdam is big on 17th century architecture apparently. Not that I can tell the difference between the 17th and the 18th. The Dam is the main square, with the Royal Palace on one side and the National Monument on the other. Major shopping streets run nearby.
Some things we have done:
1) Canal Cruise - had a bunch of drunk Norwegian girls on our cruise so it was hard to pick up the audio, however, the sights were pleasant and somewhat interesting - could have invested our 27 Euro better though. The buildings along the canal were pretty, the canal itself very dirty.
2) Rembrandt Museum - I was somewhat disappointed in this exhibition, but nevertheless David came with me! So that was something to be excited about.
3) De Wallen - Full of British Stag nights once again, we felt like we were in Prague. Interesting and full of sights. Walked through main strip (pardon the pun) and saw the "windows" and all the tacky neon lights.
4) Verzetsmuseum (otherwise known as the Dutch Resistance Museum) - I really dug this Museum and would recommend. Dave preferred the exhibition on Fritz Behrendt to the actual permanent collection.
5) Gollem - This was a great little find on my behalf, we had a few tasty beverages here before we headed off to the cinema Pathe Tuschinski. An old cinema palace conveniently located between the Munt tower and the Rembrandtplein. Built by the immigrant from Poland Abraham Tuschinski, the cinema opened in 1921 and it remains till today with its Art Deco interior one of the most cherished buildings in Amsterdam. Tuschinski has been recently rebuild, a modern annex has been added and the cinema has been modernized, but the character of its old part has been preserved. It was simply elegant. We saw the Ghost Writer - which was a great film.
6) Vondelpark - Gorgeous park, walked through here on our only full day of sun since being in Europe. It took about an hour and a half and was such a gorgeous place during the day. I wouldn't walk around at night though.
7) Dam Square - we are staying right behind Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). Full of tourists and we tend to stay away from this area.
8) The Coffee Shops - Now those of you who know me well know I don't do drugs. To each their own I guess. I just don't think I need them. As to your softers, well I also don't need to see the world at a slower pace either. Still, we wandered in to take in the atmosphere so to speak. It's a pity I can't get a coffee nor a beer here. People are very, very mellow to say the least. There are your stereotypical stoners who appear to have visited way too often. Many are men in their late 40s, still in mullets, who have been at it for years it seems.
So onto more activities throughout the week such as the windmills - I'm looking forward to getting out of the city.
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