Well we have just completed our first country, The Netherlands, and more
specifically Amsterdam. I was somewhat nervous about Amsterdam not for safety but for the issue that occupies my thoughts most of the time, COST! Well my fears were confirmed and we spent a fortune even with all of my thrifty skills being used. We spent $100 bucks a night for a closet with a bunk bed. The list of expenses was numbing, 10 Euro here… 20 Euro. It was no easy way to ease into this adventure.
With that being said I would not have wanted to start anywhere else. Amsterdam is truly a jewel. The quaintness of the entire city was everywhere. From the small cobble stone street to the maze of canals it was more beautiful than I could have imagined. Brandy and I tried to see all that we could fit into 3
days and walked until we had blisters. The layout of the City is confusing at
first but once you spend a bit of time walking around it you realize that
it is very organized. These people are serious about organization: even their
bike paths, which parallel their city streets, have lights and road signs. The
first two days I was almost stuck a few times by bikes as I strolled along the
bike road oblivious to my error until Brandy would have to push me out of the
way or the Dutch cyclist began cursing at me. Lucky I don’t have any Canadian
flags on my person this trip, I would just revert to a Yankee accent and
say “Sorree bout that partner”.
We visited museums that opened in the 1500’s with old stuff, so you can imagine how old that old stuff is now some 500 years later. Of course Van Gogh Museum was something I had been looking forward to and it did not disappoint. The other surprise the next day when we toured Rembrandt’s works we were both shocked at the enormity of his famous work “The Night Watch” it is about 3.5m x 7m. That’s after 2m in length had been trimmed when it had been originally mounted and hung in the garrison that it was painted for.
Of course we visited the Red Light District and with most of these types of
things it is a spectacle but not erotic more of an oddity. I expected a couple
of gals in windows but there were lots, not that I was looking. Though I did
walk into a couple sign posts and my neck is still a little sore. It must be
the lower bunk bed I had to sleep in.
I would recommend to anyone to come here, though not on the busiest long
weekend of the year, as it truly is one of kind city… clean, friendly and naked
women - just as all great cities should aspire to.

KLH

Photos:
Our Room in Amsterdam
Van Gogh Museum
Kevin and Statue
City of Bikes
Canals of Amsterdam
Amsterdam at Night