Amsterdam

A pretty picture of a canal in Amsterdam

We left Vicki at the train station in Paris, she was off to London on the Euro star with a bag full of cheese for Ross.
We booked first class tickets and were very happy when we got on board to find we had wifi (wireless internet) for free. They gave us morning tea just after we left and about an hour later, lunch! The four hour journey was very comfortable and fast. We arrived in Amsterdam and walked to our hotel which was just across the road. Settled in and sent Eva a text to say we were here and she invited us to where they (Dom and Jesse)were staying for a drink in the beer garden. They were staying in the cheaper side of town, the 'red light' district. It was a bit of an eye opener...just at the back of the backpackers there was an alley with 5 red lights, and men were walking up and down checking out the 'ladies' and didn't seem to worry about who saw them. It's all legal and no-one bats an eyelid.

The next day we went for a walk up to the Rijksmuseum. Most of it was closed for renovations, but there was an exhibition of Rembrandt paintings which was very interesting. In the afternoon we had arranged to meet Eva, Dom and Jesse to go to the Sex Museum. I had been told it wasn't icky and was good to see by a friend in Perth. Well all I can say is that nothing much has changed over the centuries.

Today we met Eva and Dom (Jesse had been out to a Concert the night before and was still in bed) to go and see Anne Franks house. It was quite a walk and when we got there, there was a huge queue which went down the street and around the corner so we decided to give it a miss. (we also decided today if we ever come back to Europe it will be in the winter to avoid the crowds) We kept walking and ended up at the Film Museum...would have been good if we had been able to speak Dutch! But filled in the morning and was good spending some time with the kids.

Anne Franks Front Door
This is the reason we didn't go into her house!! Relaxing with a coffee on the streets of Amsterdam

The Film Museum

Park near the Film Museum

Donna...I think this is the park you were telling me about

The next day it was raining, but it was probably the first bad weather we have had since we've been away. So we decided to take a trip on a canal boat..do the tourist thing and see a some of the waterways.

Some photo's from our trip on the canal boat