Post by Kim on Mar 17, 2003 20:16:00 GMT -5
Greetings from Amsterdam!
Arrived in Amsterdam early Sunday morning after a good flight. Our first impressions were that Amsterdam is a beautiful, sunny, quiet place... that quickly changed as the day went on!
We ventured into the Red Light District. It was strange to see bakeries and restaurants amidst coffee shops and sex shops! People go about their business like it's no big deal. Although the crack was a little too much for my sheltered, parochial self! Want some coke?(Ignore). Want ecstacy? (Ignore). Cocaine? NOOOOO! (Left us alone, finally). No drugs are actually legal here, but soft drugs are 'tolerated.'
Jamie had a bad case of jet lag, so we took it easy most of the day. Went to see the Anne Frank House which was very moving; her diary entry that reads something like "someday I want to be a famous writer and write a book about the Secret Annex" always gets to me.
Today we spent all afternoon in the two major museums, The Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum (the National Museum). We basically saw the 'touristy' works of art and made our way around. It's not too crowded because it's still the offseason.
Had some great pancakes (like a really big crepe, Dad would approve!) and some fries. Tonight we are trying to take a candlelight cheese and wine canal tour. Tomorrow we are seeing some of the other museums and having dinner at the oldest building in town.
We had wanted to rent bikes, but we're both terrified that we'd get killed, either by a car or another biker. Get out of their way! They are serious. The Dutch people have been genuinly nice to us. We definitely have not felt any anti-American sentiment so far. The owner of the pancake house we ate at yesterday noticed that Jamie was sick and wanted to give him some medicine!
The flowers are so beautiful. I saw some bouquets that I just couldn't imagine seeing at home. The crocuses are starting to bloom.
Hotel is fine. Very budget, but clean and in a quiet but convenient location. Miss our kitties, though!!!! The weather channel lied; it's has not been on the 50's. Mom, thanks for making me pack your long underwear!!!
Having a great vacation! Feeling fine, eating well, walking a ton (to take care of all those extra calories!). We leave on Wednesday for Bruges which is a small medeival town in Belgium.
Monique
Arrived in Amsterdam early Sunday morning after a good flight. Our first impressions were that Amsterdam is a beautiful, sunny, quiet place... that quickly changed as the day went on!
We ventured into the Red Light District. It was strange to see bakeries and restaurants amidst coffee shops and sex shops! People go about their business like it's no big deal. Although the crack was a little too much for my sheltered, parochial self! Want some coke?(Ignore). Want ecstacy? (Ignore). Cocaine? NOOOOO! (Left us alone, finally). No drugs are actually legal here, but soft drugs are 'tolerated.'
Jamie had a bad case of jet lag, so we took it easy most of the day. Went to see the Anne Frank House which was very moving; her diary entry that reads something like "someday I want to be a famous writer and write a book about the Secret Annex" always gets to me.
Today we spent all afternoon in the two major museums, The Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum (the National Museum). We basically saw the 'touristy' works of art and made our way around. It's not too crowded because it's still the offseason.
Had some great pancakes (like a really big crepe, Dad would approve!) and some fries. Tonight we are trying to take a candlelight cheese and wine canal tour. Tomorrow we are seeing some of the other museums and having dinner at the oldest building in town.
We had wanted to rent bikes, but we're both terrified that we'd get killed, either by a car or another biker. Get out of their way! They are serious. The Dutch people have been genuinly nice to us. We definitely have not felt any anti-American sentiment so far. The owner of the pancake house we ate at yesterday noticed that Jamie was sick and wanted to give him some medicine!
The flowers are so beautiful. I saw some bouquets that I just couldn't imagine seeing at home. The crocuses are starting to bloom.
Hotel is fine. Very budget, but clean and in a quiet but convenient location. Miss our kitties, though!!!! The weather channel lied; it's has not been on the 50's. Mom, thanks for making me pack your long underwear!!!
Having a great vacation! Feeling fine, eating well, walking a ton (to take care of all those extra calories!). We leave on Wednesday for Bruges which is a small medeival town in Belgium.
Monique