Amsterdam Days 1 and 2

I have to compact these together because last night there was no internet access. By the time Day 1 was complete, the internet cafes were closed. But now I discovered that the hotel had internet access all along.

Day 1's major thing was the canal cruise and the free beer. The tour guide was funny. He is a big soccer fan and said that the way Ajax goes, so goes the Dutch team. Since Ajax sucked this year, so did their national team.

Amsterdam is definitely an interesting city and I encourage all to go. Beautiful canals, plenty of thin but high houses and quite the vibrant nightlife. Saw the Anne Frank museum (very powerful) and the Van Gogh. They also took us to a live sex show which I can say wasn't worth the money (45 euros). Not that I'm sure what would have made it worth that much.

The city itself is a culture shock. Drugs and prostitution are readily acceptable. You walk down a street in the red light district and you see girls standing in the windows. It's quite something and it's in a way.... sad.

City is very un-pedestrian friendly. Between the streetcars, the bike-only lanes (there are plenty and they're like roads) and the cars, you are lucky at times to get off in one piece. Supposedly if you get hit by a bike, it is your fault and you will get deported as a foreigner.

Believe the bias that Dutch all have bikes. The story is that the Nazis took all the bikes from the Dutch in WWII and after the war, the government gave every Dutch person a bike. That is why they have their bike-only roads and they dominate the downtown and even the country-side.

Day 2 was filled with a morning of biking across Edam, a village famous for its cheese. Then it was off to see an exhibition on cheese making and clogs. I learned that smoked cheese uses 2-3 year old cheese melted down. Good thing I never liked that stuff. I bought plain cheese and I will give it to my aunt.

After returning to town, I saw a diamond exhibit, went to Anne Frank's and then the Van Gogh. I had lunch at a kosher establishment where they spoke perfect hebrew. Then I had dinner at a falafel stand where the owner was Israeli. I learned that it's a very Israeli city. In fact, there were signs in hebrew in a few places.

I also saw a Hizbollah supporter. Someone asked a man what his cap written in Arabic meant. He proudly chanted "Hizbollah..terroristas" Gross!

Amsterdam the good: Vibrant nightlife, easy-going ways. multi-cultural.
Amsterdam the bad: unfriendly to pedestrians

Off to Germany.