Amsterdam, Netherlands

When Bec told us at the beginning of this trip that wee would be sad to see our bus-mates go... I didn't believe her.  I do now.  The tour is coming to an end in Amsterdam.  Some people are going on to London as their final stop.  I'm taking advantage of a few more hours in Amsterdam and then a quick flight to Dublin to continue my vacation.

It's bittersweet to say goodbye, but we've really had an amazing trip.  It's not over yet though!

So the original Sin City, is not as sinful as I had anticipated!  The red light district is close and unmarked but it's a beautiful city strip with a canal and boats running through the middle just like all the other parts of town. I found my way there by accident getting back to the bus, and it wasn't until I looked up from my map and saw a bikini clad woman in a window shaking her hips at me that I realized exactly where I was.  I'm constantly confused by the sex industry, every woman in these windows was beautiful, and surely could put their powers of persuasion into other tasks.  I suppose without a wanting audience, their trade wouldn't exist.

Coffee shops... are not shops that sell coffee.  The wafting aroma was much different.

Day two in Amsterdam we went on a bike ride in a small town called Edam.  We stopped along the way at a Gouda cheese factory and clog making shop.  They sound like they don't go together, but leftovers from the cheese process actually going into making clogs.  The bike ride was so much fun, simple bikes, but beautiful little town.  We stopped at a dike with lock system as well as a windmill... not pictured (sorry!)

The afternoon to ourselves, I tagged along with a group for a rooftop lunch and then a humbling visit to Anne Frank's house.

The evening ended with a night on the town after a wonderful canal cruise.  Picture courtesy of Hilary.