My first trip to Amsterdam and I'm left with conflicting impressions....
The first,
intimate streets and canals, lined with bicycles, boats, and outdoor cafes. The 17th century architecture with it's slightly leaning buildings, peaked roof lines, and brightly painted shutters was charming.
We stayed in a fabulous Hotel - Andaz Amsterdam - part of the quirky new Hyatt Hotel chain. It was new and funky and in the best location, between the Anne Frank House, Old Town, and the Rijks Museum.
This was our room...the fish represents Dutch industry, the back is a Delft tulip pot, stitched together with the 3 orange crosses- symbols of Amsterdam. Very cool Hotel!
The first thing we did was find the Hop on-Hop Off canal cruise near the Central Station. It was the ideal way to see the highlights of Amsterdam.
Traffic on the canals could get a little crazy on a warm spring day!
If you are a fan of Van Gogh you will recognise this! I did get Rick to go to the Van Gogh Museum. It was interesting to see how the artist's life and artwork changed throughout his life.
My conflicting views of Amsterdam come from our tour of the red-light district, brimming with legal prostitution, sex-shops and "Coffee" Houses. Our guide was VERY interesting - a "retired" hooker, actually from Oklahoma. She was 30 minutes late, looked stoned, and a little shaky but she knew the back alleys and window lanes of the Red Light district and they all seemed to know her! Of course photos of the women are discouraged but this is one of the famous coffee houses....Baba's.
Complete with "cannabis" in all forms!
In contrast to the Red Light District and Old Town it was good to return to the quieter neighborhoods on the canals!
