The Real Amsterdam

We spent all day in Amsterdam Centrum. We began our day by hopping on the Metro and going to Central Station. Alex's first remark as that it reminded him of Central Station in NYC. We even had a chance to see the "High-Speed" train as it arrived into the station. You better bring plenty of change if you want to see this part of Amsterdam...why do I say this??? You have to pay to pee unless you want to use the truly "public" portable toilets (see pic in blog above). Yes... you just stand there and do your business as everyone walks by. Sorry girls... guys only... you will have to bring the change.

First impression... bicycles and more bicycles and beautiful architecture. We walked into Jordaan and on the way we got our first "whiff" of the Amsterdam "coffee shops), they are everywhere. The canals down there are very pretty and would love to seen them in the summer when everything is green and the flowers are blooming.

Lisa got to do shopping in the market area today and we sampled some of the local snacks. They had everything you could imagine, fresh fruits, veggies, flowers, cheese, bread, and fish. We continued our journey to the floating flower market and yes... the weather got us again. It snow-sleeted like crazy for a period and then it was off and on.

We toured the Anne Frank House and I have to say it was a somber experience. They lived it the top two floors for two years and never left the building. They were finally exposed by someone that to this day has never been identified and all sent to Auschwitz or other camps where everyone eventually died, except her father who did survive and lived until 1980 at 90.

Lastly, we made our way to the Red Light District. Not exactly something you would find in Conway, AR but something more in the seedier part of Las Vegas. They even have pictures of what their dogs are not supposed to do. :-) (see pic)

Tomorrow we are planning on hitting the museums and taking a canal tour.

Later