On a train from Amsterdam Centraal to Antwerp Centraal. The last few days were amazing. It poured rain on Sunday which was a good excuse to finally sleep in. We checked out Haarlembuurrt in the rain and received a funny look at the natural food store when we forgot to weigh our own fruit.
Our hotel was a little pricey but it was worth the cost of a good sleep for our first few nights. We ended up staying a third night because we loved the location and the room – a view overlooking the Keisergraacht.
To make sense of a Dutch map one needs to understand a few basics: Graacht means canal and Straat is street. Some Graacht’s also have Straats but not necessarily.
Pretty much everybody we met spoke good English so we didn’t have any problems communicating. We met a couple of Canadians from Toronto who were just ending a Europe tour of their own. We didn’t chat long enough to get their names; we had too much fun running around the streets of Amsterdam. The tourist districts are plentiful, but we generally stuck to the residential areas.
We made sure to hit all the necessary landmarks – Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, etc. We didn’t feel much like standing in line – and honestly, these are things that can be Googled. We did however hit many of the small shops – asking shop keepers what they recommend to visiters. I ate enough Dutch cheese to last me until my next trip.
On an unrelated note - I tried to find a washroom in Amsterdam Centraal before leaving to Antwerp to no avail. I saw the “WC” sign just too late and our train had arrived. ACP is not yet aware that I didn’t find one. I will see how long I can hold up the charade.
There is much to describe about Amsterdam but I think the pictures we took tell a better story. Hope to share a few when we get to our sketchy bed & breakfast in Antwerp. Apparently it used to be a warehouse, and “not all rooms have windows”. Who knows!

Signing off,

Dylan.




We were finally rested enough to start enjoying ourselves.


I was able to find chocolate milk! ...not really though, this was just hot chocolate served cold. It hit the spot just the same.


ACP hungry for some Dutch cheese.


The Dylan at The Dylan. (it's a hotel)


When you gotta go.... This is a pay toilet. No I didn't chance it.


This was our midnight snack.


Monday was nice!


We finally had some paancakes. Mine was down the hatch in about 6 seconds.


ACP loving up the flowermaarket


It can't be any worse than a BigMac.


I am amsterdam.


You can't really see it, but this hot dog is draped in an American flag. All in good fun I'm sure.


ACP took this pic of two locals enjoying fish at the maarket.


ACP at the Albert Cuyp Maarket.


I wasn't really hungry anyway.


We were a long way from our hotel and ACP had to go. (We made it)


One of the many "coffee shops" in Amsterdam. Fun Fact: "Coffee Houses" will sell you coffee, whereas "Coffee Shops" will happily sell you pot.


....and yet more bikes....

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