Amsterdam

We arrived safely and without too much fuss although it was raining when we got here which sucked. Catching trains and then walking in a strange city with suitcases in the rain is not my idea of fun! Found our hotel anywhere (if you can call it that) - it's basically a room in a pub witha bed and a sink and that's it. Shared bathroom facilities (how did that escape me?) and not even a bar fridge or coffee making facilities! Anyway, after trying unsuccessfully to get an upgrade, we took off for our first look around Amsterdam. We were barely 2 metres from our front door and we had our first street drug seller approach and offer us basically everything you can imagine... nothing else to do except head down and keep walking... it seems to be the thing here, since then, we get approached constantly. I guess considering we're staying in the heart of the red light district where you see girls in windows every few metres, we should have expected it. It's quite bizarre to constantly be walking past people openly smoking dope in the street and the smell is particularly strong around certain "cafes". Anyway, we ventured to the Sex Museum to get an education on the ways of love over the centuries. A bit of fun but nothing really that exciting. Amsterdam is quite pretty though with canals everywhere and little cobbled lanes weaving in and out of them. Of course to us, it's like one giant maze but we aren't getting too lost too often.. maybe my sense of direction is improving? Out for a few bevvies last night and to check out the local scene... We went from tiny traditional bars with chech music and a big busted blonde woman behind the bar singing along at the top of her voice and winking at us, to high end cocktail bars playing the latest dance music and filled with neon and mirrors everywhere. (sounds like a strip joint doesn't it? But I assure you all, it wasn't!). Today we did our own walking tour of Amsterdam, visiting Anne Frank's house and the floating flower market as well as lots of lanes filled with tiny shops featuring all kinds of things to spend you money on! Tonight, we will venture out and try to stay out of trouble... with drinks costing upward of 5 euro each (about $10), i don't think it's going to be that hard!