Capital City Seven - Netherlands: Amsterdam. 188 to go.

July 22nd 2010
Netherlands - Capital city: Amsterdam
Picture with two local Policewomen
188 Capital Cities to go.

Was looking forward to Amsterdam, as my friend lives there with her boyfriend, and  was looking forward to a jolly good catch up!! I stayed in the Fashion Hotel for a couple of reasons, one being; all the capitals I've stayed in, have all been in walking distance to everything, so wanted to stay on the outskirts and navigate the tram service, second reason I got it for an absolute steal from booking.com.I  got there in the afternoon and decided to head straight into the city, where I decided to be real tourist like; and see, taste and hear the sounds of Amsterdam.

The next day I went and walked round Amsterdam and went to see my friend at work, (V!P's International Art Galleries) which is such a lovely art gallery, I arranged to meet up later, her boyfriend had borrowed a boat and they were going to give me a tour from the canals.
They arrived with wine and snacks laid on in the middle of the boat, and we got a drive through pizza, we rang on ahead, (I say 'we' my friend's boyfriend did, I sadly only know one word in Dutch, and that is 'to nap'), there is a window in the pizza place, which over looks the canal and you steer you boat to the window and pick up your pizza.

view from canal boat

We spent the rest of the evening in a house which my firend was house sitting, it was truely amazing with views across the whole of Amsterdam, the hall alone would fit my house in twice!! It was on the way back to the hotel when I got my photo with the two policewomen, as like most dutch women they were really tall, and I had to actually stand on the step behind them for the picture so I didn't look short.

The following day, I headed to the area of Amsterdam where the vintage shops were and to the library - which you must visit - on average it has 7000 visitors a day, (one fact slipped in), it's a beautiful building with a restaurant on the top and Macs through out the building.
To get to the Library, you come out of the train station go left and follow the road round. Spent the rest of the day wandering through the streets of Amsterdam.
At the moment Amsterdam is my favourite capital, it reminds me of London and Paris mixed. I love the amounts of bikes lying around, and the way you strap your children on them.

Two seats to strap your babies on.

The next day I were heading home, I gave my tram ticket away at the train station as we had one day left on them, this amercian women took it, and said 'gawd bless you huni, if your ever in New Orleans, I'd be happy to show you around' erm yeah, okay luv!