Amsterdam

We started the trip in Amsterdam. Well at least Tom and I did. The flight was direct from Portland and just over 9 hours. I love direct flights it makes things so much easier. Amsterdam is such a beautiful town it reminds me a lot of Portland. At least the weather and scenery does. There are these giant letters that say I AMSTERDAM and I tried to fit it all but this is all I could get in the picture.















I have been here before so it was nothing new but the thing that sets Amsterdam apart most (besides the drugs and prostitutes which is def there) is the bikes. Amsterdam is crazy with its bikes. I heard there are 800,000 bikes in Amsterdam and from what I saw not one was made after 1980. It seemed like bikes out numbered cars 20-1 and I am not even exaggerating. Everyone rides, guys in suits, tons of girls in short skirts or flowy dresses. They even pack 2-4 kids on a bike with Mommy or Daddy for the commute. So basically everywhere you go there are bikes chained up all along the street. Most roads have 2 or more bike lanes between the sidewalk and the street. Here is a picture of a nice typical bike and a bike parking garage. These pics don't do it justice but you will probably hear that on every post. You will just have to go and see for yourself.















We also made a day trip out to Muiden to see a castle out there. Due to a wrong train and a bus strike the trip was longer than originally planned. We had to walk 3k to get to the castle which after all the walking in Amsterdam was not fun. Fortunately we hitched hiked on the back of a truck for the ride back making things much nicer.














Here is me dressed up for the occasion. Everyone knows what happens in Amsterdam stays in Amsterdam plus I have a missionary checking this so sorry if these pictures are not the ones you expected to see for a post about Amsterdam.




















Next post up on deck is Switzerland