Amsterdam, Netherlands

You may associate canals with Venice, but Amsterdam has bunches of them too. They are a vital part of the part of the city that's closest to the port, and thus the sea, and give Amsterdam beauty and character. This was one of the first scenes in our visit to this thriving city; talk about a good first impression.

Many words come to mind when discussing Amsterdam. It's an open city, famous for its "red light district." It's filled with bicycles, with thousands of riders zipping through designated lanes without much regard for pedestrians. It has wonderful architecture, with that old-world European look. And, frankly, it's a bit dirty. Which is too bad.

One other quick point - if you don't smell marijuana while walking around the old town area, something is wrong with your sense of smell. The stuff isn't legal, but arrests in this area apparently aren't much of a priority. 

There is plenty to do here, and English seems to be a second language for many of those who live in tourist areas. Therefore, it's a fine place for Americans to visit.

Here's a video overview; some of the sights are covered elsewhere on this site.



Be notified of new posts on this site via Twitter @WDX2BB.