Back to Amsterdam

 I really enjoy this sign above. It really sums Amsterdam up, yes, ride your bike, yes smoke your weed... but no public drinking... at least not in this playground. Nice.

 This was a holocaust memorial (above) which was part of an interesting museum detailing the impact of the occupation on the Jews of Amsterdam. Very tragic. It was right down the street from our hotel, and it had been closed when we were in town previously, so it was good to take some time to remind us of the horrors of the past, how good we have it, and how we need to preserve that.

Above, Anne Frank statue. The Anne Frank house is a must see. It made me tear up, and I don't see how you can't after watching what people went through, watching her relatives, reading what she wrote, her hopes and dreams, and hearing her father comment on the symbol that she had become for people. A must see.

So, (below) notice the helmets on the riders (or lack there of). Not even the kiddos need helmets. Amsterdam's a bit weird. Where they arguably might have some more social engineering, in many ways they are substantially more "free" or libertarian than the "Land of the Free" the US, from the legal prostitution, or the lack of enforcement of drug laws. Additionally, the ADA, that in the US would prevent a business from locating upstairs, or in a basement with a narrow entrance where one has to climb or bend over, does not impede upon European business. It seems that some aspect of American politics want to combine the bad aspects of Europe and the US, and sustain it here for the good of all of us reckless citizens. That makes me sad.

 Sweet digs below.

Grocery store. Provider of late night snacks so we could watch our couple of English TV channels with some goodies.

Super Dickman's?? That's what these chocolate marshmallow goodies below were called in Germany. Sadly I can't remember the name in Amsterdam... nothing cool like a "Super Dickman." You can get these in the US, but they aren't as big or tasty.... so much for that myth that they don't have cheaply available sugar loaded junk food in Europe. I call BS.

Above is a view of the Bejinhof (a monastery) in Amsterdam. Kate and I had tried coming here previously but it was closed. They didn't allow photos inside the compound because sisters still live there. No one was abiding to the rule, however I couldn't bring myself to participate in the vulgar touristy behavior.

Typical Amsterdam head shop. A bit more blunt (pun intended? than the typical shop in the US, at least those outside of San Francisco)

This cafe near the Anne Frank house was the last place Kate and I ate in Amsterdam before heading back to our quaint hotel with its crooked steep stairs. It was directly on a canal. I had a mozzarella, basil and tomato sandwich on a baguette. It was nice.

 Below is the outside of the Anne Frank museum. The facade of the original house is obscured by this front. It is a little odd, however since their residence would have had blacked out, curtained windows during the occupation, I suppose it is rather symbolic.

And below here I am at London-Heathrow airport which was our transfer en route to Barcelona. The best thing about that meal were those diet carbonated beverages. What is it that Europeans have against a fine fake hamburger establishment in an airport? I would have been happy with an Au Bon Pain, and that is saying something. Even the banana was probably better than the poor excuse for a sandwich (which probably cost me $15 after the exchange). Blecch. Well soon we'd be in Barcelona and at least I (can't speak for Kate) would enjoy the tapas.