High, Amsterdam!

August 28, 2013

Amsterdam, Netherlands

                                     

The city of Amsterdam is a maze of canals and bicycle paths. I fell in love right away! You experience the beauty of the buildings and flowers twice because everything is reflected in the canals. Ringing of bicycle bells and a violinist playing in the park filled our ears as we walked through the streets.

A  mother with 2 infants in the box on the front

We were impressed by people of all ages riding bicycles, mostly beach cruisers to be exact. The locals act as if a bicycle is a mini van. They ride 3 or 4 people to one bike. We saw mothers with their infant in the front seat and a toddler on the back and no one was wearing a helmet. There were even bikes with sidecars. Someone spent a lot of time planning this well organized city because boats, bikes, scooters, buses, cars, and pedestrians all move with fluidity.

                                        




When in Rome.....Right? Well Amsterdam actually but the rule applies here also. The counter culture expressed here is known worldwide. People come from all over to "eat chocolate" in a brown coffee shop and/or to take their sexuality to a new level.

Leaving the prostitution alone we headed for a coffee shop. We visited a few and the experience was the same every time. It went something like this.....We were given some recommendations.....then Skiddly Diddly Doo........... :*) I know some of you are more interested in the details of our Cheech & Chong adventure than others so Ill save theses stories for when we are home!

Where they make the cheese

                                     


We roamed the streets of Amsterdam after our cultural experience. The Amsterdam's Kaashuis is a traditional Dutch cheese store.  The huge yellow wheels of cheese caught my eyes as we walked by luring us inside to take a peek.











The store was 3 rooms with samples of every product they make laid out for customers to try. There were cheese matrons walking around refilling each sample station.

Stroopwafel

 As if this experience could get it any better, we turned the corner and walked into the chocolate and candy room. They had fudge, white chocolate, stroopwafels (These things are dangerously delicious), and hard candy.  My taste buds were dancing on my tongue.