Lori and Tim in the UK: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, 2012

We left early with Lori's parents to catch a train to Amsterdam (0500 train - Derby to London; Eurostar to Brussels, then to Amsterdam). The train passage through the Chunnel was quick, not much advanced warning and then ~ 20 minutes of darkness.

Amsterdam fun facts:

- Amsterdam has over 1 million bikes but only 700,000 people. When you're there, watch out for bikes; more than cars. There are twice as many bikes than cars.

- The airport at Amsterdam is 12 feet below sea level..

- 75% of the worlds flower bulb production comes from Holland

- Over 70% of the worlds bacon comes from Holland - We never saw 1 pig so I don't know where they hid them all

- Amsterdam is built on pilings since the soft dirt won't support buildings. The Central train station has 6000 pilings holding it up.

Amsterdam has its share of canals, and there's not a straight street in the city which makes navigation sometimes challenging. Most of the streets are flanked with canals and house boats are plentiful. The Amstel river flows through the canals which then drains out to the sea. Although Dutch is the language, most of the signs have English translations so language it wasn't a big problem.

One of the many canals

outside the Anne Frank House

Amsterdam's Central Train Station

Local Market with plenty of cheese

Plenty of tulips for sale

Navigation in progress

A city center fair was in progress

old weigh station to collect taxes for goods offloaded from ships

Back in the day, the locals didn't have last names, so they put their craft on their houses (this house sold wool)

This house needs a little rework, re-stilting

one of the many canals

More navigating

This is a million dollar idea in America... it's a bicycle for many with a bar and beer tap in the middle. All the patrons have a bicycle petal to move the contraption. The guy in the back is steering.