Maybe I'll go to Amsterdam...or maybe I'll go to Rome.

(Joni Mitchell - "Carey") Last time Pete and I were in Amsterdam together was in 1981 when we did our classic backpack tour of Europe and found our way to the Hotel Mary via streetcar at midnight. Things haven't changed much since then. People are still friendly, bikes are everywhere and young people OWN this town. Judging from looking into the coffee houses with "smoking rooms," some of the kids were in "teenage wasteland."



On our nighttime tour of the city, we wandered around in and out of the small streets bordered by canals and found a local Mexican restaurant. For some reason, Mexican sounded wonderful! And it was...it turned out, Cafe Pacifico was the first Mexican restaurant founded in Amsterdam in the early 70's by 2 Americans. They still own it and the food was great. Of course, everywhere we walked, it smelled like a Grateful Dead concert. No twirlers, though. Just shops like this one with every imaginable bong-hookah device ever made.



Like most European cities, the City Centre is the hub of activity and the main rail station is right there. This one is the most beautiful and active that we have ever seen. I'm always anxious in a new city about safety and discovered that Amsterdam is extremely safe even with all it's vices in full view. There were police on horses, bikes, motorscooters and cars. My anxiety went from 10 to 3 after some Mexican beer. On Friday, we took the train from our hotel into the city centre and wandered some more. It was amazing how many young people were out and about in this city.

We stopped at this local cafe for coffee (we read in the Lonely Planet that cafe's are not the same as coffee houses which have smoking rooms), and ordered coffee while it drizzled outside. After espresso and a warm sandwich, we hit the streets again and discovered the red light district. The girls must have just started their day shift cuz it was only about 11:30. Only in Amsterdam...in the middle of the red light district is a beautiful church - Oude Kerk - if you read John Irving's "Until I Find You," the pipe organ is described in detail. Sorry no pics (bad karma to take any pictures in the red light area).


I discovered this tiny shop with a balcony and felt like I returned to 70's era post-hippie clothing... hand-knitted sweaters, woven scarves, cheap silver jewelry, cotton skirts, and of course, embroidered socks. The spiral stairway up was no more than 2 feet wide.


Pete, meanwhile, was wandering down another street....adult wasteland. (be sure to click on photos for full effect) Good thing I wasn't gone long!

Amsterdam was built on a bog-like land - all of it below sea level - in fact, "Dam on the River Amstel" is how it's name came about. Now we know what Amstel beer is made of...hmmm.




We ended our journey in Amsterdam by stopping at a local bakery for a Dutch pastry...Oliebollen's...deep fried, sweet and filled with raisins. After this trip, Pete's decided he doesn't agree with Austin Powers, and in fact, he LIKES the Dutch!

tot ziens!