On to Amsterdam. This was easily my favorite city of the trip, although I really loved Rouen and Brussels too.
I guess it was my favorite, mainly because if it's mystique throughout the years for me growing up as a hippy kid in the 1970's. It was an edgy city with a lot of different cultures represented (We only saw a few Muslims the whole trip. They weren't as prolific as I would have thought.) Amsterdam is both new world and old world and it all comes together very well. Food and drinks like the other European cities were very reasonably priced.
A note about Amsterdam if you go. Bicycles have the right of way. ALL THE TIME! And you better watch your ass in any kind of bike lane, because you will get run over. Bikes are EVERYWHERE in the Netherlands and the Dutch are serious about bicycles. Just a fair warning.
Our first stop was the Jewish market. This church was one of the first landmarks we passed. A little reading about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozes_en_A%C3%A4ronkerk
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Mrs. Irish checking out all the street vendors at the Jewish Market. Notice all the bicycles...
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And let me tall you Americans don't know what good Fries are the Europeans love their fries. And no that's not soft serve vanilla on those fries it's what you think it is, and it was damned good too! Mrs. Irish is a cutie and I am a lucky man...
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The Dutch got rich by shipping and trading stuff.
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Mrs. Irish having the time of her life...
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Could you imagine living on one of these houseboats along one of the canals?
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This is one of the main canals in the middle of the day on a Friday. I was surprised at how busy all the canals were.
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