The Lights are Red... sketch!

That is right, we made our way to Amsterdam. Intial thoughts: Bike-mania. These bikes are EVERYWHERE! Here, there, there is even a multi story parking garage by the train station. They even have there own bike lane. Now we have to worried about getting hit by trams, cars, and bikes. It is almost too much to handle... just kidding but seriously, I am pretty sure that a biker would run us over if they got the chance, they look hardcore. There is a rumor that there are more bikes than people which I totally believe.

Another interesting fact: Amsterdam actually has more canals than Venice.

Also this is a very confusing place. First of all we, as Americans, know the country as the Netherlands but they refer to it as Holland and to top it off, they speak DUTCH. Ahhhh.... Actually most signs are in Dutch, German, French, and English and most people appear to be fluent in at least three of the four.

Weed is legal here which is odd but smells vaguely like dorm life at college. I swear some of these people think that they are in Jamacia on the beach. Apparently you can by some of the magical plant for 10 euro or 15 US. Huh.

The Red Light District is super sketch (even before dark) and I feel like I need to take a shower and go to church afterwards. The girls (some of them look like teens and others are old women with a lot of make-up) stand in these little red booths and try to attract customers who look nasty in comparison. Ugh. Apparently this is not an equal opportunity town though because I did not see any men in booths. There were lots of tourist though walking around too and gawking though because it was before dark. Seems like a hard way to make a living but I am told that they are entreprenuers and have a union and everything. To each their own I guess.

We spent the majority of our time checking out depressing WWII stuff which Bryan thought was awesome. We went to this cool museum about the Nazi envasion of Holland (sounds like they were a little slow on the up-take to me) and the Anne Frank House.

All and all not to shabby. It was a mix between the educational junk and the sketchiness of life all rolled into a day and a half. The city had a lot more to offer though so another visit is a must in the future.

Last but not least, avoid red lights at night!