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Amsterdam

"Whoever is happy will make others happy too." - Anne Frank

On May 4 and 5, I survived a trans-Atlantic flight with no sleep, and endless walking distances to change planes. I can never sleep on airplanes, even with a comfortable pillow, meaning I spent my first day in Amsterdam physically and mentally tired. It didn't prevent me from enjoying this beautiful city where I loved getting lost. However, it made me less alert to take a lot of pictures.

Amsterdam was included at the last minute and I am glad I did! Around me, I found friendly Dutch laidback attitude, delicious pancakes, beautiful canals everywhere, but I could have done without the expensive museums or the occasional smell of drugs. What you won't see in the pictures are the highlights of my trip: the last-minute bike rental (even though I got a small injury with it!), and the interior of the Anne Frank house (even if it was not like back in the 1940s).

Farewell - I don't live with my parents, but they insisted on driving me to Montréal-Trudeau airport. How nice of them! And yes, this tiny backpack you see by my feet was all I was carrying as baggage! Flight information display - I love these old-style displays with rotating characters. This is Frankfurt/Main Airport. Can you find my connecting flight to Amsterdam? Wingtip - You know you're overflying the Netherlands (or at least the Benelux) when you can see so many canals outside. Bicycles - My first picture in the city, half-asleep, was inspired by a snapshot taken by a former classmate and brilliant photographer, PA. Solo and the Reptiles - Here's a park with flowers and bronze reptiles just on my way to the Rijksmuseum. Solo and the National Monument - In front of the beautiful Dam square is this monument in memory of the World War II victims. Dam Square - Am I winking? Am I avoiding the sun? Am I just dead tired? I don't remember! Rijksmuseum Entrance - With 95% of the museum closed for renovations, it is still surprising to see that you are charged full price for admission... and that so many people line up to enter! This is when I started measuring waiting time in iPod songs. In this case: 9. Cupid - This cute little guy in the Rijksmuseum has a quotation by Voltaire that says, in French: "Whoever you are, this is, was, or must be your master." Prinsengracht (Prince Canal) - Probably a very representative picture of Amsterdam featuring the canals, the numerous bicycles and the typical narrow homes one besides the other. Anne Frank Huis - No pictures were allowed inside Prinsengracht 265, the old Anne Frank's House, so all you can see is yours truly posing in front. Dutch Mailbox - I wanted to start taking pictures of mailboxes around the world. You will notice some yellow stickers saying "ID NEE". It's part of a campaign against a national law requiring anyone over the age of 14 to be able to show valid ID to any law enforcement authorities at any time. Solo at the Observation terrace - "Are you looking at me? Look at the planes instead", Solo must be saying. If only every airport had, like Amsterdam, such a nice and wide observation terrace! Etap Hotel Schiphol Airport - The only place I could find at a reasonable price, following the May 4-5 vacation period in the Netherlands was an airport hotel. 58.00 EUR per night, breakfast not included. I don't recommend it unless you have no other place to crash. System Error - It seems that this flight information screen at Schiphol Airport was just like my hotel room's cold water supply: down! Why no pictures of the Red Light District? For a very simple reason: it is forbidden! I heard horror stories of a large, muscled and very angry bouncer suddenly appearing after a hooker sees someone taking a picture of her. The candid photographer and/or his camera suddenly end up in the waters of the canal. So I decided not to take any chances.

MapNext stop: Bruges



© 2006, Sergio Ortega. Last update: 2006/06/24.
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