Today started off with a blergh but ended in bang (not literally....yet). We started out from our hotel later than usual at 8:30 and after passing through France for a few k's we entered the Netherlands and promptly had a break. We then surged on forward towards Amsterdam which is the final destination in this tour. We then spent most of the day stuck in traffic. We first stopped at a diamond factory and were literally locked in for an hour and subsequently we almost missed lunch and our boat trip. But we managed to smash a hot dog and got to our boat trip half an hour late. Our boat trip started opposite the old heineken brewery, which we didn't go to, and continued around Amsterdam's canals and we figured out why they let so much go here, it's boring. We then toured around on bus for a bit and go free time. We shopped in our free time. Now I know some of you might be thinking "but Alex, you can do so much better stuff in Amsterdam than that", to those of you be patient. We then had our dinner and declined a ride back on out bus and ventured off into the red light district. It was Sally, another girl Kelly and myself who went in and checked out the windows and I must say that the talent is spectacular! You get a few weird ones but generally they are mint. We also ducked into a cafe for the local merchandise and then had a brownie and almost caught the wrong train home!! But we have arrived safely and have had a ripper time on this tour. Our tour guide Alex and driver Carmelo have been great and the other members of the tour have been ace in the most part. We will have to get back to London and then a couple of days off before U.K and Ireland. Bring it on

Alex