3. Amsterdam, Netherlands
I took the dutch flyer to the netherlands from London, this was an overnight ferry service which is actually quite a luxurious ship. For 100 pounds I got my own room and a trip to holland. The ship was beautiful, il upload photos soon when i get a chance. It had a pub, gaming room, cinema, dining restruant, shops and more. My room was great too very cosy and the light rocking throughout the night sent me to sleep. The trip was 8 hours and they wake you up by paying the whistling part to the song 'dont worry, be happy'. It was a nice way to wake up! I then caught a few trams to get to Amsterdam. It was very easy, very impressed by europes transport.

Amsterdam blew me away from the second i was here. This is really when it sunk it that I am away from home, i think london was too much like melbourne - this place wasnt!
The city is stunning, slanted think brick houses everywhere over clean sprakling canals made it so special. Its like Venice but without the smell they reckon. Bikes rule the land here, they have their own roads and everyone must give way to them, i have never seen so many bikes, they actually pull 25,000 bikes out of the canals of amsterdam every year! true fact! No one rides a fancy bike either, they are all old restored bikes (darcys heaven).

I stayed in a hostel in the red light district, but the area is actually very safe and a huge tourist trap. There are hundreds of windows with woman wanting to make some money, youngest is 18, the oldest is 72 (yikes!). I was a little shocked when i first got here when an obease black woman in a thong started blowing me kisses from her window. Welcome to amsterdam! Coffee shops have a different meaning here too! if you are looking for a coffee, go to a cafe, not a coffee shop.

The hostel itself is great, I have met alot of people and had bday drinks with people i dont even know, this dude john from the USA was a top bloke and we had some good nights playing pool and poker. Meeting millions of aussies here too. One night which has been my highlight, I played the best pool of my life - every one thought i was pro, i actually did a shot where you jump the ball over the black and got the right ball in the hole. Everyone went nuts, was very funny. I put it down to bday luck but i won poker, pool and dominoes all night.

So each night has been so fun. I'm going to have an early one tonight because im catching an early train to Paris tomorrow.

Amsterdam is my highlight so far just because of the fun ive had here at the hostel and the beauty of this city. Keep in touh, loving the whatapp thing dad, mum on the emails and ill get darcy on this textie thing when i work it out.

love,

Dave.