We took a train from the Normandy area of France back to Paris, then a high speed train that went 300 kph from Paris to Amsterdam. Amsterdam has changed from when I was there 36 years ago - it still has the beautiful canals and neat houses lining the canals, but the "coffeeshops" and sex shops are much more prevalent.

We walked around lots, road bikes out of the city to northern Amsterdam, and took a canal tour. I also was there on the day of the Gay Pride canal parade - Amsterdam considers itself an open and accepting place, and so they went all out. For hours there were decorated boats of all sorts going up and down the canal then finally anchoring along the side because those were just the spectators! Then many floats (literally floats) full of people dressed up (or not). Lots of people in various costumes, drinking lots, falling into the canal.