Red Light District

We finally reach Amsterdam which is somewhat bittersweet as it means the tour will soon be over, however, I have been really look forward to Amsterdam(age).For once we are in a hotel and have a 'luxury' meal. Oh the joy of broccoli and carrots after two weeks without so much as a pea!!The bedrooms still leave a lot to be desired, but at least there are clean towels.Oh the joy!

Anyway, back to Amsterdam.We spend our first night going to see an interesting show…which, after the first 5 gobsmacking minutes, actually became quite mechanical and boring, until a couple of people from our group got pulled up on stage for a few laughs and our tour manager started monkeying around ;o).

The Red Light District itself isn't as scary as it sounds (it's highly likely I was tipsy at this point though!), although the women in the windows are freaky to see and it's quite sad to be honest to think that they have to resort to that to earn money. Don't even attempt to take any photos of this area, you will be hunted down….

The Rijksmuseum

I really want to see Anne Frank's house, but we get dropped off at the Rijksmuseum so it made sense to go there first.After an animated discussion with the friendly security guard who supports Liverpool, we enter the museum which is surprisingly really interesting (to a non museum buff anyway).It basically gives you a pictorial history of the Netherlands which lots of artefacts on display. There is also a section devoted to Rembrandt's works and that of his pupils. Can't say I'm that fussed on his paintings, but I can at least recognise the excellence of the work.

All the of the Dutch people I encouter and friendly and helpful and do not expect you to know their language, which is just as well as it is too hard for me to attempt to learn!!

Anne Frank's House

Next it is a visit to Anne Frank's house and museum.I don't know how I managed to hold back my tears. This is one of the saddest places I have ever visited and the sadness and the fear in which they lived is almost tangible.From the front of the house you would not believe there was an annex, you simply can't see it and the secret annex itself is actually quite big.There is no furniture here as this was all taken at the time of the Franks' arrest and Otto Frank did not want it to be refurnished, so instead there are replicas of the furniture in the annex so you can see how it was decorated.Although it's big for a secret annex, you can imagine how claustrophobic and depressing it must have been with two families living here, especially as the blackout curtains remain, shut as always. They could only be nocturnal and not make a single sound during the day.

Throughout the museum there are photographs of the families and their helpers (who continued to run the business below with Otto Frank) and video diaries.The people who helped them were amazing, it must have been incredibly difficult to keep such a secret but they did so.

The most poignant part for me was going into Anne's room. The wallpaper remains and it is decorated with pictures of old Hollywood film stars and even a couple of photos of Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret when they were children to brighten her room.

And then there is the bookcase….you wouldn't have known a room was concealed behind here, let alone an annex.The original files remain on the shelves.It is heartbreaking to think of the things they went through and the sacrifices they made to survive and probably would have been able to hide for the duration of the war had they not been betrayed.

With the exception of Otto Frank, the families here did not survive, but I would argue that their hiding was not in vain as the story of Anne Frank and her family and friends who lived in the annex will be known forever, it will never die out and serves as a beacon of courage and hope and a warning to never let such things happen ever again.That is a victory in my eyes, if ever there was.