Start with a blush and end with a blush

Up and out this morning to catch a free tour of Amsterdam. The tour guide was great and knew all sorts of interesting insider facts about where we were and what we saw. Here's a quick rundown of some of the sights; The Red Light District (My face stayed blushed for the rest of the tour), The Old Church, New Church and West Church, The Jewish Quarter, The Royal Palace, The Floating Flower Market, The Anne Frank House, The Dutch East and West India Companies, The Begijnhof Convent, The Widest Bridge and Smallest House (only 1.6 meters wide!) Pieces of public art around town and various museums as well as all the leaning buildings! Amsterdam is really incredible in how it was reclaimed from the sea and the streets, bridges and canals that are all below sea level. We had a short break in the middle of the tour where I discovered hot lunch vending machines. Put in your euro, open a slot and pull out a hamburger or deep fried something or other. I also tried Chipsy King which serves double fried french fries in a cone with various sauces on top. There are so many different types of restaurants here you can get food from anywhere around the world. After the tour I went to the Anne Frank House! It was surreal to walk through the secret bookcase door and into their lives. There were pictures and short videos, quotes on the walls and Anne's real diary. No matter how many times I've read her novel, see the play or movie...it really only came to life when I stepped inside. I wandered around town a little longer, loved seeing and smelling the flowers from the floating flower market. I bought a salad, and blush wine for dinner and headed back to the hostel for the night.

Tomorrow Plans: Maybe a Canal tour, Rent a bike and ride around, visit museums, 9 little streets shops, or waterlooplein flea market