Well, our free day in Amsterdam started with a bike tour. Now for those of you who don't know bikes rule the roads in Amsterdam. If a pedestrian steps out in front of a bike rider, they are likely to be hit. There is one universal road rule in Amsterdam - the bike riders are always in the right. So a little fear was instilled before we started our journey! But as with everywhere else in Europe, do it with confidence and you won't have a worry. You see this is a bit of an issue when you have a girl who is still stoned trying to ride a bike and taking other people of our tour out - to put it nicely, I told her what I thought! So once I found my place in the pack (40 people riding bikes in a group is never an easy job!), I was right. I sat back and enjoyed the city of Amsterdam from my bike. There are so many canals and beautiful houses. The houses have a hook at the top that the removalists all have winches they connect to to move furniture in because the interior staircases are so tiny. A lot of houses are also on the lean because Amsterdam is built on swamp so the foundations are starting to give way. I know I certainly wouldn't be impressed if this was happening to my house! This is clearly visible with the naked eye.

After our bike tour, a group of us set off to see the Anne Frank House & Museum. A very interesting place with lots of history.

Later in the afternoon we set ourselves up on the canal to watch and participate in the welcome home parade for the Netherlands soccer team (made it to the finals but didn't win). This was great to be part of such local culture. We had no idea what they were shouting, but we joined in!!!!! Everyone was wearing orange and was very enthusiastic. And I must say, as with any good sporting event, the Dutch men were out in force - very nice sight indeed!!!! It was a typical sporting event with people doing crazy stuff - like jumping in the canal. You see, there are a lot of houseboats in Amsterdam, most of which don't yet have proper sewrage connected, so jumping in the canal is well, let's just say, like swimming in a sewer!!!! YUK!!!!! But hilarious when someone else does it!!!!

Tonight we went to a beautiful Chinese restaurant for dinner before setting sail on a canal cruise with all you could drink alcohol - put it this way - it was a long night!!!! Lucky tomorrow is a travel day!!!!

All in all, another great day!

Till next time,

Nic