Next, we drove up (and slightly left) to Amsterdam...
Definitely the Netherlands
The amazing French weather didn't last though, and much of the last few days was blighted by this:
But it didn't stop us venturing out, to see some sights.
The Concertgebouw - Amsterdam's (and for that matter one of the world's) finest concert hall. It hosts over nine-hundred concerts per year.
It was closed.
:-(
Museums 'n stuff. It was a nice relief to walk around on the grass, since the pedestrian areas/pavements aren't marked with any particular distinction, so most of the time in the city was spent either trying to avoid cars seemingly driving on pedestrian areas, or being run over by bikes.
Bloody rain...
Bloody cyclists...
...much better! Our favourite little Italian place in the Leidseplein, near our hotel. I say favourite - we actually only went in two Italian places, so it wasn't much of an accolade. Beer glasses were huge though.
Nice.
Now, hypothetically, if someone wanted to take part in the completely legal consumption of certain plant-based narcotic substances, then one might find a good coffeshop to go to, and mark it on a map.
Unfortunately, the location was a bit ambiguous, and led us on a bit of a wild, hypothetical goose-hash chase. 'Rookies'. How appropriate.
An artist's rendering of what might have been on offer if we'd have ventured inside...
After our hypothetical visit to a place we didn't go in anyway, we became strangely peckish.
Wok to Walk - select one or more things from each column, ask, wait about 3 minutes...
...instant chinese!
Amsterdam by day.
And by night.
Ah, the old "Aaah" song. Everyone knows it.
This one looks like I've turned evil and just lazered Rich into a cloud using only my rage-filled eyes.
I think I was just singing.
Danish people. Specifically, Danish girls.
Danish girls getting drinks for free as it was Ladies Night. (no apostrophe needed)
Because of the exchange rate & Holland's exploitation of the British penchant for BeerBeerBeer!!!! Beer!!! -we were buying a round of three drinks, for...
(Three drinks, remember)
...TWENTY FOUR EFFING POUNDS AND FIFTY EFFING PENCE!
-but the music was ridiculous and fun, so we stayed and became poor, and after about an hour, I finally got one of the Danish girls to get me a free drink. Result!
I did have to buy her a shot for £7 first though. Which is less of a result, really.
We had a wander 'round the Red Light district before we left. Strange atmosphere - but it definitely seems like the Netherlands have a much healthier attitude towards soft drugs and the sex industry than many other countries. We denied their enthusiastic offers of special cuddles, and wandered through the canals towards the Rembrandtplein, one of the city's main squares.
Unfortunately (since it was our last night) the Rembrandtplein happened to be awesome. Especially this huge bar, overlooking the square.
After Amsterdam, we finally headed back home, stopping off at Bruges.
