Amsterdam
Early drive to Amsterdam. Carla & Lou wisely took the train. We had 4 in the back of the car with elly lying across on us in Rob's Mazdarati.

Meet Carla & Lou at the Central station. Amsterdam is extremely busy with so many foreign tourists blocking the streets, walking across roads, causing huge waiting lines for the attractions..... Hmmm, just like us.

First stop was Madame Tussauds. Mariska lost her sunglasses. She lost her Prada posing with Gaga.

Next was Anne Frank house but the line stretched 2 blocks. Took a picture of the outside of her non-descript terrace house and went to lunch beside one of the several km of canals. Good place to people watch.

The girls left us to do their own thing. Rob, jolanda & us decided to go to the red light district. Passed several "coffee shops" in little alleyways with the aroma of strong marijuana rather than coffee.

Rob searched for his sex museum in the red light district. I didn't know what to expect but it was hard to see the red lit windows in the bright sunlight. There was no problem seeing the open curtains. Apparently it's more interesting at night with the lights visible, but with sunset at 11, I wasn't going to wait till then. All tastes are catered for, but you are all I need Mariska dear.

We decided we had enough walking. We would walk 21km before bed. It was time for the mandatory canal cruise, we were just another tourist. There were very pretty vistas of Amsterdam.

I wish dinner had been a forgettable affair but for the grumpy Italian grandpa cook/owner who could not make a pizza without holes due to lack of dough to cover the plate, it really set Mariska off & she told him what she thought. I made sure I had left the restaurant first.

We took the train back to Vlaardingen while Rob & jolanda waited for the girls to finish the dinner cruise @ 1030 pm & drive them home.

We got the train to Vlaardingen but there was no taxi so added to our 21 km of walking.

Off to Paris on the Thalys fast train in the morning.