Amsterdam

The most cheerful relaxed place we have come across in Europe so far? It is nice to smile at people and they actually smile back or say hello. Once again we had trouble with our euro pass and had to pay 240€ for our ticket that should have been free. When we arrived in amsterdam we went to book our tickets to Berlin and they informed us that our pass had not been validated correctly in lisbon, great no wonder we had so much trouble. She issued us a new one and first class tickets to Berlin on the 23rd just in time for Christmas. Doesn't look like it will be a white one :(

The flea markets where we are staying were interesting and so cheap. It was nice to wander through with hot chips and a curry sauce to munch on. They are on again tomorrow so we will definitely go back.

Our hotel although flash is starved of atmosphere so we found the perfect wee cafe/ bar a few doors down where we curled up on the couch with a few wines and something to eat. Cheap wine, half the price as in Spain and France. I had a tasty spicy sausage, sauerkraut lettuce baguette yummy.

When it got dark we took a tour of the red light district. Amsterdam is the place I have felt the safest in and the first place we haven't been warned about pickpockets and theives. A visit to the hemp and marijuana museum and home to rest my weary legs.

Our bed. Head