Amsterdam

Day: Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Wellbeing: Okay
Weather: Rainy
Highlights: Clog maker William cracking some funnies while showing us how to make clogs...

Got a show of how to make cheese and clogs. Met William, the clog maker...one of the few left in Holland to do it the traditional way. Got ripped off buying souvenirs here though, could have bought the same things, but cheaper in Volendam (fishing village we visited after the clog making).

The stitching of my umbrella came undone while in Volendam...had to stitch it back up!

Visited a diamond place - Gassan's and saw a beautiful 2.22 carat diamond, D colour, i think VVS1 or 2, and the guy giving the presentation was extremely cute!!! His English was perfect with his accent...hehhe...

Did a canal cruise of Amsterdam through the city centre. Really odd, because if someone said "canal" i would think Venice...you dont associate it with Amsterdam...but it was amazing.

Walked around Amsterdam with Lauren to look for the Rembrandt museum but didnt find it. Found a shopping strip similar to our Pitt Street - very tempted to stop and buy shoes.

Lauren and i stopped for a hot chocolate at a cafe or is it coffee house? *LoL* It took us all day to figure out which was which. The hot chocolate we had was made from powder and we were getting ready to be disappointed, but it was actually really good.

After roaming around, we hopped onto the coach and was driven to the restaurant for our authentic Dutch dinner. I had a pea and sausage soup for entree, Hopsh Kosch (i think thats how you spell it) for main, and fruit salad with ice cream for dessert. Tried a berry gin...not for me.

After dinner, we did a tour of the Red Light District...a lot of girls were either busy or "busy" because the curtains were closed.

Early start tomorrow.

Tipping is required for local guid and driver, not sure how to give.

Unfortunately my overall impression of Amsterdam, city = sleazy...