Day 5: Amsterdam, Netherlands

I won't bore you with my crazy sleep but it was awake, asleep, awake . . . I think I was just excited about my friend arriving to travel together.  I am going to try really hard to not take a nap today . . . key word is try.  Today we move into Amsterdam.  We are staying at the Amsterdam Hilton which became famous in 1969 when John Lennon and Yoko Ono held there Bed-In for Peace for a week.  I didn't know this until we arrived at the hotel and saw the pictures at the hotel.  You can stay in that same suite for about 1400€ (about $1600) for one night!  Needless to say we didn't book that room; it was booked for one of the nights we were there and apparently is booked often by fans.  I really can't imagine spending that amount of money for one night.  You can ask to see the room, but I always forgot.  The view from our room was a delight!

I have been to Amsterdam with Colin before and loved it.  Today it was packed and just not as enjoyable as I remembered.  Still a beautiful city but super busy and crowded.  It was so nice to visit a city as an adult and be able to just wander where ever you wanted and not worrying about what a child might see.  So yes, we did go to the Red Light District to see what all the fuss was about.  It was day time and pretty much what I expected.  I was amazed at the number of men inquiring about services from the ladies in the windows.  We did over hear one saying it would be 150€; not exactly sure what he wanted, but he continued to talk to her.  It was so nice to just walk around and explore the city with no real plans!  Of course it is hard to not enjoy when everywhere you turn it looks like this . . .

I was so excited to get some frites with mayo . . . trust me it is sooo good!  And no I did not eat all of those . . . it was a sharing size!

. . . and back to the hotel!