After an easy metro and train ride including about three hours on the Thalys, we arrived in Amsterdam. Everything about this city is different and new. There are beautiful, peaceful canals with lovely homes and small restaurants at the water's edge.
It is Spring here too. Everything is green, there was lots of pollen in the air, just like in Paris.
Everyone speaks English, so I relaxed, realizing that for a few days, I could communicate without a struggle. Cars, busses, trams and bicycles stop for you when you look like you're going to cross the street. Everyone is friendly.
The french think they have cheese -- this cheese display was in a grocery store. We bought a small piece and had it for our lunch on our last day, it was delicious. But, we did have one disappointment. We never got to see the Anne Frank house. We went by it about four or five times, at different hours of the day (one time at 7:15 PM) and the line always looked like this.
I know we'll be back and they'll make room for us in the line.
