Netherlands

Hi All

We arrived safe and sound although a little tired at 6.30am on Friday. We spent the day (4 hours) at Keukenhof flower display. Hope I can load up some photo's for you especially you Trish! Most of the outside flowers Tulips etc had finished. The inside displays were worth the trip. It was a beautiful sunny day. Checked into our Hotel finally about 5pm feeling very weary by this stage. Had dinner at the Restaurant and got to bed about 8pm for Peter and 9pm Debbie, both got a good nights sleep.

Yeterday we had breakfast and left the Hotel by 7.30ish and walked to the train station to get ourselves into Amsterdam to connect with a North Tour, which took us to Zaanz Schan's World Heritage Listed area for Windmills, Cheese Factory (got to do some tasting as well), then onto Volendam a Fishing Village for lunch. Then boarded a ferry across the lake to Marken about at 25min trip. A walk around the old village and then to the Old Wooden Shoemaker, watched a display on how they make Wooden Clogs. Back on the bus and return to Amsterdam arriving at 1.45pm. Boarded another bus for the South Tour. First stop on the South tour was in Delf at the Delf pottery, had the process explained to us as it was the weekend no painters working. Most interesting to find out only 2 genuine Delf Pottery makers still operating. A quick stop Delf square, time for a few photo's a busy time as the weather was good and lots of people around. Then onto Hague the City of he Houses of Parliment and the Embassies. Yes there is an Aussie Embassy here even got a photo. Had to take a lot of photo's from the bus window but they are working out ok! Next stop Madurodam the miniture city, Shows the Netherlands in Miniature a fasinating place. Our driver took us past the Beach Resort Area and fishing Wharfs. Back into Amsterdam at 7.30pm. Decided to book onto the Red Light a walking tour as it only operates on Fri and Sat nights. This started at 8pm! Quick tea at Maca's just down the road. This was a very interesting tour of the "Ladies of the Night" in their windows and the Cafe's, night clubs around the area. I still had Peter with me at the end of the tour. (Just!)

Finally on a train back to the hotel at 10.30pm and back to our room at 11.15pm. Showers and bed. Wow what a day! Sounding like the Dawson express tours as per usual not wanting to waste time or miss out on too much!

This driving on the other side of the road in the opposite direction takes some getting used too! They drive lots of small cars here and we have never seen so many bikes! Believe me they are every where and no over weight people either, except for the tourists! People of all ages ride them, young, old, parents with kids on the front it is really amazing to see. You need to watch for cars and bikes, scooters everywhere! Bike lanes everywhere as well. Their road and train systems are so far advanced to ours, tunnels under fields and canals, overhead bridges going every which way.

To-day Sunday 22nd May

We have had another good nights sleep, and taking it easy today. Catching up on email and blog! May head into Amsterdam later today for a visit to a couple of the Muesum's and back here to meet the rest of our tour group.

Bye for now!