Amsterdam

Yesterday we started the last leg of this journey. We Ubered (is that a word...should be if it is not) to the station and waited in the lounge (due to early arrival) for our train to Amsterdam.

The train ride was nice and smooth. They weren't as strict about tickets on this train. Woody thought one could ride ticketless pretty easy. It was quite different on the Eurostar. They qued you up, put your stuff thru metal dectors and scanned your ticket and passport. The Thalys train was a little looser with their procedures.

We rode first class or comfort class. I think the only difference between first and second was a meal. The meal was worse than the worst airline food I have ever tasted, not even editable. Woody was smart and passed when given the choices.

So, we arrived at Amsterdam Central Station and schlepped our bage to our hotel across the street from the station. When looking for the entrance, we asked a big guy standing outside a restaurant on a side street. He suggested leaving our bags with him and then look for the hotel on the left side of the street (it was on the right). We may not be city dwellers but we are not STUPID.

Anyway, the hotel is a ultra modern art hotel that is way cooler than we are. It is called the Art'otel and it is the best so far. A very sweet dutch boy checked us in and even had our room ready for us early.

The pictures below the bag schlepping and our cool room are from the canal cruise.

There are sooooo many bikes in this city it is amazing. I'm more worried about getting run over by a bike than a car.

Also, the houses are cute but the ones built with wood pilings are leaning. It looks weird.