Hotel De Dennen Egmond aan Zee

... and I mean everyone. In fact the roads have not only car lanes in them, but trolley tacks and bike lanes. Once I got my awesome purple bike, complete with purple paint and white Hibiscus flowers and the best part, back pedal brakes(just like kids bikes have) I took to the "straats." Now, I was really excited about riding on all these bike lanes, but it was actually really scary at times! I mean, on half of the streets I was literally riding alongside the cars ...

... hands! It will be a hugely rewarding experience, the memories of which will certainly last a lifetime.  As for me, I'll be looking for a new job in the months ahead. The business environment is getting worse by the day so if any one of my readers has a brilliant idea, my ears are open. Wish me luck! Travelling will always remain a huge passion of mine so who knows, you might be reading about more of my travels in the future. Take care. Goodbye, adios, adieu, tot ziens! Keith

... couch-surfing guy from Munich and two swimmers from Frankfurt, and yet all four of us seemed to have similar emotions. It is interesting that regardless of nationality or cultural boundaries, some things like pain and suffering are just widely understood and really do not require translation... As I move on to Belgium today, I can only hope for another profound experience, where my knowledge and cultural understanding are raised to new levels... L.

... it hasn't really changed. The population has changed quite a bit, now much more cultural diverse. Somehow back then it seemed more distinctly Dutch. Tourists are everywhere and it is exceedingly expensive. A bed in a dorm will run you around $50 unless you want to go well down market. Two of us had a double room with a shared bath in a boutique hotel in Manhattan for a hundred bucks. Mine, The Flying Pig, was an average hostel-with a great bar ...

... and the famous red light district. Amsterdam is a liberal city nothing seems to phase the locals much at all and they are very welcoming. I found the red light district to be quite confronting I don't know maybe I am a prude but these women standing behind glass doors selling themselves to anyone who walked past seemed wrong. Of course the area is packed with tourists mostly male standing outside the doors talking to their mates about which one they'd like to buy. I wanted to ...

... people are still able to purchase fireworks. They are restricted to only be sold from 4 days before New Years Eve and then from shops who hold a special licence. Once purchased, they are only permitted to be used from 10am 31 December till 2am 1 January. All though this did not stop the young kids from letting them off the days prior and even long in to the day 1 January. It did make for a spectacular and long display with all the neighbours letting off fireworks at the same time.

... Donkey. Not wanting to seem rude, we agreed to play a game that we hadn't played since we were about five. However, we probably had the most fun playing this game than any of the others. Take from this what you will (perhaps we really are only five at heart?!), but playing Donkey in a hostel in Amsterdam - certainly not something we were expecting. The following day we got the bus and the train back into Amsterdam, and met up with some ...

... a city with all the beauty but less of the crowds of Amsterdam. There, we were hosted by Elif and Alex, two of the most gracious, welcoming people we have ever met. elif and Alex showed us around, introduced us to the best beer in the world and unfortunately, Herring. Herring is a slimy fish that is beyond edible even with our low sushi standards. Well, every rose has its thorn, and Herring is ...

... other major city in Europe there were lots of Australians, but less yobbo Poms because it was the middle of the week. I also had the most helpful receptionist in the world. I initially paid for 3 nights, but then found out the other guys were only staying 2 more, so I went and got a refund and changed to 2 nights and was able to be moved to stay in their room also. Gold.

... the French and Italians would make of this. A beach they could run up and down on and not a deckchair and or umbrella in sight. We have contacted Aussie friends K & D in Abcoude and they are to come to dinner on Friday. We spoke to G, our son, who describes his new apartment as on the second floor with two bedrooms and a double garage into which he puts the Commodore and the 4Runner. I don't believe it. At least we have somewhere to stay if we return early.