My last day

Trip Start Dec 23, 2008
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Trip End Dec 29, 2008


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Flag of Netherlands  , Noord-Holland,
Sunday, December 28, 2008

So, here it is my last and final day.  Somehow, i think it wouldn't matter how much time or money is spent here...It can just go on and on.

So, I decided to sleep in late and just hang out...no pressure and see what happens.  When I got up, I was ready to go out of my room.  Did I mention, it is an economy room and is exactly that.  Anyway, there is an old section of town I was dying to see on foot.  it is at the end of the first canal after the main Island.  Sort of near the Anne Frank house.  I made it down there and it was a cold morning.  It was a nice old neighborhood and you could see the old dams near the main train station from there.

I found a shop with nice knitted scarves that read HOLLAND on them and as they were not made in China, i bought one because I was numb.

I walked in the direction of my hotel but actually followed a long connecting canal in a northern direction and then followed the old city moat.  i found some interesting areas but I think mostly residential and not tourist areas.  Kinda neat by my standard but my damn camera is eating batteries.  So no pics from that walk.

Actually the area is called haarlem but it seems upscale as opposed to our Harlem in the USA.

Next, I went to my room to drop off stuff and also to thaw out.  It was cold today and there was frost on the ground.  I pulled it together for one last tour...the Heineken brewing company.  It was walking distance from my room and also on the very spot where the world famous brew began.  I found it fascinating but couldn't help but think that my brother should have been there too!

One last walk around the chilled evening and back to my room to pack it all up.

I will always remember the experience of my first time in Amsterdam.  The lights, the excitement, the freedom, the crooked buildings and crummy bicycles and bikes everywhere.  the (rude sounding) accent of the Dutch people when they say goodbye...even though I'm sure they're polite. The way everything starts with "dam"     ...     AND THE COFFEE!!!

Amsterdam meets or exceeds expectations!

I will return in the spring.
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