As You Thinketh!

Took the bus+ferry ride from London to Amsterdam. One of the longer bus rides I have taken in Europe (10 hours). Reached Amsterdam on a wet and rainy Saturday morning. Didn't let it dampen my spirits though. Collected the 2 day travel pass at the ticketing machine and I took the metro from Amstel Station to Centraal Station.

Amsterdam is a pretty lazy city. 8 'o clock was like very morning without too many humans on the streets. The information office was to open only by 10 AM. Not being patient enough to wait so long I decided to venture on foot into the streets of Amsterdam.

First stop was leidseplein where the holland casino is. Ofcourse it was too early to find any action there. Walked across to Vondelpark and then took the tram to Dam square. Dam square is where the royal palace is housed. It is huge and beautiful. The square also has the national monument which is a sight to behold. Madame Tussauds is also in the same square.

Headed to Zaanse Schans which is in the outskirts of Amsterdam. Had to take an inter-city train which halted at Koog Zandijk en-route. Walked over to the moot where i took the ferry ride to Zaanse Schans. What i saw next will remain etched in my memory. A half a dozen beautiful windmills were in motion and a small estuary flowing by them. There was even a museum at Zaanse Schans. Headed to one of the wind mills and paid the entry fee to go inside and venture. Climbed the ladder to the top of the wind-mill. Saw how the wind energy is converted to kinectic energy of the grinding stones. Chalk powder was being ground. Picked up a small model of the wind mill along with a hot chocolate and walked back to take the train back to Amsterdam.

Decided to check into the Stayok youth hostel in Stadholen. The hostel was pretty poor. There were 12 beds in a room and it wasnt very clean. Wouldn't recommend this to anyone visiting Amsterdam.

Washed up and headed back out again for the infamous (or should i say famous) Red Light District in Amsterdam. It was pretty crowded. Prositution is legalised in Amsterdam and that way everyone appeared safer and better off. Dint find it amusing to stick around for too long. There was eerie feeling about the place. Walked back to the hostel and crashed pretty early.