Holland Road Trip Day 2: Amsterdam

After that car ride, we desperately needed to smoke pot.  Oh wait, too much information.

I loved Amsterdam during my trip through Europe in '99 and anticipated the canals, narrow roads, and WW II history.  We planned to spend Saturday morning there, return to the hotel for a nap, and head to the Hague for dinner.

As we waited in the lobby, tourists requested photographs of our blue eyed children.

We parked our cars in one of the dozen lots outside the city center, took the train one stop to the main station, and immediately jumped on line for the canal tours.  The Dutch consciously planned and created the Amsterdam Canals, which are now a UNESCO World Heritage site, in the 17th century.  The four concentric half circle canals managed water, defended the city, and transported residents.

The tour guide, in five different languages, highlighted the city's history and architecture.  Next, we navigated the narrow streets to find Pancakes!, a Dutch restaurant serving this speciality.   I held tightly onto Emily's hand as cars and bikes whisked past.  Thanks to I-phone GPS and several kind city-dwellers, we found the restaurant.  The food proved equal to the hour wait.

We ordered savory pancakes for lunch and sweet ones for dessert.  They filled pancakes with chives, endive, bacon, ham, and Camembert cheese - you name it.  Owen's fireman pancakes came with a hat, and Emily's surprise one included a large flashing light yo-yo.

We walked by the house where the Frank family hid - a somber reminder.

We headed back to the train wondering how it could possibly be 4:30.  So much for a nap and the trip to the Hague!

We passed plenty of "coffee" shops.

Bikes filled this three story garage.