Last day in I Amsterdam

After the 4th hearty breakfast we set off with the intention of visiting this famous museum - the Rijksmuseum - home of lots of the Dutch Masters and others. But we only made as far as the outside. We meandered our way through the streets, through the red light district snd along the canals which took us a while so by the time we got here, coffeeless and with a late lunch still to be had we decided we wouldn't get full value for the 15 euro entry price. So we had to be content with admiring the outside and this Amsterdam logo under a dark, thundery sky.

The Red Light District was, if you'll pardon the expression, a little of an anticlimax. I suppose early on a Friday morning is not the best time to take in the sights of this area. Only one or two examples of the trade were in evidence and there were a few shops to be seen. The cafes were busy though with that distinctive aroma drifting from their entrances.

Just along the way from the musuem was Vondel Park, one of the largest open spaces in the city. So it was there we had our coffee and wandered though the busy park to a restaurant at the far end of our late lunch.

By then it was time to amble back to the hotel to collect our bags and make our way to the airport, shopping for cheese and a few little gifts on the way home. Tip: if buying cheese in Amsterdam, buy it at a supermarket not at one of the "cheese shops". Nice as these cheese shops are and nice as it is to sample their cheese, the same stuff is much cheaper in the local Albert Heijn supermarkets.

Friday night was getting busy as we passed along the main shopping streets, through Dam Square and back to the hotel near the Central Station. Here we enjoyed a restorative tea and final bit of apple cake before catching the train to Schipol. We arived to find the fight delayed for 30 minutes which subsequently extended to an hour. Originally due, we were told, to adverse weather conditions at Gatwick but later informed that it was due to ground handling problems at the airport, whatever that means.

Quick, smooth flight, car ready to collect, we arrived home at 23.45 an hour after we were expecting to do having thorougly enjoyed our 5 days in Amsterdam.