AMSTERDAM: HIGHLIGHTS Part 2

CANAL BOAT TOUR

Along side windmills and tulips, Amsterdam's is know globally for its winding canals.  So the next day we had a bright early morning trip on a canal boat tour to take in all the beautiful slights.  The 75 minute open boat tour, in the glistening August sunshine was the perfect way to spend the morning.  At €16 the tour took us through all the main highlights, from the Amsterdam Unesco protected canal ring, one of the worlds most unique urban landscapes.  It is known as the most beautiful water network through out the city of Amsterdam, providing a stunning backdrop of culture and architecture. 

The canal tour proved to be the perfect introduction to the city's countless sights.  It highlighted some of Amsterdam's most famous 'coffee shops', with roughly 250 alone in the city including The Bulldog, Green House Centrum and Amnesia.  The route took us past Gaussian Diamonds, Golden Bend, City Hall, Rijksmuseum Van Gogh, Dam Square Anne Frank House, Hermitage Skinny Bridge and eventually past Jordan, back to Central East.

As a design lover, all aspects of architecture Amsterdam's luxurious canal houses and endearing facades definitely drew my attention.  Many of the canal houses were built during the elevation of the Dutch Golden Age.  Among the unique architecture and narrow canals, lay tiny alley ways, quaint gardens and historic stories hidden behind the facades of canal houses.  The canal tour allows you to sit back and inhale the bustling canals, swarming with boats, barges and bicyclists appearing from all directions.

The Bull Dog 'Coffee Shop'

Smallest centre canal house.

BRUNCH vs. BEER
With just a short walk across the canal; seeing as we managed to skip breakfast, we headed for brunch.  After spending 10 minutes or so battling with the wind and the menus, we ordered the ultimate club-sandwich...and of course beer...

 ...and no despite the extent of my hunger, the club-sandwich defeated me.

EXPLORING THE CITY

Evidently after the colossal club-sandwich we has a sudden urge to walk miles.  So we headed to the inner city to explore the tiny alley ways, classic buildings and city bikes.

Everywhere you turn there are marks of the colourful dutch culture.  From music and comedy events, beautiful galleries to urban antique portals. 

AMSTERDAM'S FAMOUS RED LIGHT DISTRICT

Now as most would agree, it would be wrong to visit Amsterdam and not venture into the Red Light District right?  The district is the oldest area in the city.  The area is suitably known for its erotic shops and touristic features, it leaves nothing much to the imagination.  The outlook of the street really does just appear like all the other canals, however as night falls a red outline separates it from the rest.  

As the day drew to a close, we exited the Red Light District to look up to a vivid pink/red sky - strangely ironic I know!