Thursday, July 10th was our first full day in Amsterdam and we took it pretty easy. We ate lunch at the Dutch Pancake House and then shopped a bit. That evening we enjoyed playing a game of Ticket to Ride. Although, I'm not sure anyone else enjoyed the game as I seemed to be messing everyone else up by building trains on the routes they obviously wanted. In the end I didn't even win, which was fine because it was fun.
On Friday we toured the Anne Frank House while Shea took the boys to the park nearby to play. It was amazing touring the house. It was inspirational and heartbreaking at the same time. It is unbelieveable to have seen first hand what was the family's home for so long while they hid. And to see how Anne's father, Otto, had been tracking the war. They were so close to freedom with allied forces already having embarked on the shores of Normandy and had made their way across France. But the family had been betrayed and were taken into custody on Friday, August 4, 1944. The family was eventually separated in the camps. Edith, Anne's mom was the first to die in camp in January 1945. Anne's sister Edith died in March of that year and then Anne followed only a couple short weeks later. At the time of their death, their father had been a free man for six weeks already. A few weeks after the girl's death, the camp they were in was liberated by British soldiers. They were so close to freedom. The tour of this house was very touching and emotional.
On Saturday we took a boat tour and saw the city of Amsterdam while travelling the canals. It was amazing to see the architecture of the city. It was also a very relaxing way to see Amsterdam. We didn't get tired with all the walking and with having to watch out for bikes at every turn. It is normal for bikes to have the right of way before cars and before pedestrians - bikes, vehicles, and then pedestrians. Saturday evening Terry and I went out while the Tysdal's babysat. We walked around The Old Center of Amsterdam and even walked through the Red Light District. What a sad sight that was. We then had a late supper at Hard Rock Cafe.
Sunday the weather wasn't great. Still cool and periodic boughts of rain. We spent the afternoon hanging out in Vondelpark. Then we celebrated Shea's birthday with supper out at a pasta place called Pompa's.
Monday we went and toured the Merchant Ship Amsterdam. We also walked the markets and I bought some tulip bulbs to bring home. Terry then picked up our rental car so we could leave for France the next morning.
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