Amsterdam

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Dublin - Amsterdam - Guangzhou - Shanghai - Xian - Guangzhou - Amsterdam- The Hague- Dublin

I haven't been in the Netherlands for a while.......Flying over the Netherlands, one could appreciate the saying: God made the world but the Dutch made Holland! The symmetry of the polders was awe inspiring as were the wind turbines (similar to ours but) perfectly located to reflect as a piece of sculpture might. 

One can travel from the airport to any part of Netherlands by train. A16 minute train took us to Amsterdam Central 

(12km with trains running every 10 minutes) where on exiting the main door of the railway station our hotel, Hotel Victoria, on Prins Hendrikkade, lay before us - a couple of minutes walk across the canal. The area was alive with trams, cyclists and walkers. Bikes everywhere - proper bicycle lanes and cyclists observed the traffic signals, without exception in my brief survey!! 

As our room wasn't ready, a voucher for two drinks was immediately proffered. We repaired  to the Brasserie for lunch. 

We're sitting here at 1545 (we're an hour ahead), having flown from Dublin to Amsterdam, checked in for our flight to Guangzhou tomorrow lunchtime, taken the train to the Amsterdam Central, lunched and now settled on our room 

After a short respite, we left the hotel and walked down Damrak; the main shopping thoroughfare. 

It was alive with what appeared to be the population of Amsterdam bargain hunting at the sales, which are in full swing. We entered de Bijenkorf emporium. It was not dissimilar to BTs Dublin, no surprise as it is also owned by Galen Weston.

It is larger than the latter and had a wider range of goods, particularly of the more upmarket brands. After a stroll about, we engaged in some retail therapy but Ryan Air's baggage allowance curtailed excess!! Indeed on departure a bag weighing 16.3 kilos as opposed to the 15k allowance - I wonder does any authority check airline scales?- had to have something removed to accord with the allowance.  The old Ryan Air hasn't gone away you know!!' Ladies, I would recommend a weekend shopping trip to Amsterdam to lift the spirit! 

We're off to sample the infamous Red Light district - in the interests of blog research, you understand dear reader. More tomorrow........