Amsterdam Day 2 - Touring and oogling

Today was lots of fun. Got up and called to see where my bag was. Was assured that it had arrived and would be delivered to my hotel in the next couple of hours. Decided to take off with David and see the town now that my wobbly legs had some rest. We checked out the RAI convention center, the Hilton hotel where John and Yoko had their bed-in, and spent an hour or so looking at antiques at Christies auction house.

We pulled out my trusty guidebook, which has not led me astray yet, and took a tour of "The Golden Age Grandeur".  We went through a art and antique district, the swankiest part of town The Golden Bend, the flower market and down by the Amstel river.

We were feeling Peckish so we stopped at Cafe d' Jaren where I had a good Grolsch beer and an awesome mint tea. Then it was back to touring time.

We went into Rembrandt park and then over some canals and bridges that deserved to be on postcards. At the end of our walk, the book suggested we go into Pata Negra a Spanish tapas restaurant. We ordered a couple beer and being as we couldn't read the menu, David told the fellow that we had already ate but maybe bring us a couple of things that go good with beer..... Six plates later he stopped coming back. After tasting the food I noticed that this little grungy hole-in-the-wall had been star rated by the Michelin restaurant Guide. Very Very Good.

After a couple hour rest back at the hotel to ease our full stomachs, we decided to hit the red light district. We jumped on a tram and depended on advice from strangers as we made our way. I didn't take any photos of the ladies as that is a good way to get thrown in the canal.  I don't know what to think of the prostitute in the window scene, it was very surreal with groups and families wandering around.

We rounded out the night at the Excalibur bar which had very tasty Heinekens and good music on the sound system.

P.S. I forgot to say when I wrote this earlier.... No Frigging Suitcase !!!!! Looked online and got discouraged, it said they still hadn't found the bag. maybe I will have luck tomorrow.