This morning we caught the train from Boppard to Koblenz, then Koblenz to Koln. We had an hour before the train to Amsterdam departed so we wandered out of the train station to catch a glimpse of the Koln cathedral, the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. It is immediately outside the train station and quite a site.
Because our time was limited, Tony chose to wait at a cafe (with a beer) and I walked up the steps to the church to see if I
could get a peek inside. It was Sunday morning and mass was in session, but visitors were still allowed inside and I got to look around a bit. It was wonderful listening to the chanting of the service while viewing the incredible architecture. After a couple of minutes I returned to the cafe and joined Tony with a beer before heading back to the station to catch our train.Three hours later we arrive at Amsterdam's Central Station. As we worked our way over to the tram stop we catch a few peculiar wiffs....ahhh, remember, we're in Amsterdam....and jump on Tram 5 which drops us a block from the hotel. The roads in Amsterdam are shared by cars, trams, bicycles, lots of bicycles and pedestrians, lots of pedestrians. Yet somehow everyone seems to get to were they want to go without colliding with others. In the days to come we learn there's a system to the traffic, red pavement is for wheeled vehicles. Pedestrians stay on the gray sidewalk.
We settle into our hotel, in a room about 8 feet wide and two twin bed. It'll do. The water's hot, and the sheets are clean. And
much to Tony's pleasure, there's english TV! But it's too early to retire, so with map in hand we hit the streets to find some dinner. Our first stop is at a pub for some local beer. Later we walk through the narrow streets of the Leidseplein area and find an irish pub suitable for dinner. With our bellies full, we head back to the hotel and call it a day.
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