Amsterdam, The City of Canals

Our cruise on the ms Rotterdam ended in the city of Rotterdam. This ship is the sixth ship to bear the name Rotterdam and the second one my Mom has travelled on. In 1939 her family was returning to America before all transportation from Europe was halted and as a 6-year old they sailed the ms Rotterdam IV from Rotterdam to New York. The cruise we just completed is her third on the ms Rotterdam VI. Our disembarkation went very smoothly and soon we were on the train to Amsterdam. Our hotel was across the street from the Central Train Station in Amsterdam so we deposited our suitcases and then took a relaxing canal cruise. We found out later that the way to see Amsterdam is with the Hop-On Hop-Off Canal Cruise, much like the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus tours in other cities. We had a great lunch at a pub/coffee house near the Dam Square - the old town center that also includes a few blocks that remind me of New York's Times Square. Lots of people, lots of touristy-souvenirs, lots of drinks, food and reminders of the red light district and that marijuana is legal. We did take the bus tour of town that went by some of the highlights missed on the canal tour and included a tour of a diamond factory. It was fascinating watching them cut and shape diamonds. Amazing! Then off to the showroom - I've never seen such beautiful, sparkling loose diamonds in my life. Even though we could buy "factory direct" it was still too steep for my budget. At night we went to an Indonesian restaurant since I was told we "have to go there and get the Rice Table." A meal that isn't served in Indonesian restaurants in the US. It consisted of 12 little dishes of food with all different season's and or course rice. I thoroughly enjoyed it but my Dad response was something along the lines of "it was good but I don't have to have it again." Nothing ventured nothing gained. The next day we were at the Anne Frank House when it opened. As we approached the house the line was down the street and around the corner. We were glad we 'd purchased our tickets online as we walked right past the line and went in. I read the Diary of Anne Frank a couple of times so I am very aware of the story. What hit me the hardest visiting the home where they hid is how small the space they lived in was, and how difficult it had to be to be quiet, especially during the day. The house is a typical Amsterdam house - old, very narrow, and with wood floors that creak. There are video clips of Otto Frank (her father), Miep (one of the people who helped hide them) and a friend of Anne's who was in Bergen-Bergen with her but in a different section of the camp. These obviously bring the story of them hiding to life, but more importantly Anne Frank herself. The museum is very well done and it is a must see on anyone's list when visiting Amsterdam.