Amsterdam, May 21 - May 22

 Thursday May21, 2026

We made it to Amsterdam with only one small hiccup today. Our flight out of Portland left on time yesterday and arrived in Chicago early; early enough that we had a gate change that put us in a different terminal and 20 minutes away from our departing flight. The plane at our new gate had a flat tire which they had to fix before they could board passengers which left us sitting on the tarmac for 30+ minutes. Once we had the okay to move to our gate it took us at least another 20 minutes to taxi there. I knew O’Hare was a large airport, but I have a new appreciation for how big it is! 

Long story short, by the time we were able to leave the plane, we had less than 20 minutes to get to our departing flight before they closed the doors. Running through the O’Hare airport at breakneck speed (for a 75 and 81-year old) was not a feat I want to repeat. We were definitely the last ones to board. Thank goodness the rest of the journey was uneventful.

Friday May 22, 2026

Amsterdam is a very busy city! I’ve never seen so many bicycles in one place in my entire life. There are more bikes in this city than there are cars and when crossing a street one has to be on the alert for bikes zipping by or you may get run over!

One of many decorated bikes placed 
strategically throughout the city

Our hotel is in the heart of Old Town, making it very convenient to the major sites we want to see: the Anne Frank House, the museums (Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum) and Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light District. Today we took a city walk tour and then wandered through the city by ourselves. We learned a bit about the city's history and its construction, were surprised by The Netherlands' laws regarding the sex trade and marijuana use, and saw some of Amsterdam's major sights, such as the Royal Palace and Dam Square. 

During the 1600's Amsterdam was the
richest city in the world, due in part to
the spice trade of the East India Company.
 This building was the company's original
headquarters.

The "Dancing Ladies of Amsterdam" so named because
of their wobbly appearance. Structures in Amsterdam are 
built on wooden logs or concrete pillars sunk into the mud.
Over time, many houses have sunk from their original foundations,
 causing them to lean or "wobble".