Bicycles and cobblestones

I am in a tiny, sweltering backroom cybercafe in Amsterdam. Hello to you all back home! Here is my first official European blog post!!

My trip, which took about 20 hours, was largely uneventful (read on). It started with a very long layover in the Vancouver BC airport.

Look! They have a kelp forest aquarium in the international departures area. And look! There are 2 divers cleaning it in matching wetsuits!

Mostly the airport looked like this to me:

(I spent at least an hour napping on the floor.)

The flight to London was long, but on British airways they have generous butt-room, even in coach, along with those bending headrest sides which help you sleep without your head bobbing around. Also the entertainment screen on the seat in front of you. All good.

The only little moments of negativity were: 1. the mad dash across what I believe was the entire length of the Heathrow airport to make the connection to Amsterdam, 2. realizing that the airport shuttle driver had dropped me off at the WRONG HOTEL. It turns out after 20 hours of travelling, I can't read Dutch. The right hotel was about 4 blocks away, dragging the wheeled suitcases over cobbblestones the whole way.

Since then all has been peachy. Today I went the the Van Gough museum, wandered around taking photos, and grazed on street food. It was very hot yesterday, but a dramatic downpour, complete with thunder and lightening, last night cured that. Today was breezy, clear and pleasant. Here's some of what I saw:

This is the view of Dam square, from the window of my hotel room, (which has an ENORMOUS bathtub, BTW. Perfect for soaking the stink of travel out of you). It's loud outside, but the windows are nearly soundproof. I'm also just across the steet from Amsterdam's largest department store:

The cheese department at the supermarket:

About HALF of the bicycle parking at the Central Train Station (have you ever seen a bike parking STRUCTURE?):

They say the bikes outnumber the people in Amsterdam, and I believe it! And none of the riders ever wears a helmet.

Some random architectural and canal photos:

And this sign is everywhere in public buildings. What do YOU think it means? It reminds me of someone running to the bathroom.

Tomorrow to Rotterdam, via train. More later. Thanks for all your comments.