We stayed near the Jordaan area of the city so we were right in the thick of it, which meant we were able to walk everywhere. If you haven't been, and I didn't know before we went, but Amsterdam isn't really a car friendly kind of place. Over 50 percent of transport is undertaken by bike and boy are they mental on those two wheels!! I could be wrong but there doesn't appear to be any kind of right of way at the junctions and they will ring their bell before quite happily ploughing you down!! I got used to it but Mr B.P. had a few near misses!
The Amsterdamers are generally a very attractive and very tall race, at only 5'3" I felt very small!! They are also very sharp dressers in an understated "oh this old thing I just threw on, when actually I planned my entire outfit for a very long time beforehand" kind of way. With lots of very muted colours. I don't remember seeing much bright and/or patterned clothing at all. I love to see how different countries dress and their trends don't you?
We did all the usual touristy things (minus the drugs) and basically had a fab old time. I can highly recommend a walking tour of the city. The one we went on was free, just donations at the end. We had a lovely guy called Julian who was actually Australian but who had fallen in love with a dutch girl back in Sydney and had followed her back to her homeland - not in a stalky kind of way!! and now 3 years later they are happily ensconced together in Holland. He gave us a real insight into true Amsterdam.
So have you been to Amsterdam? If so what did you think? And where do you recommend we head to next?