Amsterdam - Canal Tour

After we left our luggage with Ben on his houseboat, we caught a tram to Leidseplein to find our open boat tour company.  The boat was not very big, and the bow and seats were covered in thick cushions.  Kiri and I claimed the bow (there were only 6 other people on the tour).  The weather was perfect – warm and sunny.  Hats and sunscreen needed.  The 75 minute tour was fantastic.  We went down some really small canals where the larger boats cannot manoeuvre, and no roof on the boat meant unobstructed views.  In the end, Kiri just lay like a lizard in the sun and tried (not very hard) to stay awake.   We seriously considered doing the trip a second time.

Concentric bridges!  Six of them!

Ouderkerk tower

Montelbaanstoren - brickwork 1512, wooden tower 1606

On the very wide Amstel River

Amstel River again

It was nice lying back and looking up

Kirily, the lounge lizard

After that we caught a tram to Dam Square and wandered through some of the Red Light District.

Built in 1650, this used to be the Town Hall and is now the Royal Palace

Many of the buildings here are no longer vertical

This part of Amsterdam is known as Little Venice as the buildings lie directly on the canal

By this stage I was beginning to flag.  Considering I'd spent the previous fortnight lying on the couch, I thought I'd done pretty well walking so far.  A couple of tram trips later and we were back at Ben's houseboat with access to our room.  Sitting at the wide open window, leaning out to watch birds and boats up and down the canal - it's a tough life, but someone's gotta do it!!