AMSTERDAM & LONDON

Amsterdam













Steve and Hector in Amsterdam
















Amsterdam















Nephew Pollard, Steve, Al, Hector at dinner in London




After Bruges we had another easy train ride to Amsterdam. I really loved all this train travel. It's so easy and relaxing, compared to all the revolting crowds and security nonsense at airports. Anyway, we got there and immediately stepped into the seediest part of Amsterdam, which was a bit of a shock to the system after little storybook Bruges. But eventually we learned to steer clear of the hash house/ whore district as I am well past my hash days and the whorehouse days are yet to come. We enjoyed 2 days of long walks along the canals and took a day trip to Haarlem, which is really cute and charming, unlike it's little step-sister in New York. We met Kaj for dinner, who lives in San Diego and was in Amsterdam visiting her sister. Our Marriott, actually a Renaissance, was okay but hovering on the edge of the Red Light District. Not sure I'd stay there again. All that stuff is fun to see but it's full of stoned kids and crowds of tourists. It's a bit like Bourbon Street. The next morning it smells like vomit and piss.

Then we flew to London and checked into our wonderful Grosvenor House on Park Lane. The weather was perfect and Hyde Park was crammed with locals enjoying the sun. On Sunday we took the train to Hampton Court, one of the palaces where Henry VIII lived. It has beautiful gardens and tours of all the royal living quarters and kitchens. Bought some tourist crap there.

My nephew Pollard was in town for his band, Archive, to do a concert so we met him and our friends Al & Marc for dinner. Then on Monday night we went to Camden Lock to see the Archive concert. It was very fun. Loved the music and went backstage to meet the band, just like groupies. The venue was small and crowded and smoky. Both Hector and I were keeping an eyeball on the nearest exit. I was formulating the next day's headline: Band Member's Uncle Trampled in Nightclub Melee.

So Tuesday we got up, took an hour and a half ride to the airport, got our seats in Biz Class and now we're home. We're still fantasizing about living somewhere in Europe.