So, Adam and I went to Amsterdam last week. It was pretty awesome. I took a bunch of mediocre pics. Surprisingly crappier than normal, actually. I think I need to commandeer Adam’s camera, because more than six years of near-constant use has just about killed mine.

Anyway, here’s a selection of the pics from the first two days:

The view from our room at the Grand Krasnapolsky Hotel.

Bloemenmarkt (Floating flower market)

And me in the same place. Also bikes.

Singel with parked bikes in the front, then canal, then Bloemenmarkt, then row houses in the back.

One view from The Dam to the surrounding buildings.

Another view back across the Dam with our hotel in the back.

Last view across the Dam – this one shows the Royal Palace on the left, and the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in the middle with the blue banners. Also, bikes.

Since we were in a wing, we took this alleyway in and out of our hotel. Here’s the view out towards the Dam, showing the National Monument. Also, bikes.

One of the interesting things to me was the density of shops of the same brand. In this shot you can see three locations of “The Bulldog”. With retail stores, this often meant that each store only carried part of the brand’s full line.

A stall in the flower market. Unfortunately, it wasn’t one of the fancier ones, but pictures were discouraged, and this is the single shot I stealthily took.

Red Light District architecture.

Some horribly oppressive sci-fi looking building. Also, bikes.

A typical shopping street. Cars do drive here, but it’s infrequent, so everyone just walks in the streets.

Typical view of one of the many canals. Also, bikes.

A view down the Amstel to the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge).

This gate into the Hortus Botanicus, one of the world’s oldest botanical gardens, is 300 years old. Also, bikes.

Quintessential Amsterdam.

That’s it for now. The next edition will include the Hortus Botanicus, Madame Tussaud’s and a canal tour.