Hello, all! After a confusing day on the trains, and going through three transfers, I finally made it! I am staying in a Christian youth hostel in the Jordaan section of the city. This area is a bit removed from the party areas, but that means it is a bit quieter. I only wish my room was quieter! It is a large dorm room that houses about 20 men. So much for privacy! Oh, well. I probably won't be spending much time there, anyway...and who cares about privacy when you're asleep, right?

This morning I headed over to the Reichmuseum (sp?) not to go in, but rather to take a bike tour of the city. If any of you are ever in Amsterdam or Munich, I highly advise Mike's Bike Tours. I had a great time, and now have at least a small feeling of how to navigate the streets here. Although, I do have to constantly refer back to my map. I consider it an accomplishment that I was able to find my way across town and find the intrnet cafe without having to ask for directions. And bonus, it is free! All you have to do is order a drink, and wait your turn, then you've got a terminal all to yourself!

Amsterdam has been called the city of sin, and for good reason. The laws are based on the theory that you should be allowed to do anything you want, so long as you don't harm anyone. Because of this, you can legally buy and use pot and hashish at anyplace callingitself a coffe shop. You can also smoke in public, but it is frowned upon. If you are in fact looking for a cup of coffe, you can head to a cafe, where they only allow you to smoke tobacco. I understand that the penalties for being caught with hard drugs is quite severe. This is because hard drugs are considered to be harmful to oneself. Back to that philosophy. The laws on prostitution are equally strange. It is completely legal, and in fact there is a union for prostitutes. However, they must get checked for STD's every two weeks, and if they miss a checkup they can never work as a prostitute again. Pimps are completely outlawed, as it is recognised that they do not work in favor of the prostitutes.

I have not decided yet where exactly I will go and do while I'm here, but I know that I will go to the Van Gogh meuseum, and the Ann Frank house, since they are both relativley close to my hostel. Oh, and I might visit the Heineken brewery, where for two guilders ($1) you can drink all the beer you can at the end of the tour, until they kick you out. hehehe Gotta do something to have fun, eh? Other than that, I have not made up my mind yet. Oh, and of course, I will be looking up Cecil's mother, cince she is living near here.

I think tha'll be it for now. It's getting to be near dinnertime, and I have a bit of a walk to my hostlel.

Scott

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