As I haven't been feeling well and I leave for Berlin early in the morning I'd decided not to go out tonight. I just didn't feel like it. And although I want to experience as much as I can on this trip I don't believe in forcing yourself just for the sake of it. So I headed off to bed early. Around 11:30 I awoke to the distant sounds of music and people. It captured my attention. I still didn't feel like immersing myself in it, but I was interested in observing the nightlife. So I got dressed and headed out, just for a short time. At nearly midnight the streets were still busy with people going from one place to another. Small groups walking together or sitting by the canals talking. I headed to one of the gay streets to check out what the bars I had heard of were actually like at night and they were busy. Bursting out of their small venues and spilling into the streets. On another day I would have ventured in, but tonight I kept on walking and slowly made my way back to the apartment.

It was only a little journey, but I'm glad I did it. I'm so sleepy now. Good night Amsterdam.

Early this morning there was thunder, lightning and heavy rain. My first in a while. I didn't finish up going out last night and this morning I'm glad. I've been feeling off colour for a couple of days and this morning it was a struggle to get up. It would have been a lot worse with a hangover! But I did eventually arise and my first mission was to do a loop of a different part of the city and end at a photographic gallery called FOAM. Before leaving I wanted to take a picture of out the window of my apartment into the cute back gardens of the adjoining buildings.

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On my journey I came across a massive tulip bulb market.

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The stalls stretched all the way down one of the canals.

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From there I made it to one of the larger canals (you guessed it ... more canal pictures).

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I made it to the FOAM gallery which appears to be connected to the FOAM photographic magazine.

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There were a number of really fantastic exhibitions that I really enjoyed. One was of a series of large format images of quite mundane corners and edges of tacky interiors but the detail and colour palettes was brilliant. Plus my ticket got me entry to the David Bowie by Duffy exhibition that I wanted to see but missed in London due to timing.

After that I headed back to the apartment to regroup. My plan was just to wander a bit more in the afternoon and so I headed in a new direction. Before long I reached this impressive building.

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It is the Rijksmuseum which is the premier art museum of the Netherlands but mainly 15-19th century. Not something I'm all that into. Anyway I wandered the grounds and came across this.

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Then I noticed the reflection of some buildings in the roof of a modern structure and stopped to try and capture it (not very well).

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Only then did I realize this modern structure was the Stedelijk Museum which had been on my to-see list. It's the permanent home of the national museum of modern art - much more my thing. So I stopped to wander around and it was AMAZING! There were some breathtaking photos, pictures and sculptures. In fact I found it far more inspiring than my visit to Tate Modern had been. So glad I stumbled into it.

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One of the food treats the apartment owner left me were these Stroopwafels. I tried them for the first time last night. Insanely delicious! Crisp and chewy at the same time with a golden honey flavour. Apparently an Amsterdam specialty. Yum.

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When I woke this morning it was clear and crisp outside so I got through my breakfast and got ready as quickly as possible so I could enjoy the weather. By the way, I am really enjoying all the fresh berries for breakfast.

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By the time I got out the door is was 8:30 and much more quiet than it had been the previous afternoon. Much better for strolling and taking more (canal) photos. Just when you think you have captured THE perfect vista another one appears round the next corner.

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I made my way toward Het Scheepvaartmuseum which is a maritime museum. On the way I passed Nemo which is the science museum. It is shaped like the bow of a boat and has an amazing sloped roof terrace that you can walk up to get a great view of the city.

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The maritime museum was set out magnificently with fantastic displays in a beautiful building.

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Two of the most captivating rooms housed collections of globes and navigational equipment.

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On the way back I wandered the streets again, partly to see what I could find and partly to try and re-find a cool t-shirt shop I had seen the previous evening. I passed the canal museum which was on my to-do list so I wandered in for the tour. All the audio visuals I've seen here have been such high quality.

Eventually I found the t-shirt shop and made some purchases. I'm having a quiet dinner in the apartment and re-group. I might hit the town tonight, unless I fall asleep from all the walking first.

The weather today has been the best of any day on my holiday so far. Not the warmest but beautiful and clear blue skies.

Oh and finally I'm starting to feel the cold and needing to rug up. Yay! Been looking forward to this. Good night.

Tonight I decided I needed to walk my dinner off so I headed out again around the apartment. As the sun set the streets and canals took on an unexpected beauty. Without a tripod there's no way my camera could capture it but here are my best attempts.

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And I took this little bit of video that partly captures a different aspect. It was just beautiful. This city is really surprising me.

What a day! I left the apartment in London this morning at 6:30 to get to St Pancras station for my Eurostar train to Brussels then connecting train to Amsterdam. That is, after I managed to re-pack my bags. I haven't bought that much in London but it wasn't fitting anywhere as nicely as when I left Adelaide. St Pancras was immediately familiar from my trip to Paris. Both trains were very comfy and lunch was particularly nice.

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I loved watching the scenery change as we went from London to Kent to France to Belgium and then to Holland. The following pictures are in no particular order.

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And then as we approached Amsterdam I saw my first "real" windmill.

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As comfortable as the London apartment was, where I'm staying in Amsterdam has so much more character. The owner greeted me and she has everything organized along with a few food and drink treats. The front door is the small black door in the centre of this picture.

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This will be a very comfortable home for the next few days ... if I don't kill myself on the stairs of course.

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As soon as I settled in I went wandering. I must admit the city has surprised me. There are so many great little shops and boutiques. Every street I walked down was teeming with activity. I can't wait to get out exploring more tomorrow after a good sleep.

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On the way back to the apartment I went to the supermarket to buy my supplies. I've forgotten how challenging (but fun) this can be in a foreign country. Now, did I actually buy what I thought I did? I'll let you know tomorrow.