On to Amsterdam

I am now in Amsterdam at an internet cafe (so much cheaper here than in Paris) while Mom takes a short nap. We had to catch the train here at 6:25am so we were pretty beat, but I was able to just sleep on the train. We had lunch at a nice little Irish pub (in the Netherlands, of course) and have begun to attempt to navigate the tram system. I can't say much about Amsterdam at the moment since we really haven't done anything here yet. The only thing I can say is that here, bikes rule. They have their own lanes that are right next to the side walk and the tram rails, and not well designated against the sidewalk. But if you are in their way they will ring their bell at you and then precede to run you over. They are very nice, but not about to swerve just to miss a measly pedestrian.

let's see, where did I leave off in Paris? The last day of our museum pass we went back to the Louvre and saw the unwrapped mummy and Napoleon III's apartments that we had missed before. That doesnt sound like much, but the time it takes to navigate the Louvre it probably took almost an hour and a half. To get to the Louvre we started at the Arc d'Triomphe (this time we went up to the top) and walked all the way down (2 miles) down Champs deElysees, which is a big boulevard of cafes and ritzy shopping. The view from on top of the Arc was good (there are 12 identical streets that flourish out from the arc in the shape of a star), but having been to the top of Notre Dame it was not quite as impressive. The walk down the street was nice, and I picked up a baguette Parisian (baguette with ham and butter). You get to see some classic Paris fashion. In case any of you are interested the current Paris fashion for women seems to be skinny jeans (with either high heels or funky flats), big buttons, wide belts, trench coat dresses, and lots of layering. For men very dark and well tailored suits with somewhat pointy shoes.

On Thursday we went to Chateau Versailles, which at first looked like it wouldnt be very nice since it was raining during the hour train ride there (the train was a double decker). But the rain was not bad during the walk there and actually completely cleared up by the time our tour of the inside of the palace was over. Imagining people actually living there is kind of diffucult. Every corner of every wall is filled with decadence and huge portraits. The Hall of Mirrors was beautiful, but (as Amanda pointed out) the mirrors themselves are actually kind of dingy. But you can see the magnificance of the place none-the-less. What really blew me away were the outdoor gardens; not only are they enormous, but beautiful everywhere. There are 300 remaining fountains of the 1500 that used to be there under Louis XIV. My favorite fountain is one showing Apollo and Diana as children around there mother (Laytolla I think...?) surrounded by peasants being turned into frogs and lizards. Apparently the peasants were shunning the mother because she was unwed with children (who were fathered by Zues) so Zues turned them all into frogs and lizards. Since Louis XIV was the "sun god" a lot of the palace is centered around Apollo.

Versailles pretty much took up a whole day (that and a trip to the laundrymat). Then it was not so early to bed and very early to rise to catch the train here to Amsterdam. We are planning on going to Anne Frank's house tonight. More updates later!