Amsterdam — Ice Bar & Rijksmuseum

Today we hung out on the deck for as long as we could, then we checked out of our houseboat and went to a nearby cafe for coffee. Our train wasn’t until 3 pm so we stashed our bags and headed for the Rijksmuseum. That was an amazing place. It’s no wonder it ranks right up there with the Louvre and the Prado among Europe’s best art museums. On the train leaving Amsterdam we felt really happy with what we were able to see in three days. Last night we went to have Indonesian food, which may not seem part of the Dutch experience until you look at their history as a colonial empire. We also took a walk through the Red Light District, which was basically just gross, but we figured we had to see it. The highlight of the night was the Ice Bar, close to where we stayed. It was something recommended to Ronnie by a friend. As you enter, it seems like a normal bar, but then they give you a coat and gloves and move you into a large freezer where everything is made of ice. The bartender gives everyone three coins to trade in for drinks, so we had some shots in shot glasses made of ice. After about 30 minutes, everyone was ushered out to make room for the next group. It was fun. On the train today, while we were reflecting about our trip to Amsterdam, we felt that we had spent the time well. We’ll have good memories of our houseboat on the canal and this unique city.Read more