Amsterdam

Our journey from Paris to Amsterdam was reasonable. We only deviated from our Sat Nat directions once. Going past large cities can be a little tricky as roads are shooting off in all directions and the Sat Nave can be slow to give exact directions. Didn't create to much stress though as it redirected us back to the right road and off we went again. 

First we entered Belgium and instantly saw an improvement in the roads. Service stops were a bit of a let down with only a petrol station and minimum food. It was a pleasure to cross the Netherlands boarder and we started spotting windmills. 

There were flat fields and well kept towns as we headed into Amsterdam. The main motorway in was no indication of the city driving. We were cruising along on a five lane road where the fifth lane wasn't even used. We had been warned about driving in Amsterdam but decided to drop the girls at our apartment before driving to the city limits where I left the car in a parking area. The driving in Amsterdam was slow and cumbersome. It is obviously designed to be bike, tram and pedestrian friendly with cars being given the worst option. 

I dropped off the girls in what was an open market street. I parked temporarily where I could and started unloading. Before long a large van was behind us declaring he couldn't get past. I had to drop and run. Ironically 40 meters down the road another van was unloading and I waited another five minutes. 

I drove to the car park grabbed a couple of bags and headed back on a tram. They squeal there away around the city in all directions. Very good in that the city is not that big. Our apartment is on the top and third floor in one of the older sections of the city about two and a half kilometers from the city center. Its quite earthy but is doing us well.