When you tell somebody that you are going to Amsterdam, one of two things generally happen depending on the age of the person with whom you are conversing. Older people will tell you to go to the Anne Frank museum, and younger people will ask whether you'll go to any of the coffee shops. wink wink.

Sorrow and substances aside, Amsterdam is a bang up little city. I loved it. Loved the biking everywhere, loved the canals, loved the charming tilt of the buildings that are sinking into the very soft soil, loved the shops, loved that everyone generally spoke English...

I had just a really wonderful weekend. The weather was gorgeous and I was with a friend, Tomoko, who lives there and was my tour guide away from the touristy (though we did feel obligated to walk around the Red Light District) and into the real. While it is always great to come upon hidden treasures in new cities, it is also quite wonderful to have a buddy to help you weed through the clutter- to show you "Times Square" as well as the way that the people actually live.