AMSTERDAM

ANYTHING goes in this city... there appear to be no rules, or if there are, very little power in place to enforce them, with people riding bikes with no helmets while on mobile phones, spittal EVERYWHERE, dogs without leads and dog poo left where it was deposited...

All that aside, the coolest thing about Amsterdam was that our 'group' was finally complete: after 4 flights ( 2 from London, 1 from Taipai and 1 from Rome), all of us were finally united for a massive Christmas and New Year celebration (Martha, Kizzie, Nicole, Cristie, Danny, Jordan, Ellie and Anisia). We had a great day out checking out Amsterdam by foot. I loved the fact that people ride bikes everywhere. I saw bikes with seats enough to fit 4 kids comfortably! The bikes are chained up everywhere: with big parking lots filled with them. Pretty cool. Saw Anne Frank's house, drank a very strong vodka at a pub (the lady had no idea what i asked for so the concoction I ended up with was mighty strong and had a price attached that matched!) Oh well, all part of the experience!

From Amsterdam we caught a train to Osnabruck where we nearly lost Martha on the train... where Dorothea and her dad Klaus picked us up. And here starts the next phase in the Aussies Abroad adventure!!!