Amsterdam...

Up and out early today after a lovely night in a brown cafe with Erica. It was so cozy. Friends and neighbors played cards for pennies by candle light as their dogs slept at their feet. And we ate fried potatoes in a paper cone and drank bock beer. Here's what Erica sees each night at twilight.


But today, I took the ferry today north of the city to track down Blend. It was a great meeting. We talked about media, technology and old magazines from the '80s. Then I spent the afternoon at Deco, a turn of the century a sauna. If felt so good to be out of my travel suit. And everyone was naked. Yipee! I even jumped in the freezing pool -- twice.


Can't tell you how much i love this place. Seems like I have an Amsterdam air about me. Friendly people stop and greet me in Dutch, like this guy who came into the city for the day to skate with his friends.


It's not without it's troubles and culture clashes. Anne Frank wears terrorist garb these days...


And not everyone seems perfectly happy -- Here, even candy cotton girls get the blues.


But people like to have a little fun. Either at the Vondelpark...


Or at the carnival...




And there's colorful moments all around...


And unlike those flower gardens in Paris designed to remind me of my place, these ones made me feel like the life of the party.




What ever happened to that space cake? .....Oh. Here it comes...


More to come from my final day in Paris....