It hasn't actually been that quiet...

Although I have not managed to make a post for two weeks now, it has been anything but dull here in Amsterdam. In fact, it has been just the opposite, with a busy social agenda keeping us out until the wee hours of many of the balmy spring evenings here in Amsterdam.

It started on Anzac Day, when I made my first trip to Coco's Outback Bar, the Australian bar on Rembrandtplein that I have managed to avoid for more than three years. It turns out to be a pretty good bar. We joined a small Anzac service led by our friend Mick, then caught the World Cup Cricket semi-final against South Africa.

Friday night, we had a bar night on the roof terrace at work, and welcomed our friends Dwayne and Lisa from Australia. They picked the perfect weekend to be in town, both in terms of weather and parties!

Saturday night was back to Coco's for the World Cup final, and despite the chaos in the cricket, it was a good time that finished some time after 2am. Sunday was playing tourist with Dwayne and Lisa (including taking in the outdoors cafes, see photo above), then taking in the World Press Photo exhibition. This is a powerful exhibition of news media photos taken during 2006, and the exhibition displays the best entries. With a world at war in so many places, many of the images are very distressing, yet at the same time important. The winning image, taking during the war in Lebanon during the northern summer, told a story of what a contradictory world we live in.

Sunday night began the Queen's Day festivities. We spent most of the evening on the Reguliersdwarsstraat, an area known for it's gay bars. It was a hell of a party down there, with the entire street turned in to one big night club.

As for Queen's Day - it was definitely the best one I have had here - watch this space for the photos and the stories in the coming days...

Shane