Today was the most fun and exciting day we have had yet!  We left the apartment around noon and headed for the tram stop, which is one block from where we live.  We got on the tram and headed for the entertainment district of Amsterdam, which is called Leidseplein.  Leidseplein is about a 15 minute tram ride from the apartment.  The tram was much easier to figure out than the train was.    

After we got off the tram at Leidseplein we walked around and saw all sorts of souvenir shops, restaurants and of course the famous Amsterdam coffee shops. We had a late lunch at a very delicious pizza shop, and got dutch chocolate from a tiny little bakery.  The area is so beautiful!  There are lots of old buildings in this area that were built in the 14th and 15th century.  

 We stayed in Leidseplein for a few hours and then we went to Dam Square.  In the center of Dam square there is a giant WWII memorial.  On it there are carvings of men, each of them have a specific meaning.  You can read it about it on Wikipedia.  Also, across the street from the memorial there was a large group of people listening to a politician giving a speech.  We have no idea what he was saying because it was not in english.  We walked around the area for an hour or so and then took the tram back to the apartment.  

This is Ellie and I standing on a bridge over the canals in Leidseplein.

Another Canal in Leidseplein

This was taken through the window
of a coffee shop.  I made Dad take
the picture because I was too
scared to do it myself.

This is a public bathroom in Leidseplein.
It costs 50 cents to use.  I thought this was interesting.

This is in Dam Square.
The speech was being given where all the yellow flags are to the left of the building.

This is the WWII memorial.