Let the vacation begin.

  The last day in Jerusalem is a bit of a jumble.  We tried to see the Dome of the Rock in the old city but were told it was closed on Sat. That was after we were told it was open.  That was in between when Kevin and I became separated from John.  You miss the cell phone when stuff like that happens.
  We ambled around the old city, as the rest of Jerusalem is essentially closed down for shabbat until sunset.  At 12:30 our taxi takes us to the Tel Aviv airport, this is usually a bit grueling, lots of security checks.  This time it is ridiculous. In short, we got there at about 1pm and i didn't get to my gate until 3:30.  No, I didn't get detained or anything just choose the wrong line, every time.  We board, then sit at the gate for almost an hour.  Apparently there is 1 more bag in the hold than there is supposed to be and we can not leave until they find it.  There is obviously no way we are going to make our connection to Amsterdam.  On arrival to Frankfurt, Lufthansa gives about 60 of us, hotel rooms and vouchers for dinner.  That was after standing in line at 3 different countes.  We arrive en mass to the hotel, another line.  I get to my room at 11pm.  Up at 5:30 to catch the morning flight to Amsterdam.  I don't know if I will ever feel rested again.
  Amsterdam is great.  What a beautiful city. I can't believe the number of bikes, and how few cars there are.  We are in a nice 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment between the central train station and the neighbor hood called Jordan.  It has a full kitchen, and awesome patio in the back that I am sitting at.  lilac in bloom, birds chirping, scooters in the back ground , and the steepest freakin stairs I have ever seen. 

We are in the De Dijk apartment.  Only slightly more than us renting 2 hotel rooms.

http://www.frederic.nl/  Sorry no picture from Amsterdam today.  Feeling a bit lazy since this is a more common place.  I'll continue to post.