by Suzanne Feinberg

Created on: April 17, 2008

Amsterdam. Home of Dutch pancakes, little wooden shoes and tulips. While this is true, Amsterdam is home to so much more, including remarkable history, friendly people and distinct culture.

My visit to Amsterdam last summer was my first. Although my husband had been there once before, while back-packing Europe with friends, this was a decidedly different experience for him.

On the drive from the airport, I immediately was charmed by the gorgeous tree-lined canals and stunning old-world architecture. We arrived at our hotel near the Flower Market and were wowed by the view our balcony afforded us. Eager to see as much as we could in our brief, two-day stay, we headed out to explore the city.

We decided to make good use of the remaining daylight hours with a brief jaunt through the city's famed Red Light District. It was brief, because the District was not a place I wanted to hang around for too long. But during the day, it was as quaint and unassuming as the rest of the neighborhoods, with the exception of the scantily clad females sitting in the windows of the beautiful facades, beckoning to the onlookers below.

I decided I had seen enough, so we wandered back through the maze of streets and canals, which were surprisingly easy to maneuver on foot. That is, except for the adept local cyclists zooming in and out of traffic, a true nightmare for slow-moving pedestrian tourists. A quick ring of the bell on the handlebar usually did not afford you much time to react before a cyclist would fly by in a flash. Blink and you may miss them. Step the wrong way and you may never forget them.

To round out our first day, we strolled around Dam Square, considered to be the city's center, took in the smells at the floating Flower Market, and shopped for souvenirs. While we passed on the wooden shoes, we did purchase another popular item that we thought symbolized the city: miniature houses that are actual replicas of the beautiful, restored facades lining the canals. The hand-painted replicas are of houses, businesses and Amsterdam landmarks, each numbered on the bottom according to the street address it represents.

We also purchased Delftware, the classic blue-and-white pottery made in Delft, a town just a few hours from Amsterdam. There were many stores specializing in this signature item, carrying pieces ranging from expensive antique Delftware to modern, less expensive styles.

While shopping, we asked a storekeeper for a dinner recommendation. She suggested a traditional Dutch

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