We arrived in Amsterdam around 6:40 AM with a 10 hour layover.  We decided to take the 20 minute train ride into the city center.  I have wanted to visit Amsterdam, since I first flew in Schipol airport in 2009.  The countryside surrounding the airport is so lush and green, criss-crossed by an intricate network of canals.

As we walked around the city center I was struck by a few things.  First of all the city was a bustling hotbed of activity.   There were pedestrians everywhere and a thriving business district.   In the city center were several old cathedrals that have now been turned into museums and shopping center.  Of course this is consistent with the majority of cathedrals throughout Europe.   The only signs of “Christian” life were a sign on a building that says “Jesus loves you” and a woman proclaiming the gospel outside of the central train station.

At the same time, the smell of burning marijuana was everywhere and the city was very proud of its drug and sex culture; the infamous red light district being a primary attraction for many tourists coming to the city.   I found myself saddened by the realization that the church was no longer an influence upon this city and I wondered what it would take to shift the spiritual climate.

We finished up our time by taking a water taxi tour of the canals.  This was an enjoyable tour and I found the architecture and history of the city to be fascinating.  Unfortunately I had only slept 2 hours and the jet lag was starting to hit me.  I repeatedly found my head jerking as the soft rocking motion of the boat continued to lull me to sleep.