our last day in Amsterdam

Finally getting around to posting photos from our last day in Amsterdam. I know I've been posting photos of the buildings - but I really just love the variety.

Loved the colors.
Houseboats everywhere.
Cool glass tile inside one of the foyers.
No trip abroad is complete without a photo of McDonald's.
Strange art in a park.
Dam Square.
"Amsterdamned"

So... in Holland, Sinterklaas' helpers aren't elves at the North Pole, but instead "6 to 8 black men" join him as he visits children. All of them come from Spain on a ship in late November for a celebration in early December. Their Christmas story is an interesting one dating back as early as 1845, and apparently is the basis of our own Santa tradition. The wikipedia entry is here if you're interested. His helpers are referred to as "Zwarte Piet" and are part of the holiday mall decoration in the following two photos.