Thank you. I have already armed myself with "Rough Guides" for Netherlands and Amsterdam, and plan to meet with the delegation from Alaska and coordinate early exploration with them.

Museum or two will certainly be on the agenda (what do you recommend apart from Rijksmuseum?), but I think the most time will be spent "soaking in the feel of the place", so to speak. I am sure I will have questions after perusing my guides for a while

Ah, yes: one of my obligatory points of interest is somewhere high with wide view (like TV towers, Eiffel Tower or (sigh ) WTC twin towers), provided that there 's an elevator . Recommendation appreciated.