Melissa's place was great and she was fantastic in keeping in touch. The apartment is all new inside and is very quiet. It's down a residential street in an up-and-coming neighborhood. The tram (#9) is almost right outside the door and regional rail (Muiderpoort Station) is a 6 minute walk. Grocery stores are just up the street. Only surprise was the "Dutch" steps up to the 3rd floor but we got used to them. A couple of things off the the typical tourist path are the Resistance Museum (Amsterdams Verzetsmuseum) and Museum of Canals. Try a cheese tasting - Golden Age of Cheese was neat. Tip for visiting the Van Gogh - try Friday nights when they're open until 10 pm. Buy the "I Amsterdam Card" covers almost every museum you'd want to see except the Rijksmuseum and it includes all local transportation. If you want to venture out, buy a 1 day regional rail ticket which is good for trips to Haarlem and Zaanse Schans and is good for all local transportation! Enjoy! And stay at Melissa's!