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The day started off like any other day. I was packed. I had my pass port ready. I arrived at the airport well ahead of schedule. After checking in and boarding the plane I had a smooth flight. There was no crying babies and only minor bit of turbulence. The pilot seemed nice and the flight attendants did a wonderful job. So after some sixteen and a half hours with lay over I finally arrived in Amsterdam. This was my first trip to this wonderful city. After checking into the hotel which just happened to be the Crown Plaza Hotel. I showered changed and got ready for my first night on the town. Of course as it was my first night I wanted to wander around the red light district as any single man would. As I wander occasionally stopping to see the models on display, of course they where the ones I thought where sexy. It had just been past ten fifty five when I had decided to turn back and head for the hotel. As I walked for five minutes or so I got a start. There out of nowhere was a ring of church bells. Eleven sounding gongs rang out into the night. The night chimes were something I had not expected. Not had I expected anything them to sound close by. In an instant I decided I had to find out where they were coming from. So I set off on a search to find the source of the bells. Turning at different streets I wandered aimlessly until by complete accident I bumped into right into a local man. I apologised quickly. The man was named Thomas and he seemed more amused by my reaction than mad. I told I was looking for where the bells rang out from and he laughed. He told me there was a church about four blocks from where we were. It turned out it was the Oude Kerk. I walked the four blocks with Thomas as he explained to me that the Oude Kerk was the oldest building in the city. It has been built in the thirteenth century. The church he told me was one of the only building to still use it's Bell to signal ships that land was near. When we finally made it I was surprised to see the beautiful stain glass and old world architecture. It was almost like heaven was right in front of me. As Thomas left I stayed admiring the beauty of this magnificent building. Deciding I would have to come back later and get a tour I decided to head back to the hotel. As I walked away I couldn't believe I found a peace of heaven in the middle of debauchery.