Tues 10-6-15
We are off again ! Stressful start for sure - big leak in our ceiling in the living that we have already had replaced twice since the tornado hit us. We have a new sitter for Crew who is staying at the house with him for the month we are gone and, all attempts to pack light were futile I am lugging about 50 pounds of stuff around of which about only 25 were really needed. Plans for this trip include a start in Amsterdam on to Prague where we meet our old pals Dick and Dorothy, then on to Budapest where we meet up with Dorothy's sister and husband. We then go on an 8 day Danube River Cruise. Next we head off on our own to Munich where we will then rent a car and explore the Romantic highway. We wrap up in Düsseldorf.
We are off again ! Stressful start for sure - big leak in our ceiling in the living that we have already had replaced twice since the tornado hit us. We have a new sitter for Crew who is staying at the house with him for the month we are gone and, all attempts to pack light were futile I am lugging about 50 pounds of stuff around of which about only 25 were really needed. Plans for this trip include a start in Amsterdam on to Prague where we meet our old pals Dick and Dorothy, then on to Budapest where we meet up with Dorothy's sister and husband. We then go on an 8 day Danube River Cruise. Next we head off on our own to Munich where we will then rent a car and explore the Romantic highway. We wrap up in Düsseldorf.
Wed. 10-7-15
We had an uneventful overnight ten hour flight and arrived in Amsterdam at 7:30 AM. Great flight if you don't mind leg room so tight we kissed our knees for 10 hours, video cutting in and out to the point I was too irritated to use it, a dinner that included a mystery loaf meat they called chicken, a crying infant, and then walking off the plane in what I call a new yoga position - the pretzel. We absolutely knew to only use a taxi from the taxi stand, but we were approached at the stand by representative who assured us they were an approved taxi. The fare we were told would be 45 euros was 78 euros. Not much we could do but not a banner start. We drove into the city during AM rush hour but our host, Dennis, who owns the property we are staying at -The Bed and Guide met us curbside. Luckily our apartment was ready and we were all settled in by 9:30 AM. We met Dennis at 10:30 AM and proceeded on a three hour walking tour of Amsterdam. Did I mention the pretzel posture and no sleep for 24 hours ?!! We had a wonderful tour that we wrapped up with coffee at Dennis's beautiful restaurant, Nel. We were beyond exhausted at this point so we walked back home after a stop at the grocery store. Tonight we are staying in, noshing on all the treats left for us in our fridge with plans for early to bed. First impression of Amsterdam ? I have never seen so many bicycles in my life !
T - Mobile kept track of everywhere we went !
Outside of our apartment while in Amsterdam
Living room of apartment
Jon on walking tour with Dennis - owner of our apartment
Amsterdam - you can see all of the hoisting beams on the top of the buildings with the hooks on the end
Typical scene - canals and bikes !
Thurs. 10-8-15
Up early, 3:00 AM to be exact for me could not sleep. After a great breakfast including a basket of hot fresh bakery breads that magically appeared in our kitchen, we headed out to tour the Anne Frank house. The line wrapped around a city block but luckily I had already purchased tickets. Quite a sobering experience. Next we walked for about three hours. We kept getting turned around, to us everything looks very similar. I was intriqued that in the red light district, the women who stand in cubicles with large windows advertising their services could look so provocative at ten in the morning. To my horror Jon has brought his trusty little pedometer with him. I think we had already surpassed 10,000 steps by 10:00 AM and we were just getting started. There are 1000's of bicyclists everywhere ! They are worse than Boston car traffic. I actually wondered how bizarre it would be if my epitaph read that I had been run over by a reckless cyclist in Amsterdam. More walking, more not having a clue where we were, then we finally found the Van Gogh musuem. I remember playing trivia pursuit once years ago with my friend Debbie Blondin and one of the brown category questions was, " Which ear did Vincent Van Gogh cut off ?" Anyway, I love Vincent Van Gogh. The current exhibit paralleled the work and life of Van Goghs to Edvard Munch of "The Scream" fame. Again luckily we had pre purchased tickets as the line went all the way to Belgium ! After the musuem we stopped at a cafe for a late lunch/ snack and got back to our apt. Around 3:30 PM. We had a quick cat nap and plan to head out for dinner. If you do not hear from me again I either 1) Have been run over by a bicycle or 2) was unable to find my way back.......
Up early, 3:00 AM to be exact for me could not sleep. After a great breakfast including a basket of hot fresh bakery breads that magically appeared in our kitchen, we headed out to tour the Anne Frank house. The line wrapped around a city block but luckily I had already purchased tickets. Quite a sobering experience. Next we walked for about three hours. We kept getting turned around, to us everything looks very similar. I was intriqued that in the red light district, the women who stand in cubicles with large windows advertising their services could look so provocative at ten in the morning. To my horror Jon has brought his trusty little pedometer with him. I think we had already surpassed 10,000 steps by 10:00 AM and we were just getting started. There are 1000's of bicyclists everywhere ! They are worse than Boston car traffic. I actually wondered how bizarre it would be if my epitaph read that I had been run over by a reckless cyclist in Amsterdam. More walking, more not having a clue where we were, then we finally found the Van Gogh musuem. I remember playing trivia pursuit once years ago with my friend Debbie Blondin and one of the brown category questions was, " Which ear did Vincent Van Gogh cut off ?" Anyway, I love Vincent Van Gogh. The current exhibit paralleled the work and life of Van Goghs to Edvard Munch of "The Scream" fame. Again luckily we had pre purchased tickets as the line went all the way to Belgium ! After the musuem we stopped at a cafe for a late lunch/ snack and got back to our apt. Around 3:30 PM. We had a quick cat nap and plan to head out for dinner. If you do not hear from me again I either 1) Have been run over by a bicycle or 2) was unable to find my way back.......
Dam square
Just like in the movie "Birds"
Of course you should have a beer wagon carusing the streets
My new calling
Of course - toured Anne Frank's house
View across canal from Anne Frank's house
The red light district - prostitution is still legal - if the red light is on - they are open or business....
Red light district
Love me........
Even the dogs are accompanied by bikes - this was a very common practice - bikes and dogs
Amstel !
Famous sign - I am Amsterdam - too many people for a good pic
Rieks museum
Fri. Oct.9,2015
We had an all day tour today with Dennis who owns our apartment. We ended up with a warm, partly day, but no rain. We did the area called Waterland which included Marken, volendam, Monnickendam, Edam and Zaanse Schans. The trip covered everything I think of when I think of Holland, the sea, dykes, clogs, windmills and cheese. Dennis also drove through some little tiny towns off of the usual tourist route. Most buildings are built of brick and or wood. The streets are also brick because the soil is all clay. We still saw lots of bicycles, but more autos once out of Amsterdam. It was nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city for the day!
We had an all day tour today with Dennis who owns our apartment. We ended up with a warm, partly day, but no rain. We did the area called Waterland which included Marken, volendam, Monnickendam, Edam and Zaanse Schans. The trip covered everything I think of when I think of Holland, the sea, dykes, clogs, windmills and cheese. Dennis also drove through some little tiny towns off of the usual tourist route. Most buildings are built of brick and or wood. The streets are also brick because the soil is all clay. We still saw lots of bicycles, but more autos once out of Amsterdam. It was nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city for the day!
Waterfront Marken
Marken marina
Bridge in Marken
Yep - more clogs
They actually still their clogs in Marken
Volendam
Volendam waterfront
The local delicacy - smoked eels...
Getting near Edam
Canal in Edam
Crossing over bridge into Edam
Edam typical street
Someone will be getting some flowers :)
Edam cheese of course
Jon - cappuccino break
Dennis and me
Jon and me at the windmills in Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans rooster
We figured out why they call them saw mills.....
Sat. Oct 10, 2015 Amsterdam
Sat. we had a relaxing AM then caught the 11:00 AM hop on hop off canal boat. We toured two different routes and cruised around for about four ours. During the rides we saw a rowing race which was fascinating to watch as they dodge all the boat traffic on the canal. The architecture of the all of the buildings are similar and it was vey hard to get out bearings. To note is that the buildings are narrow and have extremely steep and narrow steps. Most of the buildings have hoisting beams that are on top of the buildings. The hoisting beams are still used to hoist furniture etc… up and through the windows on the upper stories because the stairways are too narrow to get anything up. The buildings are also constructed to lean a bit forward to prevent the items being hoisted up from banging into the buildings. It was chilly on the boats, but sunny and beautiful. Next we visited the National museum, the Reik. They had quite an exhibit including some Van Goghs, and Rembrandt’s “The Night Watchman.” We were there till it closed at 5:00 PM. We got back to our apartment and organized to leave the nest AM. We then ate dinner at Dennis’s restaurant, NELs. When we got back Dennis had left us the best cookies ever – Dutch Caramel wafers – there are no words to describe their deliciousness. Up and off to the airport tomorrow AM by 7:30.
Sat. we had a relaxing AM then caught the 11:00 AM hop on hop off canal boat. We toured two different routes and cruised around for about four ours. During the rides we saw a rowing race which was fascinating to watch as they dodge all the boat traffic on the canal. The architecture of the all of the buildings are similar and it was vey hard to get out bearings. To note is that the buildings are narrow and have extremely steep and narrow steps. Most of the buildings have hoisting beams that are on top of the buildings. The hoisting beams are still used to hoist furniture etc… up and through the windows on the upper stories because the stairways are too narrow to get anything up. The buildings are also constructed to lean a bit forward to prevent the items being hoisted up from banging into the buildings. It was chilly on the boats, but sunny and beautiful. Next we visited the National museum, the Reik. They had quite an exhibit including some Van Goghs, and Rembrandt’s “The Night Watchman.” We were there till it closed at 5:00 PM. We got back to our apartment and organized to leave the nest AM. We then ate dinner at Dennis’s restaurant, NELs. When we got back Dennis had left us the best cookies ever – Dutch Caramel wafers – there are no words to describe their deliciousness. Up and off to the airport tomorrow AM by 7:30.
Me on our private tour boat for awhile
Jon
Scenes along our cruise
We are going to try some selfies this trip
This huge, three story building is parking for bikes and it is FULL !
This beauty is part of the maritime museum
The famous chain bridge
Houseboat alley - this canal was lined with every type of houseboat imaginable
We were cruising in and out of a rowing race
All the boats were jamming up under the bridges and jockeying for passage
Meantime, back on land - bikes everywhere
My pal - Vincent
Jon pondering this Rembrandt
Below - just some bikes in action.....