2013-7-27 to 7-31 - Amsterdam

 

Hot & exhausted, we found the street where our B&B was. And it was the most gorgeous & peaceful street we've ever seen.

The B&B is by the red car on the left

 

Left door-the entrance; right door separate office

 

  

 Cozy, private garden



Everything for breakfast was in the fridge; OJ, milk, home-made jam; yogurt; eggs; butter; meat; cheese; sugar; coffee; tea & other yummy stuff. The best part was they made fresh, warm home-made bread every morning & left it outside our door. Here's the irony...we don't eat breakfast at home. There was a french press, electric 'kettle' for hot water & egg cooker. (I had to get lessons to learn how to use these things-duh). One night I made breakfast for dinner.

Winnie in the Garden

We settled in the best we could...now, what should we do at this late hour? We walked down the cobble-stone walk until we found a little, lively bistro-type bar/restaurant two blocks from the 'house'. Seating inside, outside & also seating on a floating contraption on the canal. Of course, we chose to sit on the floating contraption. It wasn't long before everyone got to know each other...drinks & weed were flowing.

Me, Tom, Leonardo, Wayne & Eric

 

 The  cafe in the daytime

Taken in the dark, not a great picture but glad Tom sent it to me. It was a fun night after a disastrous day. I have no idea what time we finally settled into bed but at least we could walk home.

The next day we purchased tickets for the 'hop on-off' bus which made a complete circle around the lovely town of Amsterdam. Another gorgeous day but still very warm.

We hopped off & walked along the river (typical for us). Hundreds of interesting live-a-board boats lined every inch of the sea wall. I did investigate renting a boat for our stay but the one I really wanted wasn't available.

 

 

 We walked along the river to the Windmill

 This neat little boat even has a dry stack

Unusual place called 'Nemo's' - a place for kids

 

Newly developed area across the river

 

Maritime Museum - closed when we got there     }:(

 

Was a working windmill for corn...now - a private home - also restaurant on the property

We were more than ready for a cold one & maybe a snack.

 

We didn't have a specific agenda for the week - sometimes that's good-sometimes not because there's no set time to get your butt in gear & get going. We continued to use the hop on/hop off bus. They did offer free passes to several locations. I chose to visit Gassan Diamond Polishing factory. I have no idea where Wayne went that day. Interesting tour.

 

Everything was interesting & very different from the USA..especially the lift bridges. Wayne had an engineering interest in how they all worked-hence the pictures. The water-way winds its' way all around town so there are many tour boats using these bridges. 







 

 

They call this the 'Gina Lola Brigida Bridge

 Cars were another one of Wayne's interests

 

 I think more people would buy this SMART car sport's car in the US

 

 

Citron - Old & in mint condition

 

3.8 Litre Jag...is it a '67 ? or '63 ?

 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

Anne Frank tour - these 2+ hour lines never ended until the tour ended at about 8pm

While wandering in town, we found a very unusual place, at least for we Americans - The Sex Museum - why did that amaze me ??? It was a very interesting museum nothing but the history of sex. Thousands of pictures lined the wall in this 3-story building. Hundreds of objects filled glass cases. I especially enjoyed listening to others' reaction to the whole thing...giggles, women swatting their guy for ogling, woman doing weird stuff like I did. It was fun.

 

They told a very informative story about Mati Hari-facts most don't know

 

Rudolph Valentino doing the Tango

 

 Rudolph Valentino

 

 

 

Marilyn's 1955 calendar

 

All Bronze men's room

 

  

Very old music box - then the coat opens - Voila!

The red light district was right around the corner...I expected tall buildings with women hanging out the windows. This is how they do it now...little cubby holes with a lighted red strip above the doors. Boring... They figured out Wayne's weaknesses right away by the drool dripping down his chin. These cubbys lined many alleys.

 

There were multiple 'smoke shops' in the same area - I think they called them cafes?? We bought a few gifts for friends but praying we wouldn't get busted in the US for having paraphernalia.

It was interesting to see the bike paths, usually painted a reddish color that are twice the size of the small streets - walking paths are almost non-existent. Of course you know Amsterdam is known for it's enormous bicycle population & other forms of transportation...I'm told that at Central Station the ramp holds well over 6000 bicycles. There are thousands more located all around the ramp & as far as the eye can see.

 

I wish I could have gotten a better picture of this

  

I'm taking this picture on top floor of the outside ramp

 

Everything is designed for the biker

 

 

What a great way to gather the kids for an outing

I happened to find an open air flea market & gas masks seemed to be the popular item (do they know something we don't??)...also nice leather items & trinkets from China. (?)

 

 This little alley-way is near the B&B. The church is next to Anne Frank's.

 We found the neatest shop in this alley, owned by an Afghan & filled with beautiful hand-made items. We spent some time chatting & learning about his country. Wayne bought me a beautiful necklace.

 

 Time was growing short & had we had to pack up once again for the next part of our journey. A cab took us to Central Station, which we could have walked to if it weren't for all the luggage. People were scurrying here & there dragging their little rolling cases & talking on their phones-not a care in the world...after all, they knew where they were going. I don't travel well & especially nervous when I have to catch a plane, train etc. but the everything was well marked & with the help of a few people, we found our platform. Another new experience for me as I've never been on one of these high-speed trains - I was excited.

 

 

 

 

 

Had to have some wine

We zoomed along without a hitch...then we stopped...& we stayed stopped for about an hour. WTF?? It was supposed to be only 3 hours 18 min to Paris. we were told it was some glitch? We arrived at the Paris station late & found ourselves in yet another line to get a taxi. The best plans don't always work out as you'd like...I couldn't find the directions or paperwork that would take us to the dock. If it couldn't get any worse, our Taxi driver spoke not a word of English...great! Fortunately, I remembered the 'sort-of' location of the Viking Pride on the river...map out & lots of hand signals, we found the area - but not the boat. I got out & ran around some other boats hoping to find someone who might know where she was docked & maybe, just maybe, found someone who understood just enough English.  Viking always has tall banners blowing in the wind announcing their presence - except for here. Bottom line, we found her & discoverd we were the last ones to board & almost late for dinner - OMG! can't let that happen now can we?