After a week and a half in Amsterdam's suburbs, we finally turned tourists today, Saturday, and took the Metro into The City. It's taken that long to acclimate, fix up our new camper, and visit with the Howes, who arrived Wednesday. We've made like four trips each to Kampeer Perfect (Camping World), MultiMate (Home Depot), Kwantum (Bed Bath Infinity & Beyond), Albert Heijn (Alberston's), and Ikea (Ikea). And we've also moved our venue to Camping Gaasparplas, which has much better transportation to the city than Amsterdamse Bos. As usual, our visit with the Howes was so busy with camper- and travel-talk I forgot to take any pix. Next time, probably back in California.
Anyhow, our visit to Amsterdam commences now, although I won't account for it very coherently. We've been here many times since 1979, have seen most of the sights, more than once, and mostly just enjoy being here in this anything-goes city; and being once again in Europe. Today's high point, after walking the Damrak, three museums and other sights, was finding the Marks and Spencers and buying Vicki a scones and clotted cream fix. (I'd already had my by Jenever fix.) A close second was finding the
vlaamse friets store we always happen on to, and getting our fries fix.
Met curry saus. Life is good.
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Still out in the burbs, in Bovenkerk, near the campground, a
typical suburban scene...taken from the bicycle pavement; even
in the burbs, bicycles outnumber cars and get mostly equal
pavement |
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| Road rage ready |
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| Futbol cage in a playground |
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| Now in Amsterdam, near Waterlooplein |
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| Ditto; the Waterlooplein flea market was a waste of time |
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| Rembrandt statue...and friends |
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Gothic art deco? The Touschinski Pathe Theatre:
muy famoso |
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Spinoza statue, in the former Jeiwsh quarter;
(I waited a good ten minutes for this gentleman
to fold up his map and move on) |
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| Canal scene |
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| In time, all buildings become restaurants |
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| Thought for the day |
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Interior of St. Nicholas Church, late 19th century Catholic...
Catholic worship, in public, was banned for 300 years prior
to this... |
1 comment:
Great to hear from you! I was just telling Wes today that you had not posted anything since the first post when you arrived. We love Amsterdam. When we were there, we stayed in a B&B right on one of the canals. There was a red light house just around the corner, but our host said that the ladies were all immigrants now...not like the old days when you might meet one of the ladies at the farmer's market or at church, and they were part of the neighborhood.
Enjoy your time there. Looking forward to more of your adventures.
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