Walk about Amsterdam

Friday, Mayday, seemed like the right day to do some walking in the parks, less crowded than central Amsterdam with more fresh air. Right behind our hotel is Rembrandt Park, with ponds, fields and several large sculptures.

Still in the city but a country feel. 

You can see the highrises in the background. Check the cool art sculpture along the way.

We left Rembrant Park and wander through a lovely neighbourhood along a street called Aalsmeerweg. You "gotta" love the street names! 

We managed to find an excellent cup of tea and coffee with a tiny coconut raspberry/chocolate slice included and  home made muffins, The City House.

The next park is Vondelpark, named after JP Vondel, a poet from the 1600s.

We ambled through the park which apparently was a hangout for hippies in the '60s. The park became known worldwide as an open-air dormitory with lots of soft drugs and free love. "Better long-haired than short-sighted" was the phrase of the day. And there are still a few counter-culture types in the park, although today many of them have skateboards.

Today it's green spaces, flowers and trees are a great alternative to the busy streets around. 

If you you look closely you can see a crane's nest high on a post.

Here is Mr. Vondel. 

We took a slight detour to check out a book seller hangout also from the 60s. Norm's cousin Ineke remembers spending many hours here. 

Today it seems the sellers have moved closer to the centre of town (Spui) for better traffic, at least on Fridays.

And yes Norm found some postcards there! 

Some crazy traditions with locks are found all over Europe. At least here the bridge doesn't look like it will collapse under the weight.

This church, Zuiderkerk (I think) was viewed from many angles. Norm's convinced that no clocks in Amsterdam have figured out how to show the correct time. 

To finish off our walkabout we had a beer on the terrace of the Bijenkorf, a department store that Norm's mother once worked at. Today it is very high end and expensive store. 

In the evening we gathered at Duncan and Rebecca's for games night, all 20 of us and Peanut and Blue. Fun times! 

Today Norm, Kate and I ventured back into city. The Utrechtsestraat is "hipster" area. So we checked it out. 

Coffee stop.

Unusual transport.

1614 building with serious leaning.

There are big hooks at the top of tall buildings 

-- the old canal houses and more modern apartment blocks -- for moving furniture up and down, since there are no elevators and the staircases are too steep and twisty to move much of anything.

Lunch was very delicious pannenkoeken at the Pancake House. 

Heading homeward we took Kate through the Vondelpark and Rembrant Park stopping for a necessary beer, fries and Bitterballen. 

Tonight 9 of us gathered for burgers, beer and more fries at Frits. Good thing we walk a lot with all the food we manage to consume. And tomorrow.......the Wedding. Let's pray for sunshine.