Cruising Amsterdam continued

Cruising made us hungry. Norm opted for the kaas (Dutch cheese) sandwich, me the warm goat cheese with sun dried tomatoes, rocket and walnuts. The were so delicious. 

Every time you have a cup of tea or coffee you get a cookie, so civilized.

As we headed back to our apartment there are always a few sites that catch your eye. This old building was a lock keepers house (sluis) to open and close the locks from 1695. It leans more than any we saw. 

And why do they lean? In the old days they were built on piles, drilled meters deep into the wet soil. After time these piles, made of wood, would rot and sink into the swampy ground. Today they fill up the pils with cement. 

Norm loves the ornate bridges that are everywhere here.

Tonight for dinner we met up with a friend of Norman’s from Victoria but who has lived in mostly England for the last 10 years, Tony Hodge. Probably one of the best dinners we have had in awhile. 

The restaurant was called de Jollers and here is the menu cover.

And I couldn’t resist taking this picture of the table just next to us. Things have changed.....

Cruising Amsterdam

Today we went cruising. You get a very different view of Amsterdam from the water. Just getting under the bridges is amazing and the buildings seem to lean even more at this level.

Did you know that there are over 600,000 bikes in Amsterdam with 855,000 people? 

Our canal boat was able to get through some tiny spots.

Some sites from the boat were beautiful. 


And some buildings still look like they are going to fall over.

These six houses are called the dancing sisters because of they way they way they lean forward and sideways. 

We recommend taking a canal cruise. 

Walking Amsterdam continued...

Stroopwafels and dinner, the best!

Duncan and Lauraine 

And the food.... who knew barley could taste so good!

Norm’s steak. 

A good time

A little trouble with the blog....be patient. 

Walking Amsterdam

After almost 13 hours of sleep we were ready to explore Amsterdam. Where we are staying is quite a way from downtown where all the action is. We have a one bedroom apartment in Zuid Amsterdam. Right below us in the courtyard is an Italian restaurant, a Jewish restaurant, a Japanese grocery store and an International store. We feel like we are really staying in a neighbourhood, not the tourist section. 

No matter how often you visit Amsterdam, there are always new things to explore. It always surprising how many people smoke, you have to get used of that. But Amsterdam is full of canals, canal boats, bikes, restaurants, tourists, old buildings that lean a bit and ways to get lost. 

Behind theses canal boats are more than two levels of bikes. This only a quarter of the bikes at the Central Station. We had to stop here to get Norm’s newspaper. Next we headed off to find a book store for children and enjoyed the sights along the way.

This old store used to sell fish and fruit and now it sells house design items.

The date on one of these is 1740! So many look like they might fall over but they insert iron rods to make them stable.

Walking makes you hungry and what better way than a broodje, a Dutch sandwich. And we found the kinderboekwinkel.

Next we headed across town to the Albert Cuyp market but stopped by the touristy Rijksmuseum to take at east one IAmsterdam photo. 

 To celebrate Amsterdam you have to have stroopwafels and frites.

Yummy

For dinner tonight we met up with Duncan and his girlfriend Lauraine at a farm house in the country. It wasn’t really country but a fun place and delicious food.

Pictures to come 

Hello Amsterdam

We left a beautiful hot sunny Monday from Victoria and arrived on Tuesday in Amsterdam to grey and cool weather. But it is great to be here. Even Yellow Bunny was excited.

Vancouver airport is a classy place. Norm showing off his new hipster shoulder bag.

We didn’t get a lot of sleep on the plane but did get two full meals, dinner and breakfast at 2 am BC time! Yes to KLM. From the airport to our own personal apartment in Amsterdam Zuid (south). Not quite walking distance to the tourist action downtown but instead a quiet real Amsterdam neighbourhood. Off by tram to Dam Square with the throngs of tourists to meet Norm’s cousin Kees and Dineke who just happen to be in Amsterdam today.

 Our first selfie of the trip at Dam Square. And to make the day even better Duncan came to join us for a beer. What a great start to our holiday. 

Back home by tram, pick up some groceries and we are ready for bed.