Day 4 Amsterdam
Today we had an early wake-up call, 6:30AM so that we could have breakfast at 7 and be ready to leave by 8. Mom and I are still having trouble with the sleeping pattern here in Europe. She and I were up from about 1 to 2 AM talking about this and that. It always seems like you get your best sleep five minutes before the alarm clock goes off.
Anyhow, breakfast was sort of a buffet style. It had several kinds of breads with several types of toppings. My favorite selection was a warm croissant dipped in chocolate spread. Yum! They had a variety of drinks, coffee, hot cocoa, apple juice, orange juice (which is really big here. They have fresh squeezed orange juice machines everywhere!), and milk (which tastes a bit different here. It is 3.5% milk, more creamy as I found out in Germany! Perhaps it has to do with what the cows eat too?). They had apples and oranges, plain and strawberry yogurt (which is different than the US yogurt), and meats and cheeses so that you could make sandwiches if you wanted. They also had delicious scrambled eggs, bacon, yellow rice, and sausage. After a filling breakfast we rushed up to the room to gather our bags and money belts before meeting the group in the lobby. We walked together to the train station, received our tickets for the train and made our way through to the platform. The wait was not too long, and despite a pretty full train we were able to all make it on (there are 28 of us in the group)! The ride in was quick. However even from the train you could see that there were more and more flags posted than there were before. Today, May 4th, is Remembrance day in Holland. It is similar to our Memorial day in that they are honoring all men and women lost in wars. It is a sad day, a day to remember. They have their flags posted at half-staff. Tonight at 8, all the way across the country they will have two minutes of silence to remember those who have fallen. It is really a beautiful thing. After we hopped off the train at the Amsterdam Station we made our way outside the station for our first look at Amsterdam. My first impressions of the city were that it is HUGE, or at least seems huge and overwhelming. There are lots of trams that take off from the front of the station. There are also a ton of bikes that are chained and locked outside of the train station. As I have said, more than half of the population rides bikes. The buses were located on the opposite side of a canal versus being on the train station side of the canal. This threw Dimitri for a loop. Finally we found the right bus and all jumped on. During this ride the ticket master asked one of the ladies (Julie) in our group if she wanted to sit in his booth. She jumped at the chance and sat in his seat. Before he would take her picture she had to announce the next stop over the speaker. She actually did really well! Then he took her picture and told her that she could have his job. Haha! So when the tour is done she has a job in Amsterdam. Too funny! We took the bus to the Dam square where the palace, the New Church, Madam Tussauds museum are located. We got out and enjoyed the sights, watching the pigeons fly all around while being chased by children. The square was mostly empty at this time. Our guide told us that later on tonight there will be a mass meeting in honor of Remembrance Day. Thousands of people will meet in the square, along with the King, and stand for two minutes of silence I mentioned earlier. It is a very powerful moment. We walked on down the streets, admiring the unique homes and storefronts. The facades over the front of the buildings are incredible and just beautiful. We saw the smallest house in Amsterdam squeezed between two larger buildings. We learned that the buildings are not straight. They all lean forward slightly and have a hook at the bottom. Historically this hook was used to grab onto goods and pull them up so that they could be taken to the higher floors more easily. The houses were slanted so that the goods and the hook did not swing and hit the building or the walls. Our attention was then directed to a nearby cheese shop (CHEESE!) where our guide then told us that we were going to have the opportunity to listen to the shop owner and sample some of his cheeses. Excitedly we rushed to his very narrow front door. |
|
Inside we got to sample 3 types of gouda cheese. A 1 year which was creamy and soft, with a consistency between our medium cheddar and Velveeta. This was probably my favorite of the three in part because that is what I am used to. The next was a 2 year old version of the same cheese. It was much more solid and came in chunks of cheese rather than cubes. The final was a 3 year old version of the same cheese which had a very sharp taste. It was more crunchy than any cheese I have had, although it has many more vitamins and nutrients because there is less moisture of the cheese. Each cheese also was progressively darker from a light, almost white, to a dark golden color. It was amazing to hear about the process they use to make cheese. They store it in barns over the time of its maturation. Another fascinating thing about their cheese is that it can stay unrefrigerated for a certain period of time. We have purchased a 1kg wax covered wheel of cheese. This can go unrefrigerated for a few months (thank goodness!) and so we are planning to bring it home with us. The cheese also takes on the taste of what surrounds it, other cheese, the wood of the barn, wine, cedar, etc. It really, truly is an art!
|
We were happy as we left the shop. Mom had actually been looking for a place to do a cheese tasting tour. She had been looking at this same shop, in fact. But we were unsure whether we would be able to do it. We were therefore so excited when Dimitri told us that we were going to get to have a cheese tasting tour. What a treat!
We continued on along the canals, through houses, past feitz after feitz until we walked by just another one of the buildings, but our guide stopped us and pointed out a little sign that said Anne Frank Huse. This was the Anne Frank Museum. Earlier when we were on the bus the man at the ticket station told us that there were already 700 people waiting in line to get into the museum. Being on a Rick Steves tour we feel like VIP. We had reservations and were able to jump ahead of the line and enter right then. We were given an hour to go through the house. Unfortunately it was very crowded and even then mom and Emily were a little late joining the group. No photos are allowed within the walls of the Anne Frank House nor the museum. That did not stop people from taking pictures and holding up traffic as they took pictures of each other. It was rather irritating. All that beside it was a really eye opening experience. We learned a bit about Anne and her family. Like Anne and her family we entered into their hiding place through the bookshelf where there was a good step up and a short hallway until you got inside. We walked through the rooms where they had lived hidden away. We walked upon the floors that they walked on. During the day they had to keep hidden and keep quiet. I do not know how they were even allowed to move around during the day! The floors creaked and squeaked with every movement. We walked though Anne’s room and saw the pictures and posters she had glued to the walls. These rooms were all stripped clean and held none of the furniture that once was inside. It was such a small space for a family. The rooms were each smaller than a college dorm room. At the end of the tour they had on display Anne’s actual diary, as well as the tickets of her and her family as they entered the concentration camps. Incredible. Sobering. I am glad that this is an opportunity that we had, however I was glad to leave. By the end of the tour the crowds were overwhelming. I passed by a couple exhibits so I could escape outside and get some fresh air. Our time was up by this point, so I walked around just another grand church to find my tour group. I ended up heading back after a couple moments to go and find Emily and Mom and bring them back. I was greeted with a cheer when I came back with them behind me.
Our next stop was this little monument just behind the church and behind the Anne Frank House. This was a gay pride monument, actually called the Homomonument. Holland is very tolerant of all people. Some of the older generations still have biases, however Holland is moving in a much more tolerant direction all over (how else would they be so content?). We spoke there for a while before moving on to our next destination.
We continued on along the canals, through houses, past feitz after feitz until we walked by just another one of the buildings, but our guide stopped us and pointed out a little sign that said Anne Frank Huse. This was the Anne Frank Museum. Earlier when we were on the bus the man at the ticket station told us that there were already 700 people waiting in line to get into the museum. Being on a Rick Steves tour we feel like VIP. We had reservations and were able to jump ahead of the line and enter right then. We were given an hour to go through the house. Unfortunately it was very crowded and even then mom and Emily were a little late joining the group. No photos are allowed within the walls of the Anne Frank House nor the museum. That did not stop people from taking pictures and holding up traffic as they took pictures of each other. It was rather irritating. All that beside it was a really eye opening experience. We learned a bit about Anne and her family. Like Anne and her family we entered into their hiding place through the bookshelf where there was a good step up and a short hallway until you got inside. We walked through the rooms where they had lived hidden away. We walked upon the floors that they walked on. During the day they had to keep hidden and keep quiet. I do not know how they were even allowed to move around during the day! The floors creaked and squeaked with every movement. We walked though Anne’s room and saw the pictures and posters she had glued to the walls. These rooms were all stripped clean and held none of the furniture that once was inside. It was such a small space for a family. The rooms were each smaller than a college dorm room. At the end of the tour they had on display Anne’s actual diary, as well as the tickets of her and her family as they entered the concentration camps. Incredible. Sobering. I am glad that this is an opportunity that we had, however I was glad to leave. By the end of the tour the crowds were overwhelming. I passed by a couple exhibits so I could escape outside and get some fresh air. Our time was up by this point, so I walked around just another grand church to find my tour group. I ended up heading back after a couple moments to go and find Emily and Mom and bring them back. I was greeted with a cheer when I came back with them behind me.
Our next stop was this little monument just behind the church and behind the Anne Frank House. This was a gay pride monument, actually called the Homomonument. Holland is very tolerant of all people. Some of the older generations still have biases, however Holland is moving in a much more tolerant direction all over (how else would they be so content?). We spoke there for a while before moving on to our next destination.
This next stop was another little square decorated with a variety of shops and vendors. Lunch is on us today. After discussing between the three of us what we wanted we finally decided upon more kibbeling and sodas. The kibbeling was good, but not nearly as good as what we had the day before yesterday. This was cold at first and then reheated in a microwave, rather than done fresh. Some of the pieces in my dish were still cool. Emily wondered off down a street to get some fries and mayo. I walked with mom around the square. We tried to find a cookie shop that Dimitri had recommended, however we could not find it, so I settled for a hazelnut gelato. Yum!
Once lunch was over we hopped on a tram running through the city and took it over to the Rijksmuseum where we were going to be meeting with the local guide. I will admit that I was not sure what the Rijksmuseum was as I approached, but it was awe-inspiring from the beginning. The building was HUGE, there was a little flower garden off to the side with a dancing fountain. There was also and I Amsterdam sign stretched before the great building.
Inside I quickly realized that it was an art museum. I had to go and check my bag and jacket into a safe area before I could go on the tour. We met up with our guide, a fascinating individual who opened our eyes to what a painting really says. There is more to it than just a vase, an apple, a woman, ect. He provided us with a whole new way of looking at this art as well as leading us through the museum to the highlights.
Once lunch was over we hopped on a tram running through the city and took it over to the Rijksmuseum where we were going to be meeting with the local guide. I will admit that I was not sure what the Rijksmuseum was as I approached, but it was awe-inspiring from the beginning. The building was HUGE, there was a little flower garden off to the side with a dancing fountain. There was also and I Amsterdam sign stretched before the great building.
Inside I quickly realized that it was an art museum. I had to go and check my bag and jacket into a safe area before I could go on the tour. We met up with our guide, a fascinating individual who opened our eyes to what a painting really says. There is more to it than just a vase, an apple, a woman, ect. He provided us with a whole new way of looking at this art as well as leading us through the museum to the highlights.
After the tour we had some time to go and look around. This place was huge, and we had already seen a handful of paintings (although I guess I missed some Van Gogh that was inside this museum. Emily and Mom went to go and see this.) I decided I wanted to spend the rest of my time outside in the sunshine. After the crowded Anne Frank House I was more than ready to leave the crowds of the museum and spend some time exploring the nearby area. Outside, as I mentioned above there was the flower garden filled with bright red and crimson tulips. There was also a fountain that changed every few seconds. I watched children skip in and out of the fountain, hoping that the next change would not get them soaked.
After watching a few rounds of people and snapping a couple shots of a field of glistening bikes (hundreds) parked in a nearby area, I decided to go to the “I Amsterdam” sign. In this area there was a pond with potted plants in barrels out on islands. I snapped a couple shots of the I Amsterdam sign. When I looked out over the pond I saw a series of bunnies in different “outfits”. One was polish pottery like, one was in a dirndl dress, and one was a rubber duck. They were very cute. Just off to the side of that there was a little series of outside shops and food shops. I walked over to check out the art. There is also a Van Gogh Museum nearby, so in one of the shops they were selling oil paintings of some of his works. Other works were from the area as well. I fell in love with a windmill with a field of brightly colored tulips spread out before it. Of course I also went and purchased it. I am looking forward to taking it home and finding a place that will frame it. I thought about getting one of the oil paintings of Starry Night, but I settled instead for a larger version of this oil painting since it features what I think of when I think about my time in Holland. Shortly thereafter I joined up with the group and together we walked to the area where we caught our Amsterdam Canal ride. The boat was big, and we were restricted to one side of the boat, however there was room for all. A French speaking gentleman sat next to me. I had some difficulty communicating with him as he was asking me to plug in his headphones for the tour and set the language to French. Finally, however, we figured it out. Dimitri, our guide, also brought us treats. It was a bread form of gingerbread that was quite tasty. So we got to sit and munch on that while we sailed quietly through the city. We were not surprised to see that the Anne Frank House line was just as long as it was before. We saw many lovely parts of the city. For the most part it was just nice to sit and watch instead of walking around. We saw some lovely clipper ships. One was moving, cutting through the gentle waves washing into the canal area. After nearly an hour of the narrated cruise they dropped us off just a couple blocks away from our next tour spot, the red light district of Amsterdam. No photos are allowed here, for obvious reasons, yet it was interesting to see how they handle this type of business in this country. The idea is that by making prostitution legal they are decreasing violence against women. The women each have their window, which they go and sit in. The customers come in and pay them and do what they do. These women are required to go and be checked and tested for STDs by a doctor every 4 weeks. They pay taxes on the money they earn. It is treated just like any other job. It was still early when we walked through this district and so we did not see any women in the windows. All of the curtains were drawn. We did see a woman holding two fake breasts (booby balls) up to her chest in a store! That was rather amusing. After our walk through the red light district we did a little bit of shopping along the road heading directly to the train station. Before too long though we were back at the station and heading back. Once we got on the train it seemed like we sat for a long time. By the time the train started moving there was one more gentleman who sat across from me who was in the car with us. A couple minutes after our departure from the station our train stopped, as did the one passing us at the time. A voice came over the loud speaker talking in Dutch. We continued on with our conversation until the gentleman asked us to please share the couple moments of silence in celebration of their Remembrance Day. We became very quiet, both out of respect but also out of embarrassment. Sure enough it was 20:00 (8:00 PM). We shared in a couple minutes of silence with the entire nation of Holland. |
Once the couple of minutes were up then the trains started back up. We remained silent for the rest of the train ride back to Haarlem, still ashamed of our talking during the time of silence.
Back at Haarlem the crowds had already dissipated in the Grote Markt. There were a few people left wandering the streets. Emily and I stopped at the Gelato shop connected to the side of St. Bavo’s church and ordered two Belgian waffles dipped in chocolate ( likely melted Nutella), with a dollop of whipped cream, and a scoop of cherry sauce on the side. They were delicious! Mom settled for bread with peanut butter and Nutella. Today was another lovely, but very busy day. Tomorrow we leave Haarlem and drive to Bacharach on the Rhine. We will also be stopping by Keukenhof garden along the way. I cannot wait!
Back at Haarlem the crowds had already dissipated in the Grote Markt. There were a few people left wandering the streets. Emily and I stopped at the Gelato shop connected to the side of St. Bavo’s church and ordered two Belgian waffles dipped in chocolate ( likely melted Nutella), with a dollop of whipped cream, and a scoop of cherry sauce on the side. They were delicious! Mom settled for bread with peanut butter and Nutella. Today was another lovely, but very busy day. Tomorrow we leave Haarlem and drive to Bacharach on the Rhine. We will also be stopping by Keukenhof garden along the way. I cannot wait!