Last full day in Amsterdam

So this is our last full day in Amsterdam.  Better get going and explore more pathways and museums to get full value from our free museum passes. We head out to find where the Anna Antal is docked as it will be our home for the next 8 days on the Bike and Barge trip. Cathy chose a three star rating for this trip and assured me that this was not the Anna Antal when I spotted her waiting in a canal.

NOT our barge

 

Hummmmm…. Is that building really not square to the world?? Our tour guide from two days ago told us many buildings were built with the top leaning out to allow easier movement of furniture using a rope and open window as the stairs are small and cramped. We spotted this in action today.

Note the leaning front of the building.

This couch was waiting to be pulled up to the top floor and moved into an open window.

Note the rope and pully.

 After a number of wrong turns and confusing intersections we made it to the dock area where we come tomorrow to board the Anna Antal. This area has some intriguing buildings, pedestrian bridges and pathways.  There is a science center and a library as part of this complex that are very appealing.  

We stopped at the library for lunch and were very impressed with this modern facility.  Here is a sample of the lunch buffet.

 

After lunch we were off to find Rembrandt’s house and the Van Loon Estate were we immersed ourselves in Dutch history for a few hours.

Narrow stairway to upper floor where Rembrandt's studio was located.

Demonstrating how a knife was used to apply rabbit skin sizing to a canvas prior to painting.

The Van Loon family made a lot of money with the East India trading company and the present owner has opened up the house as a museum for all to enjoy.

This is an inspiration for my next dimensions entry! I fear the judges might say the maker had a good thing going but didn't know when to stop.

 Cathy has been after me for years to make a headboard but after seeing this bed I'm afraid the stakes have been raised.

The grounds around the estate were beautifully kept.

Then we were off home again for supper and I spotted this beautiful Egyptian Goose sitting on a pile in a canal.

Supper was in an old mansion and served delicious food with a ‘slow food’ theme and atmosphere. Lovely.

Day 3

The day began with another delicious breakfast at Fleur’s d’Amsterdam's B&B. We chose to explore bike shops this morning with the intention of going to the Rijksmuseum at noon.  On our way we discovered a Park and Ride just like you would see in a big Canadian city were people get on a train for a commute.  You might notice one subtle difference in the vehicles parked.

 By 11:00 we were experiencing another bout of jet lag so tried to drug our way out of that funk. 

I loved this table in the coffee shop made from an old pier.  The wood had a beautiful patina with the original saw marks visible.

 

It didn’t work so we headed home for a two hour sleep.  Much refreshed we headed to the Rijksmuseum just prior to closing and managed to get a thirty minute whirlwind view of some fabulous paintings, sculptures, carvings and furniture by Dutch artists. I thought my carving friends would be interested in these works from the 1600's. The pictures were taken with my phone in a dark museum so don't begin to show the detail.

The Rat Poison seller. Ambrosius van Swol (c.1620..in or after 1625) Boxwood.

Beggar with a wooden leg. (attributed to Albert Jansz Vinckenbrinck 1605 -1664) Amsterdam, c. 1650 boxwood

Vondelpark is an urban reserve close to the Rijksmuseum with an abundance of trees, paths, water and bird life.  I spent an hour wandering with my camera while Cathy sat on a bench and watched an endless stream of people and bicycles passing by. Here are some of my bird pictures.

Eurasian Coot.

I loved the color and texture on the feet of this Coot.

Moorehen with poorly applied gauche lipstick.

Not just your ordinary pigeon. These Wood Pigeons are a different bird.

A Eurasian Magpie very similar in looks to the Black-billed Magpie of the prairies.

A Male (top) and female Rose-ringed Parakeet. These birds have successfully adapted to the wild from captive birds let free.

We went for a late (for us) supper at 8:00 at a delicious Italian restaurant only two blocks from our B&B.  It was quite busy so we had a glass of wine outside while we waited for a table.

Exploring Amsterdam Day 2

We started our morning with a great breakfast and conversation both supplied by Fleur, our delightful B&B host.  Her bird shares the family affections with two cats.

Fleur with her bird.

We set out on our bikes heading toward city center paying constant attention to cars, pedestrians, scooters and more competent local cyclists all of whom seemed intent on passing us within inches and at a much faster pace. Somehow this moving chaos has an underlying order that works quite well if you get in the flow and pay attention.

 

I don’t think there was one moment today when we were outside that you couldn't see a bicycle somewhere.

I am intrigued on many levels how parents in Amsterdam transport children. They grow up being transported everywhere on bicycle, in the rain, wind and sun.  This mother has two child seats attached to her bike. The boys are completely comfortable as they climb up and head out in the rain.

As we rode along the canals and pathways toward city center one scene after another called out: “picture me”, ‘‘picture me”.

 

We were soon immersed in this city’s fascinating history.  The Museum of Amsterdam does a superb job of moving viewers through time from a thousand A.D. to present day. Written, audio and 3D models all helped to engage me in a way few museums are able (which says more about my short attention span than poor museum displays). Cathy was completely engaged as she loves history.

 

A wooden model showing how boats were raised to pass through canals.  I was completely seduced by the craftsmanship of this creation.

For some of my carving friends.

As we were preparing for a rest and a coffee, Cathy spotted a “Free Tour” sign.  We headed over and sure enough there was a three hour walking tour starting in a few minutes. It was led by a local musician who doubled as a tour guide in the daytime. His knowledge, engagement and enthusiasm created a superb environment for soaking up the tour.

Our guide and small tour group.

 

One of a few remaining wooden houses in Amsterdam.

A courtyard for a women's only religious order residence.

A Blog in the fog of jetlag.

Our European journey started at a decent time in Saskatoon with the added excitement of a closed University Bridge.  We had decided to set the tone for transportation on our journey by taking the bus to the airport.  This was surprisingly easy and inexpensive.  We left lots of time but experienced no problems due to construction. 

Cathy arriving at Saskatoon Airport

A flight to Calgary, time for lunch and onto the KLM flight to Amsterdam added badly to our carbon footprint.  The eight hour flight was uneventful as one hopes all air travel will be.  Arriving at Schiphol airport and entering into the Netherlands involved a long walk to customs, a brief stop to show our passports, no forms to fill out, no dumping of our apples and presto we are here.  With the aid of a few transportation kiosks, some friendly attendants and a few Euros we were on a train to Centraal Station. A slick transfer onto a tram car, a couple of questions to locals, a short walk and suddenly we are at our B&B and it is 9:30 am local time. Coen and Fleur are delightful hosts, give us much needed, fantastic coffee, free museum passes, bicycles, a map and suggested places to visit.

At our B&B in Amsterdam.

Our bikes for the next four days.

We spend the next few hours exploring.  

One of the ubiquitous canals in Amsterdam.

We are still in time for some famous Dutch Tulips

It appears that Herons have learned to scavenge in the city as well as pigeons.

A sudden wind blew my hat into a local window well.  I can't say what I saw in the window when retrieving my hat.

Just as we approached this group of bikes they reared up in unison, threw their riders on the ground and were ready to take off like horses in a race.

A visit to the resistance museum is sobering, enlightening and tiring, especially with a somewhat sleep deprived brain.  A restaurant located next to the museum affords a wonderful break for lunch and a fortuitous respite from a sudden pounding rainstorm.

It will surprise some readers to learn that Cathy was overcome by the cycling culture here in Amsterdam. Some early impressions include :

Bicycles and cycling infrastructure are everywhere.

Cycling takes concentration as the paths are shared with motorized scooters, pedestrians are close by on separated paths and cars are present as well.  The system works well with traffic lights for bikes, cars and pedestrians.

Children are carried everywhere on seats attached in many clever ways and in purpose built cargo bikes big enough for small play areas.

Nobody wears a helmet.