Netherlands (Holland): Amsterdam
Netherlands (Holland): Amsterdam
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We arrived in Amsterdam, we took the tram to
our B&B. They did not have our reservations, but we finally figured
out what had happened. When I was reserving hotels for 3 different
trips we had scheduled, I had selected the wrong month on this one.
This reservation was done through email and not a formal booking screen on
the Internet. I could not believe I had not noticed the date
mix-up. They did not have a room for us so we had to find another
hotel. The B&B is located slightly away from the town center,
but there is a convenient tram that passes in front of it approximately
every 15 minutes.
We tried about 6 different hotels before we finally found one with rooms available. The Hotel Van Gelder is located on Damrak street, about a 5 minute walk from the train station. The hotel turned out to be in an ideal location as we had 2 train trips planned during our stay. The hotel price was only slightly more then the B&B would have been. The B&B would have been more difficult as there would have been a 15-20 minute tram ride to the train station. The hotel was definitely not a luxury hotel, but had all the basic accommodations. We were just grateful to have found a place on this busy weekend.
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| Around Town: Some photos around Amsterdam. There was a large carnival in one of the main squares. We learned not to eat cotton candy while it is misty outside, kind of ruins it. | |||
 
 
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| Anne Frank House: This is the house were Anne Frank and her family were in hiding for 2 years during WWII. They do not allow photos inside, so the pictures of the diary and rooms were taken from postcards. | |||
  
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| Teasers: Any bar that serves beer and has scantily clad women dancing on the bar and tables deserves special mention. | |||
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| Bloemenmarkt: This is the large flower market in the city. The pictures show just one of the many vendors selling flowers. The other photo is of wooden tulips that are sold. | |||
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| Boat Ride: This is one of the tour boats that we took around the canals in Amsterdam. | |||
 
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| Clogs: These clogs, or wooden shoes have been brightly painted to sell in tourists shops. | |||
 
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| Cycling: This is a large bicycle parking garage located next to the central train station. | |||
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| Haring: Haring is eaten raw along with onions and pickles. We ate it 'on the tail', but it may also be served sliced on a plate. | |||
 
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| Magere Brug: Amsterdam has over 1,400 bridges, the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) is the city's best-known. The original draw-bridge was built in about 1670. Tradition relates that it was named after two sisters called Mager, who lived on either side of the Amstel. However, it appears more likely that the bridge acquired the name from its narrow (mager) design. | |||
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| Red Light District: These are some photos of the famous Red Light District. In the evening, women will stand in the windows under the glow of red lights tempting by passers to come in. You would then negotiate a price for whatever it is you are interested in. This is a popular tourist area in the evenings. You will see entire families strolling along through the area. It's quite entertaining. | |||
 
 
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| Rembrandt: A statue of the artist Rembrandt. | |||
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| Train Station: The train station contains a wind clock showing the direction the wind is blowing. | |||
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| Urinoir: This is a public Urinoir for men. | |||
 
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| Waag: The Waag is Amsterdam's oldest surviving gatehouse. Built in 1488, it was then, and often still is, called St Antoniespoort. Public executions were held here, and condemned prisoners awaited their fate in the "little gallows room". In 1617, the building became the public weigh house (waaggebouw). Peasants had their produce weighed here and paid tax accordingly. | |||
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| Weed: Coffee Shops serve coffee and Marijuana. Anyone is welcome to come in and have a drink, you are not required to smoke. I was not allowed to take photos of the price list, containing several different types of Marijuana. Basically the prices are by ounce and you purchase a small bag, then roll your own cigarettes. | |||
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