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Published: August 8th 2007
Amsterdam
Love has no boundaries...Bettina comes through again. Leroy and I are about to post the Amsterdam blogs from Spain, but we’ve been lagging because we need to download photos from Bett’s memory stick. We don’t have the cable, so we have to find one of those Kodak Photo CD centers. Being so behind in uploading photos, we appreciate Bett’s super guest blogging track record (Yes, I’m calling OG and Xandra out again, but all in jest). We miss you and your cappuccinos, Bett. I hope San Fran is treating you well.
A Proper English Breakfast and the Cappuccino Indulgence Begins I think we all woke up still giggling about the world’s tiniest toothpaste. Leroy was the first to get ready; Melissa and I stayed lounging. I, of course, opted to go last because that’s just how I am - love my bed! As I was getting ready to go in the bathroom, though, I noticed Leroy was nowhere to be seen and commented, “Where is Leroy?” At that point, he crept out the tiniest clothing cabinet and went “BOO or BLAAAH.” I merely stood frozen and yelled, “GRAAAAAAA.” Leroy found this highly amusing. Boys.
We were ready and geared up, Melissa, designated
map keeper and navigator, found a restaurant called Barney’s to have some eggs. At this point in the trip, it was what I was craving for the most it seems - EGGGGGGS!! Barneys was located on a very cute street called Haarlemmerstraat (getting used to the Dutch street names requires major skills - otherwise you’ll get lost). On the way to the restaurant I discovered a very cute purse store called Mono…we stopped by later to patronize. Anyhow, the restaurant was jamming! They had another location just next door but the chef seemed to have forgotten to get to work that day. We instead opted for a place called Popeye’s a block or so up.
Popeye’s was quaint. There was definitely a super colorful Indian motif going on. Melissa and Leroy ordered the full English breakfast while I requested the Half breakfast. The only real difference was that I didn’t get the beans and sausage. I figured I could mooch off Melissa if I wanted …we were starving! When the lady came up to serve us our coffee, she heard Melissa comment, “I’m so excited!” She asked, “For what?” and Melissa giggles, “For the coffee” [Bett, you left out
the part where both of us were yammering on about how we needed coffee or cappuccinos! This is, after all, the start of your big cappuccino day!] In any case Popeye’s was definitely a good deal for your money. Note that it was here that I had coffee/cappuccino #1… I was energized for the Van Gogh museum!
How you suffered for your sanity, How you tried to set them free… The walk to the museum took a good 20 minutes! It was great seeing all the canals, crooked homes, and bicyclists, which, by the way, I have to mention, began a day of “Bettina almost getting killed.” The first was crossing the street and being utterly clueless about making sure I wouldn’t get run over!
In any case, getting into the Van Gogh museum was a piece of cake. The line was not that long at all. The museum was small and it was very organized in showcasing the periods of Van Gogh’s life. It began with an exhibit of his early influences to his own early works. It progressed to his own experiments of his own style - such as the Potato Eaters series. I loved that
series. The placard commented on the flaws of technique - for instance the chair was painted with both the side and the back painted as though you were facing it. Nonetheless, Van Gogh, in my opinion, mastered portraying the downtrodden lives and poverty of these people. Subsequently, the museum moved on to his more famous paintings such as the Sunflowers and Haystacks. The end was a bit poignant. There was a photo of his grave, and next to it was the grave of Theo, his brother. Apparently Theo passed shortly after Vincent. Theo just about supported Vincent most of his life - financially and more. He was a great fan and patron of Vincent’s artistic endeavors. The final part of the museum consisted of preserved condolence letters from those who knew Vincent to Theo. You could just tell he was a well-loved and respected artist.
After the museum, we had time to kill before the start of our bike tour…so that meant snack time!! I had some kind of soft cone and Leroy this waffle soft cone at this kiosk near the reflecting pool between the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. Melissa shared with us. (This is dessert
Bikes
The best way to see the city #1!!!). We had more time to kill so we moved on to another café across the plaza…cappuccino #2 and apple pie (dessert #2)!!!
Mike’s Bike Tours… with Pip Four o’clock rolled around and we met PIP! He was our designated Mike’s Bike Tour guide (Meli: I couldn’t help but think of Charles Dickens). He hadn’t even begun the tour and this lady was already griping about how she was disappointed about something she had experienced - that they should have a big sign out where the meeting place is and that the city tour brochure should give detailed instructions of how to take the metro there, even though Mike’s Bike Tours doesn’t print that brochure. Pip only commented that he’d turn her experience around… I commented that it was quite some pressure he was putting on himself (that turned out to be pretty true). Our group, otherwise, consisted of several Americans - a couple and a set of three friends - and a mother/daughter pair from Brazil.
Well, the tour began with a short history of Amsterdam - such as how they had a stock market bust at one point because they traded and overvalued tulips! We proceeded
to the garage that housed the bicycles. Melissa and I both had lime green beach cruisers and Leroy had a black one. It was in the garage that the aforementioned crazy lady asked for a helmet! Crikey! Pip patiently said that there were no helmet rules in Amsterdam, that it was quite safe because of their bike-aware culture, and that he would make sure nothing happened to her. I was thinking it was apparent that the city had a huge bike culture going…they had their own roads! And everyone was on a bike! The tour would last for a good three to four hours. The first stop was a bridge where Pip talked about things like “wild pissing” - you could get a 50 euro ticket for getting caught urinating in public or into the canal.
We proceeded on a 20 minute ride through the countryside. It was beautiful!!! I love Holland…it was lush and the homes we passed were beautiful. There were also sightings of several farm animals - cows, goats! I felt so happy! We finally arrived at the clog factory and cheese farm called Rembrandt Hoeve in a town called Amstelveen. I was in heaven -
cheese! First, a lovely Bulgarian lady gave us a very quick introduction to the cheese process. We tasted all their flavors - mustard, pepper, garlic and chives, plain, smoked, and a goat cheese (not chèvre). Then the friendly farmer (and I think, owner) showed us the two machines he had for manufacturing clogs and the several types - for weddings, for working, and for dancing. He was really friendly towards me it seemed - he insisted I take a picture with him and asked if I had a boyfriend. He said I could tell my father that “it’s only a picture.” I was flattered but embarrassed mostly. He spoke a little bit of many languages and said “basa” (“wet” in Tagalog) when we touched the wet clog.
After the farm we moved on to check out Benita, one of the last old school windmill existing. Currently an elderly couple has made it a home for themselves. We continue to bike to Beatrixpark and Vondelpark, and from my recollection, the former was a 16th birthday present to the princess. It was on our way to the park that our dislike for that lady peaked. Throughout the ride she had complete
disregard of everyone else and would just either cut people off or stop without warning! At one point Melissa and I were riding back to back and crazy lady, who was in front of us, abruptly stopped to take a picture. This caused not only a minor collision between me and Melissa…but her almost getting beat! Melissa got agro on her and told her not to stop without warning. Oy vey.
Vondel Park was huge. It was a bit reminiscent of Golden Gate Park. There were people having picnics, exercising, chilling. It was here I almost collided with a random cyclist…SORRY! I almost killed myself again! Anyhow, this was the end of the tour and we all headed back to the garage. The tour was so worth it if you plan on being in Amsterdam for a short amount of time like us. Loved it!
”Hey, we’re on vacation!” Does this sound like a full day or what? Well it hasn’t ended! We proceed to a street that looked like it catered to tourists. Leroy and I stop at Häagen-Dazs to share a cookie crunch (dessert #3! - hey, we’re on vacation!!). We pit stop at Rookie’s Bar
and Café for some chill time. I had cappuccino #3 here! I seriously need help, I know. When we leave, we go on search of where to have dinner and banter about it for what seemed like a long walk (I think it was only half an hour, though). The journey led us back to the hotel and starving! We end up at an Italian restaurant around the corner from our restaurant. Melissa had spaghetti carbonara, Leroy a pizza, and moi a calzone. We all share a house chianti as well. The night, of course, was not over unless we had our fourth desserts and cappuccino! World record!!!!
I love Holland… I could so live there!
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meli's mom
non-member comment
nice cligs, bett
tee hee