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Published: June 10th 2019
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The sun was up and so was John. Last day in Amsterdam and a walk around the city was in order. Walking past Anne Franks house, discovering the Tulip Museum, the Cow Museum, the Duck Museum and watching people arrive by ferry from the north island. A busy place for a holiday!
We checked out of the hotel and found our way to the train platform at Central Station. And then we waited for the train to arrive … 35 minutes late! The train was originally designed with first class at the front and at the last minute we were informed that first class would be at the back, so there was a mad rush for everyone on the platform to get to their coach at the opposite end of the train. We found our seats and it turned out we had a compartment all to ourselves at the very back of the train.
Once underway it was clear that we were on the “direct” train to Berlin that stopped at almost every platform at every station. Peggy asked the conductor when we would arrive and he – with great embarrassment – said he didn’t know but we would
be late. Just as we crossed the border into Germany we stopped at Bad Bentheim where we traded engines for a newer model (we hoped). The process took quite awhile and then we were off again on our “direct local” to Berlin. Sadly our conversation with a Berliner on the train informed us that Germany is not spending on infrastructure so there are many problems and you just have to live with it.
With Bad Bentheim behind us we were off into the German hinterlands. The train stopped at every station as we passed through the middle of Germany. Of particular note was the town owned by VW with high end mall, lots of boats at a marina and a HUGE factory. We caught up time but arrived late by almost 60 minutes. And at a station on the outskirts of Berlin’s northern side. Thank heaven we were able to get a taxi to the hotel. Perhaps not the best trip of the holiday…
We checked into the same room we had before and immediately took off for an area nearby with good food and relaxed atmosphere. We settled on a classic Berlin restaurant, Am Nußbaum,
with outside service and local Berlin food and drink. Wine, beer, sausage and meatballs. Everything was good and we left happy. Had a nice conversation with two women, one from southern Germany and the other from the mountains of Austria (Lake Constance which borders Austria, Germany and Switzerland). After dinner we walked along the Spree back to our hotel and rest until tomorrow.
Hotels, Restaurants, and Services we visited in Amsterdam: •
Park Plaza Victoria Hotel, Damrak 1-5, Amsterdam, 1012LG · +31 20 623 4255. Clean and great breakfast and located within reach of everything (perhaps too centrally located) … but housekeeping is terrible.
•
Brasserie Ambassade, Herengracht 339, 1016 AZ Amsterdam Tel 31 (0)20 550255. Good food and great service, a nice and relaxing place to have lunch.
•
Castillo Tapas and Steaks, Regulieresdwarsstraat 89, 1017 BK Amsterdam Tel 020-620-1975. Great service, good food and drink in a warm Spanish environment.
•
Antiekcentrum Amsterdam, Elandsgracht 109, 1016 TT Amsterdam, Open 11AM every day but Tuesday. Great place to look for antiques small enough to carry home with you.
•
Old Prints Hoogkamp, Spiegelgracht 27 sou, 1017 JP Amsterdam Tel 020 062-028-0050. Great selection of prints and
very enjoyable, knowledgeable owner, Peter.
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