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Published: September 9th 2023
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This was my last day ever in The Netherlands. I left my hotel in Haarlem and walked to the station and took a train to the Amsterdam Centraal Station.
I walked following (roughly) a tram route admiring the fine old buildings that were built long before there was a USA. It was a short walk to the Amsterdam City center, with a number of high quality museums.
One building stood out to me for an unknown reason. Later I found out that the building was the Royal Palace Amsterdam (Koninklijk Paleis van Amsterdam). Construction took a number of years and was completed and opened in 1655 AD as the Amsterdam Town Hall. This impressive structure has served as the Royal House for heads of state and for other important occasions. Now when there is no royal functions, this great monument is open to the public for the reasonable rate of 12.50 Euros. I am saddened that I did not get inside to see the beautiful inside with its important artifacts and paintings. I herd from my Dutch friend (vriend) that there are studies going on about moving the monument to higher ground to avoid possible flooding due to rising
sea levels caused by global warming. (Note: here in The Netherlands global warming is a fact, not a stupid political issue.)
As I walked around this large open area some horse and carriage rides showed up there. Wow, a horse drawn carriage around downtown Amsterdam would be a wonderful experience for me. I was running out of Euros and wanted to take the carriage ride and tour the splendid large museums there; but I could not swing that.
From there I walked back to the Amsterdam Centraal Station. Behind the station I could not resist taking the free ferry ride across the Port of Amsterdam (Haven van Amsterdam), and the free ferry back.
Then I found the tunnel under Centraal Station built for the convenience of travelers. This long tunnel was adorned with very nice wall art featuring the old Dutch sailing ships.
I wanted to hang out there longer, but I had to get ready to make my return flight to Houston, Texas, USA. I took a train back to Haarlem and walked back to my hotel for the night.
The next morning before sunrise I had a taxi meet me at my hotel
to take me to Schiphol Airport for my flight home. I had the credits on my rail pass to get the airport, but the taxi greatly reduced my walking effort and I was not uncertain what Haarlem train gate to go to for my homeward bound.
I took KLM Airline for a direct flight to Houston Intercontinental. The service was superb and I got two free hot meals, good snacks, and bottled water. After the flight (over the pond) I had a three hour drive home.
This was a great one month adventure for me where with everything included cost me about $4,000 USD. I will remember this for the rest of my life.
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