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Published: July 18th 2015
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Day 2 started with breakfast – a buffet breakfast in the basement was very neatly laid out. all the jams butter spreads came in portion packs they even had chocolate sprinkle spread in portions and I thought so much of the planet. I did not have time to linger as my ticket for the Van Gogh Museum was for 10 am. Luckily its in spitting distance so I was well in time. I had booked the audio tour and was blown away by how fab the controls were its like having a smart phone. The whole museum ls light and spacious and very very busy so it was a good thing I got their early when it was still quiet and you could get a good look at the paintings. As more and more and more people were lined up outside waiting to get in = another one of those queues that go on for hours. They way its set out you really get to see and understand how prolific an artist Van Gogh was as he only painted for about 10 years. He started painting at the age of 27.
2 and half hours went by quickly and that
was enough. I needed to be outside in the fresh air and what better way to see the sights of the city than from the hop on hop off canal boat. It’s a great way to see this city for sure. The canals are lined with beautiful buildings and canal boats, some bedecked with flowers. Quaint shops lots of cafes and pubs and once again there is this quiet in the city the canals are quiet even though bustling with boats. I did see one that was totally green that had solar panels on its roof. After passing through the Het IJ suddenly a big expanse of water compared to the intimate canals I got off at the main train station, which is a beautiful building from the outside. I made my way over the road through a maze of trams and bicycles to find the tiny lanes of the Red light district and Coffee Shops.
I was not disappointed I soon stumbled across my first coffee shop called Stones Café . In fact you can smell a shop before you can see one. Of course I went in and had a look at the menu which
I would have loved to have photographed but you cant. You can order bags of grass or hash or ready rolled with non-tobacco or without. A ready rolled joint comes wrapped in its own little plastic container. There is also cake and cookies for sale. Did I buy anything??!!??................. of course I did. As I wondered in the small quaint streets there were many coffee shops, cake shops, hot chip shops and many treats to tempt one – sure they do roaring trade with all the punters frequenting the coffee shops who have the munchies! With my purchases in hand I hopped back on the canal boat hoping to make my way back to the hotel. I missed my stop and the next one was a long way away oh hell that meant another walk back but as it was a lovely evening I was happy to follow the canal back – Prinzengracht a very up market area of town. Then I came across a lovely café that I had seen from canal boat. Its painted walls were very attractive and only now I noticed it was a Coffee shop. I needed a cup of tea. People we sitting outside
at tables the canal in front it was about 5.45
Also on the canal boats people were having evening drinks I really love these boats. They come ready plumbed and with running water and are very expensive. It looks a romantic type of life but with so many people going past on boats and meandering around I don’t think it’s a very private life. Having said that being able to see in the houses too its not very private if your curtains are open. So I had my tea along with the others and did I have a joint? Of course I did. For the first time in my life I could sit outside and having cup of tea and not feeling like a criminal. Gotta love the Dutch for this. I wonder why the rest of the world has not followed in their footsteps. Oh well its changing in America so I am sure its just a matter of time.
I tried not to knock the table over as I left and meandered my way home. And there i stayed.
Day 3 was up early so that I could get to the
Rijks Museum before the crowds. Its right on my block so that was easy. I loved the scale of this place and the fact that the architecture allows it to be bathed in light from the outside. I had ordered my e-guide with my ticket. This one even helped you to find your way with pictures of the route as you go along. My plan was good as there were only a few tourists and you could get up close to all the paintings and artworks. If you need to see a brush stroke you can go right up to the painting and have a look. With commentary about each painting you go at your own pace. I did my 2 and a half hours and then continued on the hop on hop off bus as I still had time on ticket from yesterday. This time I made my way to a street market. It was quite local so there were people doing their weekly shopping like us going to the OZCF only here there was more than food and plants. Second hand clothes, new clothes household goods and organ grinders. Yes there were a few of those. Everywhere the
locals have their dogs with them and some of them even have their own set of wheels.
I have really loved Amsterdam and so happy that I have had this opportunity to see it and experience it.
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lynden
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You're having a great time! Love the blog xx