Incredibly Interesting Itinerary!
Making Meaningful Memories
It was hard to get up early, but I had to force myself. Today was our Amsterdam day and we were starting our day at a run.
After breakfast there was just enough time to run to my room for my moneybelt and necessities before we left at 8. Dimitri led us through Haarlem and down to the train station. There he gave us our passes for the train and instructed us on how to use it. We all got on the train and arrived safely in Amsterdam 20 minutes later.
From the train station we walked a ways until Dimitri found a good spot for us to stop and talk. It was Remembrance Day, when Hollanders remember the anniversary of those who died (soldiers and victims) during WW2 as well as in more recent wars. It's a day they take very seriously. On that day at 8PM, every Hollander takes a 2 minute silence in memory of those who died. Remembrance Day is followed the next day by Liberation Day, when they celebrate Holland's liberation from occupation during WW2. All over the country are concerts and celebrations. Dimitri told us about some of the events that would be happening that evening for Remembrance Day. He encouraged anybody who wanted to to stay in Amsterdam after our tour to do so, and join in the events.
Then we went all over the city- or so it seemed!
After breakfast there was just enough time to run to my room for my moneybelt and necessities before we left at 8. Dimitri led us through Haarlem and down to the train station. There he gave us our passes for the train and instructed us on how to use it. We all got on the train and arrived safely in Amsterdam 20 minutes later.
From the train station we walked a ways until Dimitri found a good spot for us to stop and talk. It was Remembrance Day, when Hollanders remember the anniversary of those who died (soldiers and victims) during WW2 as well as in more recent wars. It's a day they take very seriously. On that day at 8PM, every Hollander takes a 2 minute silence in memory of those who died. Remembrance Day is followed the next day by Liberation Day, when they celebrate Holland's liberation from occupation during WW2. All over the country are concerts and celebrations. Dimitri told us about some of the events that would be happening that evening for Remembrance Day. He encouraged anybody who wanted to to stay in Amsterdam after our tour to do so, and join in the events.
Then we went all over the city- or so it seemed!
Maddened by Missing Memory
We had only just begun our tour when I realized I forgot to put my memory card back in my camera after downloading pictures onto my computer the night before. My tourmate, Bucky, rescued me by lending me his spare memory card. However it was a small one, so I had very limited picture taking abilities. Somewhere along the way, a few pictures were shrunk and I no longer have the originals to restore the size. There's nothing more frustrating than being a photographer in Europe with a camera and no memory card!
We started out by having a cheese tasting at a local kase huis. We got to taste home-made cheeses at various stages of ageing. We also got to learn how it was made. It was a wonderfully tasty demonstration.
Dimitri then took us to a place called the Homomonument. It's dedicated to the homosexuals who were persecuted during WW2 and thru time. He talked about how anybody who was different was persecuted by the Nazi regime, including the physically and mentally challenged as well as the mentally ill. He spoke about the Dutch philosophy of tolerance towards all people- a lesson many need to learn.
Our first group picture!
Back row: Imants and Barb, Lynn and Robert (CA), Shirley (with John)(CO), Chris and Mark (Canada), John (with Shirley)(CO)3rd row: me (NE), Norma and Rob (Canada), Lannie (CO), Ila and Tom (WA)
2nd row: Emily and Lori (MT), Pat (TX), Julie and Joe (FL), Barb and Tom (OR)
1st row: Suzanne (MT), Karen and Les (MI), Pat and Dennis, Dimitri (Greece/Belguim), Herb (MI), Buck (CA)
Back row: Imants and Barb, Lynn and Robert (CA), Shirley (with John)(CO), Chris and Mark (Canada), John (with Shirley)(CO)3rd row: me (NE), Norma and Rob (Canada), Lannie (CO), Ila and Tom (WA)
2nd row: Emily and Lori (MT), Pat (TX), Julie and Joe (FL), Barb and Tom (OR)
1st row: Suzanne (MT), Karen and Les (MI), Pat and Dennis, Dimitri (Greece/Belguim), Herb (MI), Buck (CA)
Our next stop was the Anne Frank Huis (no pictures are allowed inside the house, so I only took a picture inside of the front lobby wall). The line (as usual) went down the street and wrapped completely around the big church- in other words, hours long. We bypassed the line and got right in. We were given an hour and a half to go through the house, more than enough time. Just as the first time I went- three years ago- it was a sobering experience.
We explored the city further, walking to "Smalstsehuis" Singel 166~ the narrowest house in Amsterdam. It's 5 1/2 feet wide- not much wider than it's doorway- as in the "olden days" people were taxed on the width of their homes. The interesting thing about this house it that it gets wider towards the back part- though it's still very narrow by most people's standards.
We visited "The Church of St Peter and St. Paul" (Parrot Church) aka H.H. Petrus en Pauluskerk (Papegaai) (after the Reformation when Catholicism was banned, the clever Dutch had several hidden churches). This one is in an alley surrounded by businesses and at one time had a plain façade and was hidden behind the large home of a bird trader. While it's Catholic in practice, anybody is invited to come in and meditate and pray. The front of the church has a decorative parrot and there is also one perched inside.
We next visited The Begijnhof, an inner courtyard within the Singel that dates back to the middle ages. It was part of a religious community similar to a convent, but less strict. Now it's home to the Reformed Church. Within the courtyard we saw the only remaining wooden house left in Amsterdam (most burned and were replaced by brick). It dates to the early 1500's.
Gallery Greats~
Pictures in The Begijnhof.
Foiled by a Frightening Faceplant!
We were given some free time for lunch. I tagged along with Buck and Herb to a restaurant called LaPlace. There we fought the crowds for some great, fresh food. I couldn't finish all of my sandwich, but Herb and Buck helped me out! Later, as we waited for the bathrooms, we saw a couple struggling on the steep steps with a baby buggy. About the time we wanted to help them out they were able to get it down. What a shock to then see that the buggy held a little dog- not a baby!
We had a strict deadline on when to rejoin our group. Leave it to us to get lost on the way back! In my desire to help find the way back in a hurry, in other words- looking up and around and not down at the various curbs and uneven cobblestones, I mis-stepped, rolled my ankle on a curb edge and ended up face down on the cobblestones. It couldn't have been a pretty sight! But I got up with the help of my two gentlemen buddies, dusted myself off and pretended I wasn't hurt. My pride hurt more than anything else- at least at the moment!
We had a strict deadline on when to rejoin our group. Leave it to us to get lost on the way back! In my desire to help find the way back in a hurry, in other words- looking up and around and not down at the various curbs and uneven cobblestones, I mis-stepped, rolled my ankle on a curb edge and ended up face down on the cobblestones. It couldn't have been a pretty sight! But I got up with the help of my two gentlemen buddies, dusted myself off and pretended I wasn't hurt. My pride hurt more than anything else- at least at the moment!
Then it was time to go to the beautiful Rijksmuseum. There we were turned over to a wonderful guide, a woman who was obviously not only knowlegeable, but excited and passionate for her work. She gave us the inside scoop on the Rembrandt's and Vermeer's. We were given an hour for the guided tour and about an hour and a half on our own.
Although we were exhausted by the time we'd finished at the museum, we managed to walk to the canal for our boat ride through the city. Here are my fellow single travelers, Lannie and Pat. Both are such friendly people!
Barb can always be counted on for a lovely smile! Here our exhausted group gets a bit of a rest before we finish our tour.
Lastly we were taken to the Red Light District. It was early evening, but still light out. Nevertheless, the prostitutes were active in small numbers in their windows. Pictures are not allowed there, unless you want to risk being chased down and your camera destroyed. I took one picture- only because there were no girls on display here. Going back to the Dutch philosophy of tolerance, this picture is interesting because you are looking at a church on the left, a house of prostitution on the right (with the red lights and curtained windows), and a pre-school next door to the prostitutes. The three places of interest have lived as neighbors peacefully for many, many years.
I was so relieved when Dimitri said it was time to take the train back to Haarlem. I, like everybody else, was exhausted. On top of that, my ankle had stiffened up A LOT and I knew it was time to get off of it.
Back in Haarlem I rested for about an hour and then ventured out next door to the restaurant to have supper. I took a magazine with me and relaxed as I had chicken and some fries for supper.
All in all, a great tour day! (minus the faceplant)
Back in Haarlem I rested for about an hour and then ventured out next door to the restaurant to have supper. I took a magazine with me and relaxed as I had chicken and some fries for supper.
All in all, a great tour day! (minus the faceplant)