We arrived in Amsterdam mid-morning on Thursday, June 16. We had reserved a car to take us to the hotel, which worked nicely. By the time we got to the hotel, it was still before noon. We were beat and tired, but eager to get going. We stashed our bags in the luggage locker in the hotel and hit the streets. We both found the architecture stunning. Other than Buenos Aires, neither of us had ever seen anything like this before. It was eclectic, it was old, it was ornate, it was magnificent.
This was our hotel, the de Port van Cleve. It's old, but modern enough with elevators. The room was small, but that was not an issue; we were only in it to wash and sleep. The bathroom was spotless. Its location couldn't have been better. We were across the street from the New Church and the Palace which placed us within easy walking distance of a lot of the sights. And we did walk a lot.
Next door to our hotel is the old central post office which has been converted to a shopping mall. It's a beautiful building, but it was no longer needed. The postal system is privatized.
Across the street from our hotel is the New Church. The Old Church, consecrated in the 1306, is located down close the harbor, actually at the edge of the red light district. This church was built a century later in the early 1400's, therefore it is dubbed the New Church. It's all relative. It's rather sobering to realize that Amsterdam's New Church was built before any church in the U.S. The building is no longer used as a church; instead it is used for concerts and special events.
This is a side view of the New Church. Notice how they have placed a building right alongside, nestled in the crotch made by the transept and the nave. Don't waste any space.
One of the first lessons one must learn when walking about in Amsterdam, and they had better learn it quickly, is to master the "rules of the road" concerning bicycles. Amsterdam has hundreds of thousands of bicycles. There are more bicycles than there are people. And the bicycles have the right of way.
First, take a look at the bike in the picture below. That toddler is in a seat right up front holding on the handle bars taking in everything that is going on. They begin learning about bicycle riding early on and the locals are very good. We saw a guy riding along, his back vertical and straight as a board, using both hands to peel a banana! And his bike was as steady as a rock. The problem is the tourist. Thinking they can ride like the locals, they rent bikes by the droves and cause all kinds of havoc.
With all of those bicycles, where do you park them? How about on a barge in the canal?
Or in a three-level parking garage solely for bicycles. This one was located near the central train station. People take the train into town, pick up their bike and finish their commute to work.
As you might imagine, abandoned bicycles are a big problem. People use locks and chains to secure their bikes. The city has a special patrol that goes tagging bicycles that appear like they haven't been moved for awhile. If you don't move your bike in a prescribed length of time, they cut your chain and take it to the impound. If you ever want a bike, you simply go to the impound, point at one you like and say it's yours. That's all the proof you need to claim a bicycle. However, as our guide pointed out, it won't be a very nice bicycle.
And what is this elegant looking building? The palace? The parliament? No, it's the main train station!
One of our favorite scenes. Right in the heart of the city, yet it's so idyllic. Beautiful canal, picturesque trees, classic boat, colorful flowers, and if you look closely, a couple sitting on the balcony enjoying it all.
The Rijks Museum was on our walking tour schedule, but we got there too late to go inside. It's just as well, because this is a huge museum containing a phenomenal variety of art. It's the sort of place you need to set aside at least a full day to do it justice.
