Amsterdam

My first solo international trip. Traveling to a strange place with no company was almost a rush of adrenaline with undercurrents of discomfort. This trip was a serious attempt to get out of my comfort zone, to test waters unaccompanied, to prove to myself that I am as independent as I want to be and that I can do anything I want; if I put my mind to it.

3rd Dec 2011

Nordermarkt

Houses lining the Canals

I reached amsterdam in the morning at about 8 am. I walk up to the shuttle service Schipol Hotel Shuttle to be dropped off to the B&B I was to stay at in the Jordaan district. The shuttle service usually drops people off only to the major hotels in the city I feigned ignorance and the driver was nice enough to drop me off to my destination... all I had to do was smile at him :) My hosts at the "All inn the family" B&B were a Jewish Couple named Marion &Anne Frankenhuis. They welcomed me with smiles. At first glance they came across as a couple who loved having people over to stay and share their experiences. I knew I had made a good decision picking this place :)

After talking to my hosts for a bit and a rest break in my quaint room up in the attic I set out for my first day in Amsterdam! I set out following directions in my big map for the nordermarkt- a local market selling things from olives to shampoo to rugs and clothes. Reminded me of the open markets back home. I had lunch at a brown cafe; exotic sounding names do not often taste as good is what I found. Nevertheless it was wonderful experience, I specially enjoyed the freshly squeezed Orange juice. After a brief period of wandering I head towards the Rijksmuseum. I was hopelessly lost that first afternoon ...the canals are oriented in circles around each other which made it hard for me to pick which way to go. Luckily the people there did speak some English! Try walking around with a map with crazy cyclists rushing by you! I made it to this museum which had a wonderful display of art n history. I have read and heard descriptions of paintings by superior artists and never did understand what the fuss was all about till I saw a painting for real!! A painting by Rembrandt was on display life size figures looked almost ready to pop out of the frame . I wouldn't have guessed someone actually painted it with a brush and paint!

Dutch Window.

I walked down towards home and then saw that the line outside anne Frank house was fairly short so thats where I went. This house is the very reason I even picked Amsterdam at all. Time after time we find that we humans are so cruel to each other. The house was unfurnished and the family's residene while in hiding were preserved well to the windows plastered with black paper to make it look unoccupied. After a nasty dinner of gyros I turned in early; my legs were about ready to fall off by then.

House Boats

4th Dec 2011
After a super heavy breakfast of cold cuts, cheese, freshly baked bread, fruits etc.. I set out again! I had straight to the centraal station. I get my self the Iamsterdam card and then take a river cruise through the canals. I then take the tram to the van Gogh museum yet again Im floored by the art on display.. then enjoyed a leisurely stroll by the the amsterdam sign..didn't feel cheerful enough to click a picture in front of the sign. I take the tram back to the station have some pea soup n a dutch hotdog for lunch. n headed out to the jewish museum..unfortunately the museum was closing before I had my fill. Tram again down to the downtown area I wandered a bit had dinner a stick to your bones kind of meal of meat potatoes and red cabbage and then headed back to my pad.

My view from the canal

Christmas Decorations

5th Dec 2011
Big breakfast again :) I tram it to the rembrandt house. I could very well see y that man went broke. The lavish house was one of a kind in his time. I then walk down to the old part of town through the red light area which seemed to be semi active even at 11:00 am with the women in the display  cases. i was headed to the oldest church which was located in the center of the red light area which was so ironic. The church did have some beautiful stained glass windows. once done here I head down to the downtown area spent a couple of hours people watching with  snack of potato fries which the serve with mayonnaise (Yuck!).

On the way to Rembrandt House

I took a side tour after with a tour operator to Volendam, Marken and the Windmills. The Dutch are known for their ingenius methods of reclaiming land using windmills. Just outside Amsterdam the landscape changes quickly. Our first stop was the windmills and the cheese factory. It was weird being alone on a tour bus full of people chattering in different languages. There after we headed to the clog factory. Traditionally a dutch man bought his woman a pair of clogs while he proposed to her :) After this breif stop we headed out to Volendam a fishing village that fished eels. I did eat an eel sandwich here but I cant really say I enjoyed it. After this I headed back home and within minutes I was out like a light. Next morning 6:30 am the cab was there , that ended my trip to Amsterdam.  

Old School Wind mills

Farewell to the Netherland