We woke to a yet another cloudy day. I am beginning to wonder if the sun ever shines in Amsterdam. The plan for the day was to go to the Rijksmuseum by trolley, then have lunch before boarding the ship. Our suitcases had to be outside of our rooms to be taken to the ship before we left.
We met in the lobby after breakfast and I realized that this was my last chance to get the pictures of some of the statues in the park across from our hotel. The art work is placed there for two years allowing young artists to become known for their work. I asked the group to give me ten minutes and literally ran across the street and around the four block end of this very large park. I took a few pictures and was back with the group in less than ten minutes. We headed out to the trolley stop.
We met in the lobby after breakfast and I realized that this was my last chance to get the pictures of some of the statues in the park across from our hotel. The art work is placed there for two years allowing young artists to become known for their work. I asked the group to give me ten minutes and literally ran across the street and around the four block end of this very large park. I took a few pictures and was back with the group in less than ten minutes. We headed out to the trolley stop.
Just before we reached the stop, we passed a woman cooking in front of a restaurant. It was the smell of baking cinnamon that caught my attention. She had a large cast iron hot plate with about 90 small half-moon shapes in which she was pouring batter. Then she began flipping them over, some successfully and some not so much. An older man was standing next to her chatting. I asked what she was cooking and she said they were Poffertjes, a Dutch treat, and asked if we wanted to try some. Linda C., Victoria, and Evie went to sit at the trolley stop. I began to feel very guilty that I had caused us to miss the trolley due to talking with the young woman. By now Mom and Linda K. had joined the others. I gave up waiting for Poffertjes to finish cooking and ran to the trolley stop. We did have to wait about 4 minutes for the next trolley. After about a minute the man that was speaking with the cook came over with a large plate of the Poffertjes dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar and a few forks. After digging out the 5 euros, we all pop them in our mouths. I can’t believe something so small could taste so good.
We did manage to catch the next trolley and spent the rest of the morning at the Rijksmuseum.
Agreeing to meet back by 1:00, most of us set out to the Rembrandt exhibit hall. There we stood for a long while at The Night Watch painting by Rembrandt, observing the painting being electronically scanned in anticipation of being restored and discussing parts of the painting that were pointed out on a large information sheet. Click here to find out more about this process.
Mom and I then headed out to find other exhibits in the museum that interested us. The end of our visit we all visited the gift shop and then set out to find lunch. There was a wonderful spot just across the street. Even though it was a little cold, we sat outside. The only problem with that was catching whiffs of cigarettes from the table next to us. At least this was better than the lingering smell of pot from our walk yesterday. With lunch finished, it was off to find our ship, the Monarch Countess from Gate 1 Travel.
We took the trolley to Centraal Station. Centraal Station is the largest hub of transportation for Amsterdam and the second largest hub in all of the Netherlands. This is where cars, buses, trains, subways, trolleys, boats and bicycles all come together. The structure is huge and houses not only transportation but also a large shopping center. We found our way through to the water’s edge where the ferries were just arriving and throngs of people on foot and on bicycles and mopeds were hurriedly disembarking. We had to be very careful not get knocked over by the bicyclists. As we walked to the ship we saw several large dock type areas that had bicycle parking. I have never seen so many bicycles in one spot. It was double deck parking. Our ship was at the very far end of the waterfront area.
We boarded the ship and settled into our room which is small but adequate. Mom and I then took a tour around the ship and met up with Linda K. and Evie in the aft lounge where there was a beautiful view of the harbor. At 5:45, everyone on board began to assemble in the main lounge for a “Welcome and Safety Briefing with your Captain, Hotel Manager and Cruise Director…” This lead into the nightly “Port Talk” about what is happening the next day. Flutes of champagne were distributed and trays of appetizers were served. Everyone then descended to the Dining Room.
We boarded the ship and settled into our room which is small but adequate. Mom and I then took a tour around the ship and met up with Linda K. and Evie in the aft lounge where there was a beautiful view of the harbor. At 5:45, everyone on board began to assemble in the main lounge for a “Welcome and Safety Briefing with your Captain, Hotel Manager and Cruise Director…” This lead into the nightly “Port Talk” about what is happening the next day. Flutes of champagne were distributed and trays of appetizers were served. Everyone then descended to the Dining Room.
During dinner we discussed visiting the “Red Light District.” Everyone had already been there except for Linda C. and me so they elected not to go. Linda C. and I set off on our own to explore. Linda’s son told her about one place in the district where the alley is so narrow that you could touch a church with one hand and a brothel with the other.
Finding the district proved to be more challenging than I thought. I looked at the map before we left and had a pretty good idea where to go but once on the street I was a little confused. Linda was able to pull up GPS walking directions on her phone. By the time we figured out how to follow it, we had crossed some of the same streets about 4 times. We did finally find the area. You could tell by the red lights blocking cars from entering the streets. The area was mostly little restaurants and cafes. I did see one “Café” that someone walked into and had to pay before being allowed to enter a locked door. We located the church her son had mentioned and walked around it to find the alley. There were about 5 brothels with scantily clad ladies in the window and most of them were very chubby. I pulled out my camera and just snapped a picture without looking at the view finder and got a picture of nothing. One of the women dancing in a window apparently saw me try this maneuver, opened her window/door and started yelling something at me. I don’t know what she said but did know it was me when she called out something about “lady in white.” I didn’t get the picture but it wasn’t for lack of trying.
We found out way back the ship and to our cabins. Tomorrow we set sail for Cologne.
Finding the district proved to be more challenging than I thought. I looked at the map before we left and had a pretty good idea where to go but once on the street I was a little confused. Linda was able to pull up GPS walking directions on her phone. By the time we figured out how to follow it, we had crossed some of the same streets about 4 times. We did finally find the area. You could tell by the red lights blocking cars from entering the streets. The area was mostly little restaurants and cafes. I did see one “Café” that someone walked into and had to pay before being allowed to enter a locked door. We located the church her son had mentioned and walked around it to find the alley. There were about 5 brothels with scantily clad ladies in the window and most of them were very chubby. I pulled out my camera and just snapped a picture without looking at the view finder and got a picture of nothing. One of the women dancing in a window apparently saw me try this maneuver, opened her window/door and started yelling something at me. I don’t know what she said but did know it was me when she called out something about “lady in white.” I didn’t get the picture but it wasn’t for lack of trying.
We found out way back the ship and to our cabins. Tomorrow we set sail for Cologne.
