Amsterdam
Trip Start
Jul 05, 2008
1
13
25
Trip End
Aug 17, 2008
Amsterdam,
Netherlands
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Wednesday 30/7/08 - Thursday 31/7/08
Tour: "30/7: Past Antwerp and into the Netherlands. In Amsterdam visit a major DIAMOND CENTRE to appreciate how a rough mineral is transformed into a sparkling jewel. Next, enjoy a CANAL CRUISE, the best way to see the 700-year-old capital. Afternoon at leisure or join an optional excursion to Volendam.
31/7: A passing glance at the Dutch region best known as the locale of A Bridge Too Far."
Holland is known for many things - flowers, windmills, clogs, Amsterdam... we only had a quick taste of these but all were so interesting.
First of all, our bus driver Pino got pulled over by an angry policewoman for running a red light. He and our tour guide managed to talk their way out of it, but it added a little drama to the bus trip! Amusing, really - a red light ticket in Amsterdam could me interpreted a number of ways.
Firstly we visited 'Henri Willig's' cheese farm - I hadn't heard of it either but the did give us some delicious samples. None of the produce would be allowed back into Australia, so I had to restrain myself.
Next we took a trip to the pretty but touristy seaside town of Volendam. I tried the local specialities, smoked eel and Heineken (not together). You can buy Heineken here out of the soft drink fridge, no ID required!
We saw a working windmill, used to pump water for Holland is close to sea-level. I climbed to the very top and added my autograph to the wooden cog that turns the top of the structure. The blades (?) of the windmill can travel at 80mph, so they always have two doors in case one is blocked by the moving blades.
We also saw a demonstration by a real wooden clog maker - it's incredible the way they are made. And traditionally in Holland, a gentleman asks his chosen lady to marry him by buying a pair of plain clogs and spending weeks intricately carving them. One night he will leave it on her family's doorstep, and if the next day she is wearing them then that indicates her acceptance to his proposal! You'd want to have great carving skills if that's the case.
We took a canal cruise along Amsterdam's canal system. It was very hot in the sun but well worth it as we cruised past many amazing sights, including the largest number of bicycles I have ever seen in one place - four floors of them placed on bike racks! Amsterdamers love to cycle. Also once along the cruise I saw a man with a glass bowl of ufoliage, openly smoking it... it's legal but so unusual and even a bit confronting for me.
Not as confronting though as our walk through the district that had what our tour guide called 'social workers' - otherwise known as the red light area. I honestly thought in one window was a mannequin, so when she moved I nearly jumped out of my skin! There were a lot of people about for mid afternoon, and people outside some of the larger venues encouraging people to come in. It was quite safe, but still very disconcerting, even for someone who comes from Canberra!
We also went to a diamond centre, where they cut, polish and grade diamonds from around the world. A really interesting demonstration, and actually holding some of the jewellery worth many many thousands of Euros was a buzz!
First black mark next to my name, I'm afraid, because I'm not quite the sheep our tour guide was hoping he'd get! We walked past the Anne Frank haus, and myself and two New Zealanders were really keen to go inside - I mean, how often do you go to Amsterdam? So despite the guide's dire warnings of long queues and early closing times, we took the chance and said we'd catch a taxi back to the hotel (which, disappointingly common on this tour, is a distance away from the downtown area). Which is exactly what we did! And as it turns out we had plenty of time in Anne Frank's house due to extended Summer opening hours. And finding a taxi was a fun experience, and the driver was lovely. Walking through the rooms was sobering, because you realise just how difficult it would have been to house 8 people silently for two years in the middle of Amsterdam. And then the dreadful fates of all the occupants once discovered by the Nazis is just horrifying.
I'm glad I visited Holland and Amsterdam, but on the whole I've got a lot more places I want to visit before considering returning.
More soon...
