Tour Day 2
Trip Start
Aug 28, 2008
1
5
40
Trip End
Sep 24, 2008
Amsterdam,
Noord-Holland,
Netherlands
Monday, September 1, 2008
Anne Frank House
walking tour of Amsterdam
Visit to the Rijksmuseum
Canal Tour of Amsterdam
Walk through the Red Light District
After an early breakfast in the hotel we boarded the train to Amsterdam. One nice thing was that our tour guide took the time to explain how the train system works - how to find the right train, when it leaves, which platform it leaves from. How to make sure you know when you're stop is coming up. On the way back, she had one of the trou meembers find our retrun train.
The Anne Frank house was very well done. Almost all of the exhibit had Dutch and English writing and the videos were subtitled. Everyone knows the story. It was very factual and not too heavy-handed. It's certainly a very poignant tale - I got a little verklempt - and it makes you think about how rough some folks have it and how really nasty mankind can be. Sort of a depresssing way to start the day, but I wouldn't have missed it. It's a significant part of the history of this region.
After that we did about an hour walking tour of the area. This is the stuff that I really enjoy. Hearing and seeing details about how the area was developed. Neat facts about the houses being built on stilts, but some of them are\have rotted and seeing how some of them have started to lean. Understanding that part of the reason why the houses are so skinny is because the taxes were determined based on how wide the nose was - I guess they are really deep. The tour guide talked about the area having been occupioed during the Spanish INquisistion and how the locals fought for independance, Of course, the German occupation during WWII, the Dutch penchant for declaring neutrality at the drop of a hat and of course, their tolerant nature.
We walked througha shopping district and through a catholic church that was built when the practice of Catholocism was outlawed, but tolerated.
Break for Lunch (bas sandwich, no beer) and a quick visit to the Flower Market. I did manage to find some yummy chocolate. ..... milk chocolate and peanuts.... I wonder how that would go with a Heineken.
After lunch we walk to the Rijksmuseum. I guess the Dutch folk are big on Realism. Their paintings and portraits actually look like the people and things they are painting. Rembrandt is Dutch, Van Gogh, also Dutch but not so much painting like it's a photograph. The HUGE museum is under renovation so wth pulled the best works in to a few rooms for viewing [BONUS]. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate this stuff - the talent and creativity that it takes to paint these works is unfathomable to me. It's just that when you read the accompanying words about the paintings, they say things like "˙ou could spend hours delighting in the subtle contrast of light and shade [blah, blah blah]. " I'm just not that guy. I know chick's dig the pony the pony-tailed dude that can discuss how one artists style evolved throughout their career. But somewhere between the meat and potatoes, lies a heart made of nacho cheese and Denver Broncos and I just don't have what it takes to be more than a cursory admirer of art. Oh well, at least now I have that realization in my bag of self awareness.
Next the canal ride - peaceful but a littel boring - same basic local lore as we got from our tour guide on the walking tour. The Heineken Brewery is right across the street from the Canal Tour - YAY!!!. It's closed for renovation [devastating]. I slept a little on the boat.
Last stop was a brisk walk through the Red Light District after a somewhat urgent plea from our travel guide to "Please let's not look like a Tour Group". I got a kick out of that as 28 of us trudge, single file, down the street in our backpacks. It was pretty much as you expect. At 6:00 pm there weren't too many ladies in their windows. Most looking quite bored. I was a little surprised how close they were and how narrow the alleys were where they plyed their wares.
DOH! I almost ended this post withour an update from the European Beer Tour. We went to the Brinkman Cafe at the Hertog Inn. They brew their own beer there. I had a pilsner. Best beer yet! Very smooth and tasty.
Next stop on the BeerTour? Bus to Germany today.
