Saturday, May 20, 2017

Farewell Holland America Ship....Hello Amsterdam!



 Looks like we have arrived in Amsterdam!  "If the shoe fits..."....oh wait....this shoe is way too big!

We are off the ship by 9:00 a.m. and searching for our B&B, which just happens to be a Dutch barge moored in the harbor.  How far could it be from the cruise ship terminal?  As it turns out, we walk about an hour, but after making a huge circle, we find it!  Yes, there it is, almost right where we started out.  Ummm, hum.  Nothing like independent travel to sober you up a little.

 

 

We have arranged to drop off our bags early, and then the plan is a canal boat tour of the city.

 

The tour actually takes us past the front of the barge Holland, our home for the next three days.

 

Believe me, it looks bigger than it is.  Maybe that's because there are 11 rooms with built in bunks making room for 22 guests.  The main salon is big enough for everyone.  The rooms are pretty darn small.  As in tiny.  Teeney tiny.  However, the idea is: tour all day, bunk room for sleeping only and then back to touring!

 

First some breakfast in the main salon and gathering room.  Cook your own eggs and toast, but the pancakes are delivered.  Suggested topping is maple syrup and powdered sugar, then roll it up.

 


 

 

Another first ....marshmallow chocolate spread for toast or pancakes.  Ummm, NO.  

 

Tour we do!  By foot and tram we are off for museums, restaurants, windmills and chocolate.

The Rijks National Museum is full of paintings by Dutch masters and a few by other famous European painters, like Van Gough and Rembrandt.  

 

The notes said Van Gough painted himself to save money on a model.  There's an idea.  

In the morning we walk past historic Dutch barges moored in a row in the harbor.  By noon we are standing in front of paintings from the 1800's of...Dutch barges.

 

 

 

Then on to "The Night Watch" by Rembrandt.  The study guides available are fabulous, as art history class was, oh, 50 years ago!  We find Rembrandt has painted himself into his work of art, as a member of the crowd.

 

The swan turns out to be one of my favorites.  The study guide clues us in to the fact that there's a lot more to it than just a big white bird in flight.

 

 

Museum touring takes a lot out of us.  Stopping in the awesome garden for a fancy coffee and cookie is an easy decision.  But why didn't we go for the champagne option?


 

 


Leave it to Amsterdam to have "interactive" fountain features!  Water suddenly rises up from the ground and forms walls around the center of the fountain area.  Do you dare run inside and risk getting drenched?  Of course he does.  We both do!

 

 

 

The mall in back of the museum is an open air market place.  Good thing we have no room in our carry on bags.

 

Enough for today....there is always tomorrow!



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