Day two and three...maybe four I can't really remember.

All I can say is, "WOW"!!!  I love it in Amsterdam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Like much of Manhattan, there are very quaint shops and restaurants that line the very narrow streets with apartments or homes above...usually 4 or 6 floors above.  The architecture is magnificent! The juxtaposition of one contemporary row-home with soft, round lines adjacent to a row home with an apex roofline and a stately, strong entrance leaves the casual window gazer never without something interesting to see. (The cool photo won't post so I'll have to figure out what's wong and post it later)

Everyone walks or rides bikes; everyone from attorneys in suits to women in dresses, to old people going to church.  You had best WATCH OUT or you'll get plowed over.  There are no fat people in Amsterdam!  The following photo is a three level "parking garage" for bicycles.  I'm not sure how they find their bike the next day.  

It's so easy to maneuver the tram system throughout the city. The Central Station is the main hub.  The difference between the US and Amsterdam is, in the US there would be barriers, blinking safety lights, off duty police officers policing the area, thugs with pants half way down their ass, people with their noses buried in their phones, and lots of trash cans.  In Amsterdam there are none of the above.   Yes, I really can't find a trash can anywhere although there is no trash littering the streets.  Hmmm I'm baffled.  People must have litter-lined pockets, purses, and man-bags. 

Those that know me know that I drink copious amounts of water.  In a restaurant they don't serve water, you have to ask for it....and then they ask if you want regular or sparkling...and then you pay for it.  We ended up gong to a grocery store and buying water.  Back home in Phoenix no one is without  water bottle (or two) in their car, purse, pocket, or hand.

Thursday we went to the Rijks Museum where the Rembrandt's reside.  It was a very large museum and very enjoyable.  After we enjoyed the priceless works we had a nice lunch in their restaurant where I got to sample Dutch Gin.  Oh man they were all yummy with the exception of one which I called for a fire hose, it was, what I imagine, like drinking paint thinner.

Following the Rijks Museum we strolled across the grassy knoll to the Van Gogh Museum.  We DID learn how to say it correctly...I think we should stick to the US version of "van-go".  The correct version indicates that one may need a cough drop or to excuse himself from the table to remove whatever may be caught in his throat.  The Rijks is in the background and the famous IAMSTERDAM sign is in the forefront (I'm in between the S and T in the coral sweater)

The canals are veins that run throughout the city.  There are boats along the canals and some are homes and some are private "cars".  

Today we went on a canal cruise.

 After lunch on the docked Lif, we went back to town and had a drink at the Guinness pub and across the street was the Hard Rock of Amsterdam. 

Thursday was my grandson Vince's fifth birthday. When I called him and asked him how it felt to be five, his reply was, "G R E A T!"  One of his favorite places to eat is Freddy's, and even though this isn't quite the kind of Freddy's he likes, nontheless it is Freddy's.  So Vince, GramCyn took this picture for you!

Amsterdam was originally built on a swamp.  They flotated lumber from Germany to pound into the water/sand to make foundations for buildings of the city and homes, sometimes homes can move (lean) up to a foot a year.  YIKES!!  Most of the city was built in the 16th and 17th century and the engineers must have been nothing short of brilliant to figure out how to deal with the leaning of the buildings.  The photo I want to post doesn't seem to be posting for some reason so I'll figure that out later so you can also see the leaning buildings of Amsterdam.  

We also went to the Anne Frank House (it's the one with the shutters). We actually went through the secret bookcase to transform ourselves into the families that were hiding behind the spice and jelly offices and actually saw the rooms in which they were living.  I don't want to say too much about it, but if you haven't read her diaries in a while, please read them again and thank God  that you are free from extreme hatred that would force a 9 year old little girl into hiding with her family for several years, never to be allowed to go outside and play or run and scream through the safety refuge of your home.  

Tonight after dinner we enjoyed some dancing.  No Katy Perry or Lady Gaga though.  DARN!!  I could've danced all night, but I didn't know half of the songs...I am only 49 you know!  :-)  We leave for Hoorn at 4:45 am and I'm going to tour a tulip farm and windmills.  Yea!!  Here is a photo of our boat which is docked right now.  

I'll post more from Hoorn if the wifi will permit.

Goedenavond, doeg! (Good Evening and goodbye)

Love you all!!

Mom/Cyn