The day finally arrived, I was on my way to The Netherlands, and my first stop would be Amsterdam. This was only my third trip to the Netherlands the country where I was born 62 years ago (yikes thats a long time ago). My last visit was when I was 25 the year father died and the year my oldest daughter Andrea was born.
Once I arrived (9 hours later), my first job was to find out where the shuttle bus to the city hotels was and then to find the right hotel. Well I did it find the hotel and my friend Gwen who was meeting me there. The first thig I noticed about this very old city was that there were bikes everywhere...and I mean everywhere ..... they totally populate the streets. They even have special lanes for them and heaven help you if you get in their way. They own the road!
Amsterdam is a melting pot, a cultural kaleidoscope, the capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is one of Europe's is one of Europe's most exciting and multi-faceted destinations. And as I was about to find out the where is so much to see and do in Amsterdam. including dozens of museums. The downtown area has no less than 7,000 registered buildings on it's 90 islands linked by over 1,200 bridges spanning the lovely canals of either side of the River Amstel. So much history and so little time to explore.
That first evening we did wander a short way (walking) from the hotel to buy my 'Museum Pass' at the Van Gough Museum. This pass would let me into 100's of museums in the country for an entire year, as well in many cases it would help one avoid the long line up for tickets. On our way back we stopped at a small Indonesian restaurant to have dinner. Oh yum ... one of my favourite foods. It was wonderful. After that it was time for bed, it had been a long first day.
Once I arrived (9 hours later), my first job was to find out where the shuttle bus to the city hotels was and then to find the right hotel. Well I did it find the hotel and my friend Gwen who was meeting me there. The first thig I noticed about this very old city was that there were bikes everywhere...and I mean everywhere ..... they totally populate the streets. They even have special lanes for them and heaven help you if you get in their way. They own the road!
Amsterdam is a melting pot, a cultural kaleidoscope, the capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is one of Europe's is one of Europe's most exciting and multi-faceted destinations. And as I was about to find out the where is so much to see and do in Amsterdam. including dozens of museums. The downtown area has no less than 7,000 registered buildings on it's 90 islands linked by over 1,200 bridges spanning the lovely canals of either side of the River Amstel. So much history and so little time to explore.
That first evening we did wander a short way (walking) from the hotel to buy my 'Museum Pass' at the Van Gough Museum. This pass would let me into 100's of museums in the country for an entire year, as well in many cases it would help one avoid the long line up for tickets. On our way back we stopped at a small Indonesian restaurant to have dinner. Oh yum ... one of my favourite foods. It was wonderful. After that it was time for bed, it had been a long first day.
No comments:
Post a Comment