I know what you’re thinking, “Wow, she has been navigating this foreign city so adeptly!” It’s true I have been to many sights and attractions so far, but they’ve really all been in the same general area. This day I was heading to a totally different part of the city to see the Hortus Botanicus Botanical Gardens. I had been relying heavily on the GPS on my iPhone. It worked out pretty well, most of the time…
It was a late start due to rain. I headed out towards the Dam Square area. I needed to turn onto a side street to make my way to the gardens.
Dam Square
I thought I was in good shape until I ended up right back where I started, a complete loop. Let’s try this again, back to Dam Square.
Are you guys lost too?
Now where is that street? Oh, of course HERE it is.
What passes for an actual street in Amsterdam
I did get to check out these interesting plaques on one of the buildings on my loop. I’m guessing that they indicated what businesses or people were located there.
As I approached the Hortus Botanicus, I knew I was in for something good.
Sort of Bonsai Olive Trees
Leading into the entrance
Entrance
For the most part touring around by myself has been fun, but this was the first time I really, really, wished that I was with someone that I could elbow and say “would you look at that!”
Here is a small sample of the obnoxious number of photos I took:
Boxwood Maze
I think this was the tree from Poltergeist
Giant Gunnera plant
Victoria Lily
These can get even bigger. You can read more about these lilies and see a baby floating on one by clicking Here.
Herbs in raised beds
Bee keep
You have to be careful around bees
There was a butterfly house too
With these plants and 300 years you too can replicate this garden!
My next stop was the Joodmuseum, a Historical Museum dedicated to Jewish history culture and religion, in Amsterdam and worldwide.
Joodsmuseum
Next, onto to Rembrandt House. I find it hard to believe that out of all the paintings and etchings of Rembrandt, that he would want this to grace his museum:
This etching looks like Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein
Facade
This was awesome. The house is set up just as it was when he lived there. Rembrandt bought the house in 1639, when he was at the height of his fame. In 1656 he went bankrupt. Everything of value was sold at auction. A notary drew up a list of his possessions so they knew exactly how the house was furnished in Rembrandt’s time and recreated it.
Studio
Bedroom (They must keep it cold in there, teehee)
Artwork
Courtyard
Bust of Rembrandt
I had seen all the museums I planned to but It was too nice out to go back to the room. I decided to have a cappucinno at a cafe near the hotel and people watch for a few.
How did you escape my endangered children on bicycles expose?
I took a picture of this guy next to me because I was fascinated by the book title. Here’s what he was reading: http://www.brill.nl/homers-winged-words
I thought he was reading about Homer Simpson!
After my respite, I stopped into a funky shop right across from the hotel.
But first, a warning:
I will NOT touch the Lego
Ok, now I really want to touch that Lego
18% of household accidents occur in the kitchen.
Interesting place
I walked directly through the shop and stepped onto the street around the block. Right infront of me was the Amsterdam Museum. This museum was on my “I Amsterdam Card” but I had dismissed it. The description just seemed kind of boring. Also, when something is just aound the corner you don’t expect it to be awesome, but it was.
Museum Entrance
The displays were so interesting and well done. It was more than just paintings and plaques; it was very interactive and led you through the political and social changes over the past centuries.
Vignette of upper class 18th Century life with ghostly tourist
Display of the history of the "Smart Shop", which sells psychodelics, not pot. I learned so much!
Horrifying propaganda puppets
Courtyard
Replica of the sign on Museumplein
I guess Amsterdam has always been a party town
Jeff and I met up and set out for dinner. We decided to go back to Dante were we had pizza the other night. We tried a local specialty to start.
Bitter Balls
Yes, they are called bitters balls. No, I don’t know what’s in them. They were delicious but I was so hungry I’m not sure if I would take that to the bank.
After dinner we took a walk and both decided we wanted something sweet. We stopped into another Italian place just around the corner, “Caprese”. We ordered canoli and espresso.
Cannoli
The food going by looked so good that we could have eaten dinner again, but the cannoli did hit the spot.
We decided to have a nightcap at our new Favorite Pub “De Konigshut”. We had a different bartender who was really cool. I was asking about some clay bottles on the shelf and he explained that they were Dutch whiskies and proceeded to pour us samples of several of them. They weren’t very good, but they were free!
We met an interesting fellow there too.
Interesting fellow
He had some very politically incorrect views about well, everything.
I don't think everyone agreed with his views
We Talked a little beer, scotch and politics. Good times all around.