Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day -2, June 26-27
Marc's Journal
It is so strange traveling east and losing a day. Diane and I woke at 3 AM Monday (Pacific time) for an early drive to Phoenix for our flight to Houston, then Amsterdam. We blinked and we were flopping in bed on Tuesday night. My sleep app said I had 5 hours of deep sleep... a record.
I am looking forward to a tour of the old Dutch windmills on day 4, but flying into Amsterdam, we saw the new breed of wind harvesting: turbines in the water! (I was wondering why "shredded seagull" was a menu item.)
Other curious differences:
Lift = Elevator
Tick = Click (i.e. click approve to proceed)
Luggage Hall = Baggage claim (not where suitcases wine and dine.)
Toilet or WC (water closet) = Restroom.
My first impressions of Amsterdam are pretty much like every post card or travel blog I have encountered: bikes, canals, old country charm, cafes on every corner, espresso (not "coffee") bikes, canals, museums, flowers, people... oh, and did I say bikes and canals?
This town is not like Leavenworth, Washington, were the European charm is facade-deep. It's real. Every turn, every alley, every building, has a story.
I'm listening.
Diane's Journal
Amsterdam, so happy to be here! It’s fascinating to watch the bike, foot, and car traffic mix together. And I’m learning to look both ways to avoid colliding with a bike. The people here are so friendly and I love listening to the Dutch language.
Today I learned a new way to make (hot) mint tea. It went perfectly with an incredible apple pie (æbletært) at Winkel 43.
This is the first time I’ve stayed in a hotel and found a scale in the drawer. (For the record, I lost a pound.)
T-boned by a canal cruiser?
We were walking home from dinner along the Westertoegang canal (Wester, the leader of the evil Toe Gang) and saw a huge canal boat that had reached an intersection. It was too long to make the 90-degree turn. Diane and I were mesmerized at the sight: how would they make the turn without colliding with the wall? After watching, we realized that it had engines on both the front and the back and could squeak around an improbable corner, like Musk's Tesla cheats with parallel parking.
IMG_8410.jpgThe view from our room
Park Plaza Victoria, in Amsterdam, is directly across from the Amsterdam Central Station.
Collapsed after a day of traveling in an arm chair with a pair of binoculars, we're evaluating our wardrobe choices. My bright orange raincoat will definitely stand out. It makes me look like a buoy boy for the Lover's Canal Cruise line (canal boat in front).