Hot Dam, Amsterdam!

I am pretty sure today is still yesterday.  We are now sitting in Zurich airport waiting for our connecting flight to Amsterdam.  Had a nice afternoon with the grandkids in Cambridge.  Danny  treated us to a delicious grilled salmon dinner before driving us to the airport.  Tried to get the exit row with no luck.  However, I have to say that Swiss Air was pretty comfortable.  Watched a ridiculous movie, Thor, took some drugs and slept straight through until it was time for coffee and croissants.  We have another hour before boarding our flight to Amsterdam.  Zurich airport is a bit more civilized than Logan so we are not complaining.  We have just met a wonderful gay couple from Gramercy Park, NY. and are passing the time exchanging travel stories.  Till later.

Got into Amsterdam right on time.  After walking about a mile to the baggage claim (felt like we were in Miami airport there for a while), we headed to Tourist Information to pick up our GVB metro ticket.  Found the 197 bus that stops at the Musuemplein. Getting off the bus, we tried swiping our cards with no luck.  The bus driver informed us that those cards were no good for that bus.  Great, why didn't the women at the counter tell us that - she knew where we were going.  Well, the driver said, "looks like you just got a free ride from the airport." Welcome to Amsterdam.

We found our B&B with no problem.  Lois (one of our barge mates) was there to greet us.  She was headed out to the Van Gogh museum.  The B&B is wonderful.  We have a huge room in a quiet part of town with easy access to transportation.  Rested up a bit, took a shower, and started out to see what we could see.  Met Jannake (the owner) on our way out.  Not quite sure where to go and not having gotten our bearings yet, we walked across the museumplein to the Rijksmuseum which looked like it was going to close soon.  Decided that since we spent the money on these bus passes maybe we should use them.  So we hopped on a bus going towards Anne Frank's house.  Got off in about 2 stops and walked the rest of the way by the canals.  Everyone warned us of long lines, but we got there around 5:30 and walked right in.  I was totally shocked to see how they changed the whole place.  When I was there, dare I say, 40 years ago, you went into the actual house.  Now it is something of a hybrid modern exhibit with some of the original building still there.  Still in all, I am glad we went.  It is something to experience.

It was chilly and hungry when we emerged from the museum.  So we walked around looking for food.  Wound up at De Admirals, which is a charming 400 year old building that was originally a stable turned stillery turned restaurant.  Had a Dutch pupu platter filled with herring, cheeses, nuts, liverwerst, bratwerst and a bowl of french onion soup.  I had my first truly tasty, original Amstel beer.  Sated, we took off down towards Dam Square, again using our trusty tram pass.  Hunted in vein for the Red Light district.  It appears that Dam Sq. is now a big shopping plaza and it was too dark to hunt through the maze of people to find our way.  Eventually it got too cold and tired - we were still working on Massachusetts time.  Hopped on the tram and got back to B&B Alexander by around 9:30.

It has been a very long day - G is already snoring.

Next time.... The Museums