From Amsterdam to Iceland, June-July 2017

AMSTERDAM
Tuesday, 21 June, 2017
The Amsterdam Museum is a must  so we go there.  I follow obediently  the historical  path from settlement  to modern Holland while Naomi and Rachel  discover a fashion exhibition. 'Wonderful' both say. The highlight  of today  though is the Begjinhof,  a housing project set up in 1346 . The stylish houses, perfectly maintained are set in a perfectly cared for, serene, garden.  We walk along the winding path, admire , take photos. The old plaques which have been saved from demolished houses indicating ownership are  worth a close look.

Beguinage

 and a first lodger

 the oldest house

 visitors

 old plaques

 We discover a stationery shop selling old and new writing tools. We are in Holland after all

Wednesday, 22 June, 2017

Anne Frank  house for Naomi and Rachel and walk along the canal for me. Lunch at 'prince'is special, not because of the sandwiches but because it is in an old  wooden house with prints to match.  Rembrandt might come in for a pint. Naomi and Rachel decide to climb the Westerkerk, to admire the view. I admire their determination and sit on a bench outside the church. I have a magnificent view too.












Dutch cats

,We find out how Dutch people care for stray cats; They  house them in a boat. People are encouraged to adopt a cat and pay a donation

Tuesday, 23 June, 2017

Our last day here but we make  good use of it. Naomi and Rachel go paddling down the canal - a delightful  experience they tell me-  while I visit the Dam, a central place, mentioned as a 'must see' in guide books. It might look better without the crowds. Also, the Royal Palace is closed. Dinner here  is special though, with  dishes changing daily and not written in a menu.
It starts raining, hard. We are off the next day.

Oh, Amsterdam

We  take a night  cruise and admire those magnificent building all lit up and those seven bridges all in line behind each other. Pity my camera doesn't  work in the dark


ROTTERDAM


Thursday, 23 June, 2017

To Rotterdam by train
We  have one day here and decide to visit The Windmills - since we are in Holland.
The weather is  still fine, we take  the boat that will take us to the  Windmill  Village. Pity we cannot spend more time here, we have time for only one windmill visit. We climb the  winding stairs, study the  furniture and try to see ourselves living this life. I would like to visit more windmills, walk along the canal...we get to the boat just before it leaves.

Life in a  windmill

From Amsterdam to Iceland, June-July 2017

Saturday, 18 June, 2017
Out trip doesn't start well; there is a delay of  4 hours for our flight with Southern China. Due to bad weather. So we walk in the airport and wait. SC did not offer even any refreshments , so we start our holiday by being (at least me) resentful.
My feelings towards CS do not improve during the flight; the doll like, lookalike stewardesses have very limited English, are not very friendly (maybe there is a language problem) the food is the worst possible and the entertainment   disappointing; there is a choice of movies but the sound is  poor and the subtitles Chinese (simplified)

Sunday, 19 June, 2017.

Amsterdam, Movenpick City Hotel.
The hotel is very elegant but definitely not central, despite a sign which says '6 minutes of walk'. We have no choice and start our holiday with a walk  to the Central Railway  Station  and from there along the canal. It is a long walk but the sun shines, people (lots of them) smile, there are flowers all around.  We end up in  an Asian district where   we sample some  food an meet a local cat (of course).

Monday, June 20, 2017
Time to start our tour in earnest.  At the tourist bureau we buy tickets for everything Amsterdam has to offer; boat rides along canals,  tickets to museums, food and water.  We sail along old and beautiful houses, listen to their story and arrive at the Rijn museum.  I have seen the pictures before and I can look for   my favourites and discover new ones to like.  We split; Naomi is taking Rachel on her  journey of discovery and Rachel, independent person, selects to admire the less famous.

Nice ship

The famous 'Watch'

This is a hammock, for the sailors to sleep 

I still like  Rembrandts's The Jewish  wife



We cross  to the cafeteria, eat on bizarre  roundabouts and arrive at the Van Gogh museum.
Lots of  paintings re now in Melbourne but they are not missed here. The exhibition is a  feast of shapes and colours, as only Van Gogh could  create

 The famous (among so many) 'Potato eaters'

 and The Irises

A sketch which lets me into his mind

Exhibit 'Rachel'

 It was hard  to get away so we miss the return boat. Just as five  years ago.