October 7, 2022

Today we got started at 9:30 am. Our guide Diana met us at our hotel for a walking tour of Amsterdam. She told us about how Amsterdam was formed by closing off a large body of water with a dam that became a 33 km road connecting either side of the land. Gradually, “polder” areas were filled in (areas that used to be wetlands becoming dry land). 40% of the country is polder lands which are 4 meters below sea level but protected by the dams. The Amstel river and the dams that were built gave the city its name - Amsterdam. Canals fill the city’s landscape in a horseshoe shape. Some canals were lined with upper class (wider homes) and others were for middle class and lower class families. The widths of the houses indicate which. 

The centraal station (back)

A Victorian neighborhood

A very small house

Posing in front of one of Amsterdam’s city gates from the Middle Ages and where we’ll have lunch later

The XXX crest represents Amsterdam and stands for the three tragedies that the city has overcome - flood, plague, and fire. That place was a cemetery before it started to be used by sex workers before the red light district was formed. The house to the right is the smallest house in the city.

Having a drink at the Pulitzer.

Looking over the Amstel River. This was a Jewish area before the war. A whole community of Jews were exterminated.

Meg posing in an Art Deco theater

One of two wooden structure surviving in Amsterdam. This had resident monkeys.

The only stone home and was built for very wealthy Trep brothers. Rembrandt painted them.

Posing on one of 1200+ bridges in Amsterdam.

A little car. You don’t need a license to drive.

A house with a skeleton over the door. 

After 3 hours, we ducked into a posh hotel (Pulitzer) and had a drink and a bathroom break before heading to find lunch at a “pancake” house we’d seen earlier that was kind of close to our hotel. Pancakes are either sweet or savory here. I got a panini caprese, Lisa got a hummus plate, Meg got a burger, Debbie got a ham and cheese panini, and David and Tom got pancakes (like crepe). after a quick stop in at the hotel, we met our red light district tour guide, Craig, and we had a lively and fun tour of this iconic area. 

Eating at the Pancake house

The Bulldog Coffee house

Pancakes and beer

Our guide Craig

Back at our Airbnb having cheese and crackers and wine

David and Tom watching the telly 






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