IT'S A SMALL WORLD

Yesterday began rather quietly. It was supposed to rain so I had decided it was a good day to stay in and get caught up on some things.  I waited and waited and still no rain. Around 3:00 or so I asked Sharon if she wanted to do the trip advisor city walking tour of our neighborhood. She agreed and off we went. It started down the street from us at the Westerkerk,.  Of course we had walked by it many times but didn't know what it was called or any of its history.  I should explain that we are living in the Jordaan neighborhood which was the permanent residency of the Dutch Master Rembrandt van Rijn who was buried in a paupers' grave here in 1669.  ( I too could follow in his footsteps.  Not the master painter, more like the pauper.). Westerkerk was originally built for the wealthy merchant-class inhabitants of the western canal ring.  After viewing that, it's not open on Saturdays , we walked up the street, past the Anne Frank home. As we had just past the long line of museum goers I heard my name being called. I turned around and there was a friend from my book club group in Davidson.  She and a friend were passing through Amsterdam on their way to a cruise of the Scandinavian countries.  They were waiting to get into the museum but we told them when they were finished to walk up the street and have a drink with us if they had the time.  Our buzzer doesn't work so we told them to just give us a shout, we'd leave the window open. Before too long I heard my name being shouted for the second time that day . (I'm just sooooooooooo popular. By the way my keyboard is fixed.) Donna and Pam came up and we enjoyed a glass of wine and decided to join them on their visit to "The Eye", the Film Institute.  The Institute is the home of the Filmmuseum which was founded in 1952.  It's predecessor was founded in 1946.  In 2012 it was moved to its current location on the bank of Amsterdam's waterfront. A very interesting piece of architecture. 

We took the free ferry over and unfortunately the museum had closed so we just looked around. Sharon and I will go back to see the museum and attend a movie as well.  There is a restaurant and bar with a beautiful view of the water. Lots of people apparently like the view as well!

We left the institute and passed by these rather unusual pieces on our way back to the ferry.

A table for two please. Could you just give me a little boost!  

Just interesting and fun!  

We decided to go back with Donna and Pam and have a look at their hotel and maybe have a glass of wine. They told us the hotel was really fabulous and had one very unusual benefit. The contents of the minibar were free.  I'll repeat that for you travelers, the contents of the minibar were free.  

The hotel is located in the proximity of Central Station and is the only 5 star hotel in Amsterdam.  It is a magnificent building .  The Scheepvaarthuis,(no, that is not misspelled, there may be a lot of misspelled words in this blog and others but this word is absolutely 100% correct) which is Dutch for "House of Shipping" is the most beautiful building from the Amsterdam School period. It has beautiful views of the canal.  We had a look at their room.  Beautiful, with 12 foot ceilings, original woodwork, truly splendid.  We went to the bar and enjoyed a glass of wine then headed home in broad daylight at 8:30 in the evening.  I don't know when the sun sets here.  I don't go to bed early but it is always daylight when I turn my lights out. 

The town was keyed up about the Game ( the World Cup) and everywhere people were gathered to view.  Enjoying the beautiful evening. Sharon and I ran into these young men pedaling away.  I don't know what the nun was doing in the picture. 

It's such a fun city.

Today, Sunday it's supposed to rain.  Again, I've waited and waited.  Not a drop.  I did hear from Erwin and he is going to be looking at his schedule and we will get together with him sometime in the near future. I was a little concerned he might not answer his phone. If someone I didn't know asked for acess to my bank account, I'm not sure what I would do.  I'm practicing putting on my most angelic face when I meet him and his family! Some people would say ,good luck with that but I'm working on it! 

We are going to go out shortly but just a few minutes ago I heard  jazz outside my window  I got up to look out the window and here's what I saw!

IT'S JUST TOO MUCH FUN!  Now were going out to enjoy the most beautiful time of the day.    Lovely, long days!  

The Netherlands were playing Mexico  tonight in the World Cup. The city was alive.  We just walked around and saw people who had moved their TV's outside and were having dinner out there watching the game.  Restaurants set up a TV  and additional  seating on streets, on playgrounds, everywhere.  So much fun to view their enthusiasm .  They won too!

All the bars were filled to capacity,

This is  church yard where the restaurant on the corner has set up a TV and you can see the customers loving the scene!  ( Notice those bikes!)

Just a few decorations.  They are all over the city.

GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, it's raining out. Good night!

THE WEEK CONTINUES

After sleeping on the 'chip" problem Sharon and I discussed it and decided we'd forgo the "age discount" and pay the regular amount so we could get our card and ride the bus and trams without having to buy a ticket everytime.  So we again walked to central station area and decided we should check on a train pass as well and since we arrived in that area first we dropped in to get information and hopefully purchase a pass.  Again, very nice helpful young girl who insisted we get the discount card which again requires one to know someone with a Dutch bank account and insisted we do that as not only do we save money they were running a big special which would result in an additional 22 Euro savings.  We walked out of there once again without tickets of any sort and the dilemna of what to do.  We could ask Theo, the owner of the flat we are staying in.  He's never met us.  He's an acquaitance of my son's and he lives in the states although he does have a Dutch bank account. Why not - I don't think so.  The other person we know  we haven't meet either but as with Theo we have exchanged a few email.  He was an exchange student and lived with a coupe that we know from our Sunday School class.  He does live in The Netherlands so we finally decided that we could   ask him and we coud pay him in cash for any amount deducted from his accoount.  We also have been told this is not ilegal.  So I have written to Erwin and made the proposal.  We have no desire to commit a crime while here (  even Sharon has put crime behind her) so I've asked Erwin to consider our proposal and do it only if he's comfortable with it and it is not illegal.  

As of today we are awaiting the result of that request.  I am going to call Erwin later because SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSharon and  I are now proud owners of an "unlocked" phone which we will be able to use throughout Europe.  It only requires we get a new SIM card in each country.  Getting the phone was not easy either.  We stopped at vodaphone and found that they could provide the chip and the plan but we needed an unlocked phone and they were only available at one of two stores Saturn or Media Markrt and they were located up by Central Station.  We finally found the Saturn store and asked for the phone department only to be told they were redoing it and phones were unavailable.  No problem, MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMedia Maaaaaaaaaaaaaarkt ( this is what my crazy keyboard is doing) is close by.  Oh NO!  We are told we must catch the subway from Central Station and go to the Media Markrt that is only an hour away.  Sharon had me google Media  Markrt and we found one closer which required us finding bus 39 and getting off at the second stop.  Fortunately I had shown the bus driver the street we needed to stop on because it wwwwwwwas one stop and not two.  We found the store, we were so proud of ourselves, and bought our phones. Went to Vodaphone and got service and we were ready to go.  The thrill of it all!  We had Sumsung phones.  Now I know how to use a mobile phone so I proceed to give Sharon a call and it rings and she hits the green reciever logo and hits it and hits it and hits it and hits it and nothing happens.  We cannot answer the phone.  I mean really!  We continue to try a few more times but it doesn't work.  We can text however so if necessary that will work but how silly to own a phone that can do everything under the sun but isn't a phone.  Oh dear, what can the matter be...

The next day we decided that we would go to vodaphone and find out what the issue was.  On our way we finally decided that we must stop by the gym and check into a short term membership.  This had only been on our agenda since arriving but some how  always ended up at the  bottom of the list.  Wonder if that was intentional.  Anyway we did find a lovely gym and the receptionist was so nice.  While introducing ourselves I happened to ask her if she owned a Samsung  phone and she did.  We told her our delimena and she showed us how to answer the phone.  You have too swipe it.  Just think of the laughter that would have gone on in the  Vodaphone store if we had gone there and asked for assistance.  The Dutch are so polite so I'm sure they would have waited until we left.  Anyway Jolynne showed us the basics of how to operate our new phone.  As for me I am so delighted to have three sets of emails instead of two to manage everyday.  I bet everyone out there is jealous.  

Besides these few major items, we have managed to work the wash machine, the dishwasher, the oven and stove.  Sounds simple I know.  One evening we had to bake our chicken because we couldn't get the gas burners to light.  We have now figured everything out.  Some problems were only solved by generally deciphering the Dutch instructions with the help of a little book we bought and the Itranslate app and of course our genius😊!

We've worked out, we've eaten out, and we've gad about.  A great first  week!

Just a random picture of me at the market.  I figured looking at all this print ,I just needed to break up the page. That's why I left in all the keyboard antics. Broke up all this writing!  

I should also mention before closing that we are in soccer country.  Everywhere you see Orange.  Even in our local bar.  Gooooo Netherlands!

A WEEK IN AMSTERDAM

If you are following this blog at all you know that we arrived in Amsterdam last Friday after a rather harrowing journey.  Well not really, just not uneventful.  

We have spent this first week getting to know our neighborhood, and a little of the city as well as getting travel tools and communication set up.  

We have now been to the Saturday organic market twice.  What a treat.  Of course not  everything is organic.  There's just a whole lot of everything.  From toothpaste to tools.

The variety is so great.  The Dutch people are so nice if you strike up a conversation with them.  We're trying to hit a few places regularly so they will get to know us. It's so nice for us because they do speak English and very willlingly.  We are trying to learn a few Dutch phrases but I've really only mastered thank you and hello.  I am not a linguist and the Duth language has some difficult words, 

vruchtenviaai, worstjes, or gevaarlijk.  Even our street. The Gracht at the end of the street name means canal.  I know that much.

The produce, which is organic, is just beautiful.   There are a variety of bread, meat, and fish stalls, cheese stalls, herbs, mushrooms, oils, and wonderful sweets.  

I just noticed I didn't take one picture of a sweet.  I'll be sure to do that next Saturday.  Everyone should drool over the delectable goodies , not just me.

Markets are everywhere in the city on different days.  We just don't have them all down yet. 

Of course what would Amsterddam be without houseboats and bicycles.  A pedestrian has a difficult time crossing streets in Amsterdam.  I think bicycles must have the right of way and next cars and those of us on foot hold our breath, and run for a sidewalk.  I have been successful in my maneuvering and have avoided any collisions thus far.  Someday I may just attempt to ride a bike but not for a few more weeks.  I think  Sharon should try it first!  

Those are all bicycles you are looking at - two decks full

I think you've probably gotten the idea.

The houseboats line the canals.  Some are absolutely beautiful.  Flowers adorn them and even statues.

Every day and particularily around 5:00 we stand at our window and watch boaters go up and down the canal.  There are big boats and small boats and sometimes it looks like they are spilling over with the number of people onboard.  We are going to have to find a boat owner who would love to have two of the four lovely ladies from Iona to keep him or her company.

So we have explored.  Now we have to get serious about somethings like getting a travel card which in Amsterdam is known as the OV-chipkaart.  We set out to find out all the details and had a lovely young girl assist us.  We told her what we wanted and she told us all the info and than asked if we knew someone in Amsterdam who had a Dutch bank account.  If so we could save so much money beause we qualify for the " older" people's chip but to get a discount you need a personalized card and that requires you to apply, upload a picture, and funds are deducted from your bank account.  We tried to explain that we really weren't comfortable asking the two people we know who are Dutch citizens.  She said,"We must it is such a significant savings".  ( That's why I'm trying to make friends  at the market.  Maybe the bread man will let us use his bank account.  Seriouosly, I think it's asking a lot of anyone although we would certainly give them the money.)  Anyway we left there without a card but lots of good tips - a market we must  go see, the location of a locksmith, and three food choices we must try at a FEBO as well as some little towns right outside of Amsterdam that we must visit. 

Armed with directions we proceeded to get lost and ended up at the market almost at the end of the day.  We started at say noon and got there abut 4:00.  (But just think how many steps we got!)  We never did find the locksmith.  So, being weary travelers we hopped on a tram  and headed up to our little section of the world.

I'm going to publish this and continue on another blog as I am having         troube with my keyboard - it's skipping as you see above and it sometimes just keeps repeating a letter or I delete one it deletes a whole sentence or more.  Also the WIFI is not able to publish at times and I think that is due to the large file ( pictures).  Technical difficulties.  

SHOPPING IN LONDON

I really must finish this London stay so I can get on with the rest of the trip - particularly all the things in Amsterdam.  So I am going to end this with just a little note on the shopping in London.  Of course I would have loved to just buy everything but I only have two suitcases and they are packed so I just looked instead.  Two of my favorite stores in London ate Harrod's and Fortnum and Mason's.  Both absolutely exquisite.  The food hall in Harrod's is one of my favorite places to just look around.  Much changed since I was there 20 plus years ago, now they have all sorts of counters where you can eat.  Their displays are always so beauitful!

Vegetables

Flowers

Fruit

Caviar

Lots more caviar 

And of course champagne to go with that caviar.

The store itself is lavish.  Very expensive! Right up my alley, just not in my budget.  Always fun to look though.  

The store itself occupies a 5 acre site and has over one million square feet of sellling space which makes it the largest department store in Europe.  Their motto is "All Things for All people Everywhere".

One of the area  in Harrod's is the Egyptian Escalator unveiled in April of 1998.  We had gone to Harrod's one time with JoAnne and Ginger and thenwent back when Sharon read about the Egyptian Escalator.  We had to have a look.  The pictures just don't do it justice.

The spinxes located all along the escalator are allegedly the likeness of the former owner Mohammed Al Fayed.  

We walked around the store and when we got ready to leave we couldn't tind the escalator and had to depart the store walking down the steps under this small chandelier. 

We of course also had to hit Fortnum and Masons.  A much smaller department store, more of a speciality store.  It too, like Harrod's started as a grocery store and although it grew into a department store,it continues to focus on stocking a  variety of exotic, speciality and also 'basic' provisions. It has held many Royal Warrants over the past 150 years and is also famous for it's high tea.

Elegance

Beautifully displayed food items

Creams and finger nail polish bottles adorned with jewels. 

Soaps too pretty to use.

Shower hats fit for a Queen 

Or a beautiful lady from Iona

Sharon found a couple of red hats but my favorite was this one.  We just couldn't get it down. I think it has Sharon written all over it.

This is more me.  Sedate!  Perhaps I should have angled it a bit instead of just plopped it on my head.  Oh well. 

Guess what folks, I'm moving on. The United Kingdom is behind me now and I'm going to try to get caught up on Amsterdam and stay current.  

So Paddington Bear and I say " Cheerio" to "Jolly Old England". We had a great time!