A WEEK IN REVIEW

I feel inspired to do a little blog on the weeks occurrences.  Nothing really notable but just what we did and what happened this week in Amsterdam.

Look who I ran into on the street, My lovely daughter-in- law!  By the way she is in the next few episodes of "Falling Skies " and her new series "The Intruders" starts on August 23 on BBC America.

Here we have some of the people waiting to get train tickets along with us.  When we got our number we were 373 and they were showing 112 on the board.  They had 14 or so ticket counters so in less than an hour we were purchasing our tickets for Paris and out the door.

That evening we went out for a drink on the canal. (Please note our new blouses. I don't believe you've seen them before.)

One day we did one of the walking tours on trip advisor called the Niine Little Streets.  It's advertised as a unique shopping experience.  It was fun and we found our now favorite chocolaterie called Pompadour.  The woodwork , which the owner transported from a 19th century Belgium buillding is beautiful.  The chocolates are made upstairs in the French stye.  We had a iatte and a piece of chocolate - devine!

Another day we decided to explore the museum area.  That part of town has a competely different feel to it.  They have their "Rodeo Drive".  Every designer you could name has stores along this street.  OOPS.  Forgot to get the name of it for all of you who want to shop there.  For us,it's the 5 euro shirt at the market.  It was fun to window shop.  We would of course bought many things but when you know you are probably going to have to throw things away when you move in a few months it's a real deterent from any serious buying.

We walked to the Van Gogh Museum - a must see in Amsterdam.  See that line.  That's why we're waiting until the tourists leave.  The line is the same for the Anne Frank House.

We walked over to the Rijksmuseum ranked as one of the great museums in Europe ...in the world.  We just walked around the exterior and will return on another day to view the inside.  The same architect who designed the Central Station here also designed thismusem

In front of the museum is this display...   (the logo is on brochures, advertisements, "I amsterdam"

I am in red....

And not to be outone by these young people climbing all over it I safely secured a spot on the low level.  Made just for me "T" for Terry.

This fountain turns off and you can run in and be in the center of it as it springs to life.  Guess who had to do that.  Got a little wet but it was fun.

Before...

During....

Sharon taking my picture....on the outside, looking in.

After leaving the museum we walked around and saw some lovely buildings along the canal,

We walked through a small portion of Vondel Park and I took this from a bridge which overlooks the park. Over 10 million people visit this park annually.  Here's an interesting tidbit.  In 2008 adults were legally allowed to have sex in the park as long as they"take their garbage with them and never have intercourse near the playground". The sex had to be limited to the evening hours and night.  However, Amsterdam Police announced that they would not in fact tolerate this as the law required them to prevent it.  We do plan on going back and sending more time in the park.  Oh, I should clarify - not in the evenings!  

This was in front of a bartenders school.  I looked for some guy to join me to complete the picture but the street was pretty deserted.  I'll try again next time I'm in the neighborhood and stick my entire head through the opening.

On Saturday we stopped to get a little glass of wine and were entertained by these nice young men who were having a bachelor's party.  The groom to be is in orange. He put the orange face mask on just for this picture.

Get a load of that table - a few drinks maybe.

At one point they ordered a drink that came in a cordial glass and they proceeded to set it a flame.

Once they were lit each person was given a straw. The straw was then quickly put into the glass and you slurped the drink and finished it in one gulp.  They had two left over and were nice enough to share with us.  I had no problem. Professional drinker that I am.  Sharon.....problems.  First her straw melted. Too slow getting it to the bottom (obviously she needs some training) the next thing she smelled hair burning.  Oh dear!  Was it eyelashes or hair.  No real damage done. Who need eyelashes anyway?

This was taken as we were walking home.  Lee, if your reading this bring your boat over.  

That was our week.  You can see why the blogging is no longer done on a daily basis. Would be pretty boring to read but we are enjoying just living and experiencing Europe. I just want to add how nice it is to get feedback from everyone.  I really appreciate your comments!!!!