SIGHTSEEING AMSTERDAM

Who would ever go to a public library when visiting a city.  Well, we did.  I had read on trip advisor that it was a nice place to visit so we decided to do just that since it was close and we were looking for a little something to do. The bibliotheek is located near Central Station so we purchased our tickets for Brussels and continued walking  along the street bordering the water.  It was lovely.  We finally found the library and realized we had taken a rather long route to get there since we could have walked straight down from Central Station.  

The library is 7 stories.  This picture was taken as you walked in and looked down on the children's area.  Interesting lights.

We walked over to one corner and saw that it lead to a small exhibit on fashion that was very interesting.

These designs were done by a Dutch fashion designer who was the first Dutch student to graduate from the fashion design center in Antwerp.   

We took the escalator up and each floor was very spacious and at the far end there was a beautiful view of the city.  

The building in the backgrouond is NEMO, the science museum.

This was one of a few  little study cubicles equiped with outlets for charging electronics.   

This floor was filled with audio/visual media.  

We finally reached the 7th floor restaurant.  We thought we might get a cup of coffee but after looking around we got hungry and decided to eat a little lunch instead. Tell me what you would have done?

Additionally, they had a beauitful salad bar, a sandwich station, a hot food station where they cooked fresh fish or various curries.  It was a wonderful find.  Not only that you could sit inside or out and the view was fabulous.

If you remember the Chinese restaurant that was pictured on the evening canal cruise that almost sank when 80 Dutch went onboard.  Here it is in the daytime.  

After our lite lunch we headed to the vodafne store in the Dam Square area.  Yes it really is Dam square.  The store was closed but we looked around the square, decided that we need to come one day and go through the Nieuwe Kerk,a former church which is now used as an exhibition space.  It is also used for organ recitals which are given everyday except Tuesday, at noon.  

See the building in the background.  We decided that was such a beautiful building we should go see what it was.  Turns out it's a shopping mall.  Quite exquisite.  It was once the City Postoffice.  

A few days later we made it back to the to the vodafone store and found out about international calling packages and how to set up voice mail, etc.  We will know how to use these phones before we leave Amsterdam and then we will have to learn a whole new system when we go to France.  I've been told this is what keeps the mind functioning.  I hope its working!

We brought our museum cards with us so we went over to the Nieuwe Kerk to view its  "Journey in Time Exhibit".

The Nieuwe Kerk is a 15th-centruy church located next to the Royal Palace.  The church itself was renovated several times but during the renovation in the 70's it became too expensive for the Dutch Reformed  Church, and when they said the church would be closed most of the time to save money on mainenance, it was decided to transfer ownership in 1979 to a newly formed cultural organization called  the Nationale Stichtine De Nieuwe Kerk.  The church is in use by the Dutch royal family for investitures and weddings.  It is also the burial site for Dutch Naval heroes as well as others.  The more you paid for your burial space the closer to the altar you were buried.  

The pulpit.

The organ consists of 5005 pipes, and was built in the 1600's.  I'm definitely planning to go to at least one of the afternoon concerts.  

This is the tomb of one of the great Naval Hero's , 

There was beautiful wood work throughout the church.

The royals showed up when they heard I was going to be there so I had my picture taken with them  Not a good picture of me but this was the best one of them so I decided to use it.  I didn't realize they were going to wear their jewels and gowns or I woud have dressed up.  Oh well next time I will know better.  I thought it was so nice that so many decided to make an appearance.  I certainly wasn't expecting that.  

Those are just a few of the things we've enjoyed this week.  We still find it fun to go down a street we haven't been before,  Discover new restaurantss, shops, and monuments.  It's also fun to walk around without a map in our hands all the time as we've gained familiarity with the city.  At least in our neighborhood.

Before closing - just a word to remind everyone.  Mira's series "The Intruders" starts August 23rd on BBC America and Chris's movie is on Lifetime on September 13th.  This is Nicholas Spark's first original TV event.  He is not the writer and this is not a typical Lifetime movie.  It takes place just as the Civil war ends.  I 'm hoping that I will be able to catch Mira's series over here but will not get to see Chris's for a while.  

Everything is "lekker".  (good)