Kevin and Renee's Ireland

Thursday - Sunday, January 28 - 31, 2010

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Amsterdam is the place. This city is for us! People riding bicycles or walking everywhere, it is so vibrant. Hotel Barbacan is two blocks from Rembrandt Square and the Flower Market.

Kevin and I arrived here early this morning. We woke up at 3 am and were quickly on the road to Cork Airport for our 6 am flight. We parked in the long term lot.

We found Cork Airport to be very modern and efficient, and beautiful, too.

Our boarding passes were already in hand so we took advantage of the “stop and drop” bag check-in and proceeded to Gate 4. After boarding the plane and taking our 3-euro-apiece seats, 7A and 7B, both of us remarked how quickly we were in the air.

Once on the ground in Amsterdam, we purchased train passes. The Metro and the tram were great. We took a taxi for the final 5 blocks, we were exhausted. Driving is on the RIGHT side of the road here!

Our hotel room is a walk up two flights of very narrow, steep, steps. We quickly made ourselves comfortable and headed back out for a walk about town. Nellie at the front desk oriented us nicely.

The weather was comfortable with intermittent blasts of cold, depending on the wind direction.

We stopped at cafe l’Hooischip on the corner of Rembrandt’s Square for lunch and a coffee. Kev had delicious meatballs on a roll while I enjoyed an Hawaiian Toastie – ham and cheese with pineapple on toast.

The architecture of the different buildings was marvelous. Ballet, opera, television and movie centers, university, horticulture botanica, cinemas, it’s all here. Then we reached the Flower District. More beauty.

Down the alley for our first coffee shop visit (good reggae on the house speakers), then back to the hotel.

After a short nap Kevin and I returned to the Argentinian Steakhouse, Avram, for dinner. We passed them earlier in the afternoon and read their menu and dinner specials. We were not disappointed. Chorizo and Pickles appetizer followed by quite possibly the best steak we have ever eaten in any restaurant anywhere in the world! With salad and ff, the 11 euro steak special! Unbelievable!

We purchased an electric kettle first thing for our hotel room, and some milk.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Slept late, slept very well.

Rainy day, no ice skating outdoors. Left hotel before or around noon, no later anyway.

Watched bridge rise to let barge with semi-attached tug pass through and under. Electric pole stayed with bridge as went up.

Kamal . . . . navigational device

The Artis (Zoo) was a “no thank you”, way too expensive admission price, 40 euro, another day, perhaps.

Breakfast/lunch of banana pancakes. More like crepes with the slowest pouring, thickest, syrup ever. Most scrumpteedelicious!

Visited the Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam (Museum) for their exhibit OMAN. Built in late 14^th century. Washroom attendant invited me to sit while I waited for Kevin. Using international sign language, she learned that my neck and shoulders were sore, “From looking up,” I told her. She demonstrated exercises for me to use for relief. Chin to chest, right ear to top of shoulder, left ear to left shoulder top, head stretched all the way back (chin to sky), slowly, slowly. Ah. Then I heard my phone ring, unzipped my inner jacket pocket and remembered I did not have my phone. Breathe. Breathe. Deep breaths.

Strong Deja vu seeing Nene Thomas. Then Rene’s Bakery. When was the last time I was here?! Not since Paia!

Walk, Walk, Walk, no mo’ rain, dessert on canal bridge.

Walking towards Chinese restaurants in China Town, happened upon outskirts of Red Light district.

Stopping here to read the above marquis, I heard it read aloud in a Boston accent . . . . !

Small group of B.U. students, no from Emerson . . . . talking to Kevin. Ha!

Coffee and croissant at “grumpy’s”.

Deja vu dinner with Dutch shrimp appetizer tonight.

Our Full Moon kiss on the walk home. Some romantic.

Walked everywhere today - non-stop after breaks for breakfast, tea and croissant, and dinner at 5 pm., until returning to the hotel. Great walking tour for us.

Never a moment did not feel safe, day or night.

Hot showers with plenty of pressure for BOTH us, and still get hot water. Fabulous!

Whereas the television programs in Ireland had minimal interruption from commercials, here in Amsterdam, the programs intermittently interrupt the commercials. We have actually forgotten what program we’re watching, the commercials last so long. Not good.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Awoke to snow on the ground and . . . .

bright sunshine . . . .

Tram #9 to Jaap Eden Ice Skating Indoor/Outdoor. Zamboni as we arrive - for outdoor speed skating rink.

Beautiful center. Rented skates. Kev, size 47, I took one pair, tried them on, exchanged them for two sizes bigger.

One loop of outdoor track, then indoors.

My skates had no front pick, tried to brake and went down, fast forward.

Kevin got his skates sharpened. I could have used more edge, or more like figure skates, but only ones could rent were heavy plastic, not leather, so I kept mine. They were fine for what we were doing. Looked at new skates in the “Shoppe” no CCM’s, just Jacksons.

Then back outside for the speed skating rink.

We walked through lovely neighborhoods on way to and from tram line. Took tram #9 back to City Center. Same tram driver, asked me how was the skating. “Excellent”, my reply.

Market Day in the streets of City center. Kevin bought banana pin for monkeys – (original Chiquita logo FYFEES in 1960’s) hat pin and Netherland’s flag on surplus Dutch Army shirt. 5euro. Carved antler necklace for me. 1.50euro.

Temperature dropping, raining and cold.

Lunch wagon, inside, cheeseburger, fries (togo get petite forks in cone paper and salad dressing), and one can coke, two times all day.

Off to Anne Frank’s House. People very willing to give us directions. Homeless local, Salvation Army.

Twenty minute que, seemed to move quickly.

Dark when came out, no more rain. Now snowing!!!! Long walk home but good company and beautiful night.

Amsterdam Preview of Princess and the Frog, red carpet and all, at Theater Tuschinsky.

Strong cuppa at Coffeeshop on main drag, needed to decompress from house visit. 2euro more, but got traveling case.

Back to hotel around 7:30 pm with fresh bag of pancakes and instant coffee to rest legs.

Still snowing!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Walked to Tram 16 (or #24) pick up for Museumplein going to the Van Gogh Museum

This is a deportation building (below)

Noticed Politie and ambulances and video cameras on tripods and streets closed off ahead of us on our walk. We rounded the corner, I was laughing outloud to something Kevin had said, somber mood, . . . . . .? . . . . . .?? Auschwitz Anniversary March/Parade is walking toward us on opposite side of the road. Solid width of sidewalk and bicycle paths, five or six, arm in arm, carrying wreaths of flowers. Hundreds of yards long, winding, snaking, through the snow.

Caught the #24, walked to Van Gogh Museum through beautiful, huge park, saw children sledding down roof of one building, building snowmen and forts, exercising dogs, etc.

Quick brunch in Museum Café after touring the first floor of exhibits. Pizzas and cheese sandwich.

A rectangular (but almost square) Guggenheim Museum. Stairsways in all corners between floors, sending one round and round. Went outside to balcony on third floor, great views.

Successfully returned by Tram, walked to Cinema Tachinsky (asked for and got directions 2 or 3 times), got there and nothing playing. Went round corner to Pathe, bought tickets, climbed one floor, and sat down in front 4^th row to see Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey, Jr. Excellent.