AMSTERDAM March 8



We stayed at the Park West Hotel out near Sloterdijk Station as I had no intentions of driving in the center of Amsterdam.  We had booked the Van Gogh museum for 9:15 so we once again we were up and out the door early. The two pictures below are of the Rijksmuseum, we had to walk through it to get to the Van Gogh Museum.



VAN GOGH






We walked to the Leidseplien and stopped for lunch at a Dutch restaurant, it wasn't very good and was way overpriced . Thought Number 29 on the menu was interesting tho.


We walked down to the flower market but it turns out it is more like a food sampling street on the opposite side!

Peanut Butter sampling of all things!

Pepernoten cookies - a Dutch staple at Christmas 


Didn't try them, she explained that they had marshmallows - yuck!

Ok, my lunch was terrible - 2 minute shrimp croquettes.The samples helped a little but before we knew it we were walking past my favourite fry spot!

Always a line up!


Small fry with frite sauce and a water!


Delicious!
We walked towards Centraal Station and had to pass the second best fry stand....didn't have any room to indulge!



Lined up right to the curb!


We were really tired of walking and decided to go on a one hour boat canal tour to rest for awhile! Some shots of that ......

 A swing on top of the tall building! Not doing it!

The water levels are high all over the EU - several boat have succumbed to the situation! 
 The cars are so close to the canals - 25,000 bikes are found in the canal every year!
 Moving in and out of these tall buildings is a challenge. They use the hook at the top of the gable and winch furniture in and out.





Another one !




After the boat tour we waked into the red light district area and then back to the main walking street for dinner! 


They have to be told?

Cops riding bikes - seem to be controlling the drinking.

Not a cafe but a coffee shop - big difference!

We should have taken this tour boat!
The Dutch are serious about getting money out of you to use the bathroom - this one had a turnstile! Crazy

20,010 steps and it's only 7:57 pm!

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