A relaxing day in Brussels

Today we strolled and took in the sights of aMonday in central Brussels. Since our accommodation is well located we can find our way around and back without much difficulty. It is much easier to get around Brussels than Amsterdam because the city is built more in grids while Amsterdam seems to run in circles because of the canals.

We made our way to Central station to buy our tickets to Brugge  for tomorrow and then went in search of  Manneken-Pis, Brussels cheesy mascot. It is a little statue of a little boy peeing which apparently symbolizes the city's irreverence and love of the good life. He is often dressed in outfits from around the world that are sent to him. Today he was dressed for winter by the International Polar Foundation.

                                               Yes,it looks like he is peeing on my head!

As we walked we saw oodles of Chocolate shops since Belguim is the number one exporter of chocolate in the world. We had a small sample given one small chocolate is approximately 2€.

                                           So many choices...

Also lots of Beer Shops....

                                           Taking out his glasses to check out the selection!

And pastry shops...

                                                They all look good!


And waffle stands...

                                          At least it has two servings of fruit!

There are many small squares in the city with local arts and crafts...

                                                   Checking out the paintings

                                                 Colorful jewellry,at least one made it to my luggage

Street musicians...

And tourist police on horses...

                                              You go that way...

And cute kids playing around..

We then spent the rest of the day sitting under a heater in a sidewalk cafe taking in the sights. No museums visited in Brussels since there were none on the list that caught our attention.Much better sights on the streets!

We finished the day at a local restaurant that has no sign, no posted menu but excellent Belgium food...

                                               Stew made with local beer

                                            Ham bone with mustard...

So much for the end to a great day!!

Brussels...here we come!

Left on Saturday to take the train to Brussels which took about 3 hours. The trains here are always on time leaving right on the dot with the schedule. It costs us almost 80 Euros for both tickets in second class and it was a comfortable ride.

As we passed into Belgium the landscape changed in that there was a lot less water to be seen and many more trees, not as much farm land. It is a small country nestled in between Germany, France and the Netherlands with 10 and a half million people.

Arriving at the rain station was chaotic as it was poorly signed, the information booth was closed, and no one spoke English ( wish we could speak French). We finally got our Metro pass and then got stuck in the gate because it wouldn't work! Here we were stuck in between two glass doors with our luggage and no one else could get through. A kind young man saw us struggling and came back through with his metro card and got us unstuck. After that we made our way to the right stop, found our place around the corner.

We were met by a lovely young man who showed us our place, so we dropped our stuff and headed out to explore the neighbourhood. Found some street food...esgarcot.

Dropped in for a Belguim beer and a tea for me then made our way to the supermarket to pick up a few supplies. Supper was bread, cheese, olives, sausage and chocolate. Very tasty.

Our last day in Amsterdam

Our last full day in Amsterdam was a lazy one. Slept in and took a leisurely stroll to a new to us area called De Pip. It had the feel of an artistic neighbourhood with a wonderful street market. Lots to look at and sample including chocolate and more herring!


What about a wig?

A sign for your house?

 

Some chocolate! 

 Way better than herring.

                              Don finally found his pickled herring sandwich.

This area also has the Heineken Experience showing the production of the beer and a few samples. It was crowded when we went by.

We came across a coffee shop called Mellow Yellow with this sign in the window...

These are the famous Amsterdam coffee houses where no alcohol or tobacco allowed just legal drugs.

We stopped to take in the architecture of many of the canal houses with the hook at the top. This is used to move heavy, oversized up and down the floors because the stairways are too narrow.Most of these houses were built in the 1700s which was The Golden Age in the Netherlands when Dutch trade,science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The houses have many facades that make the row houses very interesting to view.

Amsterdam also has around 3000 house boats that float in most of the canals throughout the city. Some of them look like old scows while others are quite modern. They range in price from 300-700 thousand Euros so not cheap. They are hooked up to all utilities and own their mooring.

And of course the bikes are everywhere. Today I managed to get a picture of a mother and her children on their bike.  They carry a lot of different things on them.It was the European version of Hanoi!

Amsterdam is also a gay friendly city which is evidenced in many ways including this memorial to all those who have been killed because of their sexual orientation.

And of course we wouldn't be in Europe if we didn't stop for a refreshment. This place was great as it was on the corner so great for people watching and I got to sit under a heater so I was warm. I didn't want to leave!

We ended the day and our trip to Amsterdam with a Candlelight cruise on the canal. It was a great way to finish the week in Amsterdam.

Our impressions of the city were very positive...lots to see, great food, friendly people,reasonable prices and a great pedestrian city, just have to watch out for the bikes! We are now off to Brussels for a few days.

                                                   One of my favourite pictures

Peace Palace and Blue Pottery

Today we took another trip outside Amsterdam to visit The Hague and Delft. They are located about an hour's train ride from the city. Our first stop was The Hague, Netherland's third largest city and home to the country's parliament. Since we only had a few hours we walked to the Center of town to view some of the buildings and just poke around.

                                                   Enjoying the scenery from the train

The city is different than Amsterdam, more modern, taller buildings,with wider boulevards and less people.

In the City Center is the Binnenhof Parliment Complex which overlooks a large pond right in the Center of town. The Prime Minister's office is there as well as the two house Parliment.

                                                       The Parliment Buildings

Queen Beatrix has her palace just down the street.

Just too many museums...

A rainy day in Amsterdam. What to do? Visit some more museums. Not Don's favourite activity but he seemed to enjoy them!

Some sights on our walk today......

                                                  Where else can you buy 50 tulips for 10£?

                                                       Or Cannibas beer?

                                                         Or smoke your joints inside?

In and around Amsterdam

Yesterday we decided to take the public bus system out of Amsterdam to explore the countryside. It is so great to be in a place that places an high value on affordable and reliable public transit. We made our way back to Central Station and bought a ticket for 10 Euros that would take us to the countryside and back. The bus driver was fabulous. He suggested we sit up front near him and he gave us a private tour as we drove as well as pointing out how to get back to Amsterdam and what buses to take. He even stopped the bus so I could take a picture of a windmill!

                                                   At Central Station waiting for the bus.

                                             The picture from the bus...a working windmill.
The first town we visited was very small. It was called Edam after the cheese that is produced in the region. It had to be one of the prettiest and most peaceful places we have ever visited. Small canals, tidy houses, beautiful flowers with everyone either walking or riding their bikes.



A Peaceful Canal

A typical house in Edam

The second town called Volendam was larger and a lot more touristy.  It is a located on a huge lake and has a long waterfront promenade. The wind was up but we enjoyed the walk and stopped by the lake for our lunch.

Many kinds of fish including kibberling (cod)

              Having my lunch
We then took a ferry across to Marken, an old fishing village that was basically abandoned until the government built a causeway.

Typical Dutch house.Very tidy.

             On the ferry.It was cold!
As we drove it was amazing how quickly the city disappeared and there was green pastures as far as we could see. 70% of the land in this tiny country is cultivated and most of it is reclaimed from the sea,rivers and lakes. This is what made the windmills so famous, as they were used to harness wind energy to lift the water up from the dikes, divert it into canals and drain the land. This work continues today as the Dutch deal with rising sea levels. It also promotes a popular local saying, " God made the Earth, but the Dutch made Holland."

                                              The Dutch countryside       

                                              Where we stopped in for supper.Great bar.Not so great food.

Today we spent touring some of the city's sites, starting with the Anne Frank Huis. I read her diaries years ago but for the life of me could not tell you that she was hiding in Amsterdam. Another plus for travelling as it brings so much that we have read over the years to life. This is a very popular spot with long lines but we only had to wait 15-20 mins.

The secret entrance behind the bookcase

  
             Anne Frank

Anne Frank wrote her diaries while she and her family were in hiding during WWII when The Nazis occupied the Netherlands. They were a Jewish family who hid in the back of the business owned by the father. They lived there for two years before being discovered and shipped off to concentration camps where they all died except for Otto who published his daughter's diaries and preserved the house to tell the story. A really moving visit.

We then went to the Red Light District which is an experience in itself. This neighbourhood has hosted the world's oldest profession since 1200. It can be very offensive in that there are many images of graphic sex, exploited women, stoned visitors and whatever!

Notice the couple behind Don.

We have never experienced anything like it. A full district built up around scantily dressed prostitutes  of all colours, shapes and ages.There seems to be sections for women of different countries, Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe.  These women stand or sit in rows and rows of windows waiting for business. When the curtains are closed the business is taking place. We went in the day and it was busy so can imagine what the nights are like there!

                                                Signs everywhere for shows of all kinds.
There were many signs saying no photos of the women so I borrowed a few images to give you an idea. These women are wearing much more than the ones we saw!

 I have a lot of mixed feelings after being here.Moral dilemnas??      



We also visited The Museum of The Lord in the Attic, a secret church built in 1663 during the period when Catholics were forbidden from worshipping. A wealthy businessman built this church across the top of three canal houses right in the middle of the Red Light District. It is three stories high and outfitted as a fully functioning sanctuary.

                                                           The hidden church



After a full day of walking we decided to pick up ingredients for a supper in tonight. Sometimes it is easier on the stomach and wallet!