“Arrived Safely”
Amsterdam Pretour
Date: Thursday April 21, 2016
Subject: Arrived Safely
Hi Liz, Kate, Dad & Jan,
I arrived safely and on-time at Schiphol Airport. The Air Canada plane had a bit more seat room for knees than the British Airways that Liz & I took a couple years ago to England. Getting through customs was slow … too many planes landing in a short period of time, but once I got to the desk, they just waved me on … guess I look like a pretty safe person.
I took a cab to Aunt Sonja’s place from the airport – 48 Euros! Then she and I walked to the Albert Cuyptstraat Market, where your Uncle Bob used to have his studio … I forgot how long the market was: rows and rows of stalls and booths; I saw lots of neat things but don't want to start spending too much money on my first day. We did buy a couple food items and took them up to Sonja’s brother’s place. He is living in an apartment overlooking the market, right below Bob's studio. They still rent the studio and I guess there are still lots of prints stored in the space. The difficulty with them is that many aren't signed so they are difficult to sell. We had a good visit & they asked after your health, Dad & hoped you were doing well.
We also walked along the Amstel River and around some canals and then over to the Transit place and bought a Transit Pass for me.
Somehow I have managed to avoid jet lag, but still, it was good to sit down back at the apartment and watch the boats go by on the Amstel River. I am using the room under the eaves, up a very narrow set of winding stairs.
Love Mom / Heather
Date: Saturday April 23 , 2016
Subject: More Amsterdam
Kate, Liz, Dad & Jan
Wow! You have to watch out for bikes here especially during rush hour. They are mostly basic bikes in all colours, many with a type of cart on the front where kids or groceries or pets sit. No fancy multi-gear bikes since bikes are often stolen. Cars whiz by skimming coat sleeves with millimeters to spare from bike handlebars.
Tomorrow (Sunday) I get to meet the tour group. Sonja will travel with me to Haarlem by train. She has a pass that lets her use any form of transit, either subway, tram cars or train, so it won't cost her extra. I bought my train ticket to travel to Haarlem yesterday. It is not far away … less than an hour travel, I think, and I don't need to be there until noon, but my Transit pass expires by 9:30 tomorrow morning, so I will need to be on the subway or a tram car before that time & travel to Centraal Station in Amsterdam to catch the train.
I have walked a LOT … I spent a fair bit of time wandering all over Amsterdam city centre on my own yesterday … bought a couple postcards and a small umbrella … the weather forecast is for some showers over the next couple days. Today we walked to an Art Deco theatre and then off to one of the museums (used my transit card for that) to see an exhibit about Holland's interpretation of Art Deco along with a number of interior and furniture designs from the Amsterdam School of Art between 1910 - 1930.
And then more walking over to the market … so I expect that I am probably walking over 10 km a day, including the walking in and through some of the buildings we have visited. I had shown Sonja my Rick Steves’ Amsterdam tour schedule, so she is picking out places to visit that are not on the tour.
And of course, lots of tiny stairs. I had forgotten how small the stairwell is to go up to Sonja's apartment … and how much smaller the stairs are to go up to the bedroom. I quit drinking any liquids after supper so I don't have to use the stairs at night to go to the bathroom. I have trouble enough placing my feet on the steps to go down in the daylight!! I took a picture for you Kate, so you will see what I mean … almost like going up a ladder!!
There has been lots of boat traffic in the river … so many tourist boat cruises. I was surprised at how crowded some areas were downtown with tourist groups … usually 45 - 55 people with a guide holding a flag in front to lead them all around. As soon as you try and walk around one group you are stuck in the next group. I am glad that the group I will be traveling with will be half the size … it should mean that we can walk a bit quicker and not constantly waiting for stragglers. Hopefully we won't be a pain for the locals when we are walking about.
Talk / write to you later.
Love Mom / Heather
P.S This is the seven bridges but I am unable to get all the bridges in one picture. No such thing as a 3-point turn in these canals. The pilots of the long boats amaze me getting around the corners.
Amstel River, Amsterdam
Cushion Cover of Amsterdam’s Canals that I created as a Thank You gift for Sonja.
7 Bridges, Amsterdam
Amstel River, at the dining room table
7 Bridges, opposite side of canal
