2014 EUROPE by Rail 29 - Rainbows and Tulips

First thing out of bed I looked out the window to see our view in daylight and check the weather. What did I see? A perfect rainbow arched above the Dutch homes across the canal. Although it drizzled much of the day, it was a definite sign of the wonderful exploring ahead of us. We put on our walking shoes and headed out. 

First stop was a bagel shop (our favorite easy but filling breakfast). We found a quaint spot not too far away. We had our au laits and usual bagel combos. It was not quite as good as the Berlin bagels, but still good. BUT this was the best cream cheese of the trip.

Today was a museum day. Our second stop was the Rijks Museum. We looked on the map and sallied forth in what we thought was the general direction of our intended destination. 

We started walking, but did not realize we soon veered off course. No worries. It was a lovely day and an enjoyable walk. We criss-crossed the series of four horseshoe designed canals filled with every sort of barge and boat you can imagine.

Some were working vessels and some were house barges. And in all conditions from rusty scupper to elaborate and spit-shine polished. Designs were traditional to modern. All so interesting! What a life this must be!

We enjoyed the architecture, too. Buildings here are tall and skinny. Most have a gable on top with a hook suspended at its tip top. These are often elaborated decorated, but they are not just decoraTIVE.

These buildings have narrow, steep and winding staircases, so the hooks enable occupants to pull large or bulky objects up and into the wide windows of the proper floor. For more interesting information about architecture in Amsterdam, go to: www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g188590-s201/Amsterdam:The-Netherlands:Architecture.html

We did come across a new fangled way to handle this issue. A moving company uses an extending ladder / elevator contraption to move bulky objects in and out of buildings. Pricier, I bet, but seems way more safe for the objects, the movers and the walkers-by.

Shops often had hanging signs over their door or prominent "sculptures" that tell what their businesses were about. Here was a tailor shop with button sign and maybe a florist shop (could not tell for sure as it was across the canal from us). It has a basket of flowers as tall as the door.

Amsterdam is a biker town. Thousands of them. We even saw a wooden one. Along both sides of the canals are narrow streets, one-way direction on either side. You see cars there, but not so many. Mostly they are traversed by bicycles, scooters and motor bikes.

Those definitely have the right of way, so you'd better beware. Most sidewalks are narrow, uneven or non-existent. Walkers must be watchful, always listening for warning bells from an otherwise unexpected silent two-wheeler.

I learned to do a 360-perusal before stepping off a curb, and usually it resulted in spotting a surprise vehicle. Don't know how we got through all this trip without some kind of vehicle mishap! 

Lots of other small and some goofy looking vehicles, too. These streets, after all, where not built for Land Rovers or Cadillacs.

Next we ran into the Bio Markt or flower market. It was like a farmer's produce market, but here they sold unlimited varieties of tulip and other bulb flowers. You could purchase fresh flowers, bulbs, even plastic tulips. There were endless varieties of colors or combo of colors and sizes for sale. There were garden books and gift items--most related to bulb style flowers. 

Well, here we finally found ourselves on the map. We were way off track, but had so enjoyed the things we discovered so far. Time was a wasting, so we made a bee-line for the Rijks.