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Through ... relentless and pounding rains, a multitude of gravel road washouts, a turbulent snow melt and the blackest of ice ... all the while, expertly manouevering his exceptionally well-cared for and detailed, ding-free and bullet-hole free, street legal, Subaru limousine, around refrigerator sized potholes, the muddiest of mud and the dirtiest of dirt ... our heroic shuttle driver Tony delivered us from home to the Belleville Train Station ... uninjured and ahead of time!😉
From there it was an easy, 3 trains to get us to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, where we'll overnight and then fly out with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, tomorrow evening.
7th floor, overlooking the parking lot on an overcast evening.
Our KLM Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner departed Toronto at 6:21 pm EST on March 06 and touched down in Amsterdam at 06:47 am CET (12:47 EST) on March 07; a flight duration of 6 hours 26 minutes.
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For the Readers
Click on the links for more information.
You can just skip all the text I've written and double click on any photo to launch a gallery of all photos; which you can then scroll (<>) through.
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NETHERLANDS
Mar 07-11
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A Walking Tour
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The Old City Centre of Amsterdam is a World UNESCO site.
We stayed in The Historic District. We had fabulous weather, clear skies and daytime temperatures in the mid - high teens celcius; which is apparently nicer than most years.
Bikes rule the streets here. I've never seen so many in such a small area. All traffic, from pedestrians to cars and trucks always give right-of-way to bicycles ... and, I've been told; are considered 'in the wrong' if there is any type of traffic incident.
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"In The Netherlands, when the fetus is beyond the first trimester and the mother has decided to keep it, a tiny bicycle with training wheels is inserted in the womb. When born the baby has to show that it is proficient in riding the bike or it gets deported to Belgium." (Source: Our waitress)
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The clearly marked, multi-laned streets are congenially shared ... pigeons, walking locals, international tourist pedestrians, wheelchair travellers, old and young folks, roller skaters, skate boarders, uni-cyclists, bicyclists, bike police, scooters, segways, motorcycles, stupid cars, cars, vans, mid and full-sized trucks, vans, buses, double-decker buses, streetcars and the odd 10-ton truck ... really, EVERYONE is welcome, and, ain't that just GREAT!
We were fascinated! We sat at a nearby cafe (con dos vinos tintos y tapas) and watched all that traffic interact; no traffic lights, no police, no horns or sirens, no arguments, no fights ... just understanding and co-operation. At home, there would have been large signage warning of a dangerous intersection being approached / drivers beware.
Cigarette butts are really the only street litter here - the few garbage bins we saw were rarely full, zero dog poops on the streets (pickup regs) - rarely saw dogs before evening hours, lotsa cannibas smoke 'everywhere' - you don't need to purchase, everyone smokes - cigarettes, vaping, canninbas, open alcohol carry - you can even carry a beer on your bike while driving, very little graffiti and zero street art.
Once outside the 'historical area' the scene changes somewhat ... increased litter and the presence of western, fast food chains, more street noise from bars, restaurants and obnoxious humans, dozens of delivery bicycles zip along, street cleaners are present and necessary here.
Once outside the 'historical area' the scene changes somewhat ... increased litter and the presence of western, fast food chains, more street noise from bars, restaurants and obnoxious humans, dozens of delivery bicycles zip along, street cleaners are present and necessary here.
Many very good restaurants in this area, we visited several ... Olijfje was a favourite ... we went twice!
A GREAT meal to end with, on our last night in AMSTERDAM
Second visit ... a South African Tempranillo, crusty bread basket, olive mix, chef's aioli, antep ezme tapinade (spicy spanish peppers, walnuts, paprika, tomatoes, green peppers, parsley, onions), crab salad w. olive oil dressing, mature manchego cheese platter, lamb kabobs (rice, olive oil, sauted vegetables, creamy mushroom gravy), chocolat mousse w. crumbled pistachio.
Couldn't finish it all, came close though, carried a 1/2 bottle of wine home.
Amsterdam is built on a swamp, engineering plans are underway to stabilize the soils.
The rusted, iron wall structures in the above 2 photos are 'driven down to refusal', as much as 20' or more below waterlevel and then filled to create a stable below grade wall; one of several methods being employed to stabilize building foundations.
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The 7 homes shown here, ALL lean in different 'directional combinations'. Although the area which we now know as Amsterdam was dangerous to live in, due to the danger of floods people protected themselves. Residents constructed dykes (the land was below sea level), they built the AmsterDAM and in the 15th century the city’s ring canals were built.
Houseboats come in all shapes and sizes, aren't navigable and have their engines removed; many were once working supply and trade vessels, 3 masted schooners, water taxis or buses. Spaces are rented, taxes paid, city services provided (electric, water, sewer), some can sell for a high of 1 million euros or higher!; the rundown ones for 0.5 million euros.
The homes stay where they are until the hulls are no longer waterproof or can be repaired. They are then hoisted out, sent to salvage and the property owners space is quickly renovated with a waterproof deck/floor and a wooden structure built on top (see home on left).
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This is the interior of an Amsterdam houseboat that recently went on the market for 1.495 million euros!
Street scene highlighting ... the Global Femicide Epidemic
Gender-related killings (femicide/feminicide) are the most brutal and extreme manifestation of violence against women and girls.
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A Floating Tour
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The Canals of Amsterdam
Amsterdam has more than 100 kilometers (62 mi) of grachten (canals), about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals (Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht), dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings. The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, contributing to Amsterdam's fame as the "Venice of the North". (Source: Wikipedia)
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... and, he's just as likeable and knowlegable about Amsterdam as his smile indicates.
Amsterdam is built on poles, but a part of the city lives on water – literally. The houseboat is a striking part of the inner city of Amsterdam, and it enriches the picturesque image of the canals. Within the area of the Singel, there are around 750 houseboats on the water. Roughly speaking, there are two sorts of houseboats: the house-ship, and the ark. The house-ship is an old barge of which the old cargo space has been transformed into a living space. An ark is a boat that was built to be lived in; a house on water.
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The Seven Bridges refer to a series of bridges that span over two canals, creating a stunning composition of arches and reflections. This enchanting scene has inspired artists, photographers, and poets throughout the years.
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The Oude Kerk
The Oude Kerk (English: Old Church) is Amsterdam's oldest building and newest art institute (since 2012). The building was founded about 1213 and consecrated in 1306 by the bishop of Utrecht with Saint Nicolas as its patron saint. After the Reformation in 1578, it became a Calvinist church, which it remains today. It stands in De Wallen, now Amsterdam's main Red-light district.
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Project 1012
In 2007 the Amsterdam municipality started ‘Project 1012’, named after the Red Light District’s postal code. The goal is to further decriminalize prostitution in Amsterdam by concentrating it around a limited number of streets and banning criminal elements from the profession. As a result, some 126 windows were closed since then. In the meantime, the working women became more outspoken. The union ‘PROUD’ was established: the adult entertainment industry union. Their mission is to empower and advocate for the rights of adult entertainment workers, and to create a safe and dignified work environment for all.
You're certaily welcome to walk through the area, but these are the rules ...
1. Do not take photographs or film
2. Do not tap or spit on the window
3. Be respectful toward the women
4. Do not peek through cracks in the curtains
5. Do not stand in front of the doors or windows
6. When visiting, pay in advance and discuss beforehand what is and is not permitted
7. Never have unprotected sex
8. Be hygienic (clean and well-groomed, not intoxicated)
9. When you suspect force or coercion, call the police on 0900 8844
10. Aggression is not tolerated
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Where To Next ? ...
... SOUTH AFRICA / ZIMBABWE, split up by a couple of safaris in BOTSWANA; all together, about 3 weeks.
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Our complete photography gallery for Trip168 (including *-1 >*-4), comprises the countries of NETHERLANDS, SOUTH AFRICA, BOTSWANA and ZIMBABWE.
Our Cameras
NIKON Coolpix P1000
iPhone 16
Unless credited, all photo content is by LOAFin Around
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