Day 2: Wandeling op Amsterdam

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Day 2:

It was hard to wake up today. Woke up with a start to meet my parents at 8:30 am downstairs (many tiny stairs leading to the front lobby). We had breakfast with them (coffie, boiled egg, cheese and bread). It was definately a nice start. Today we were going to the Rijksmuseum. First things we need to do was to buy a Strippenkaart. This is the method of using transit in the Netherlands. Once card can be used everywhere, it just depends on how many strips or zones you need to travel through. You can buy them at any local store.

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We took the tram to the museum (Tram 5). It started raining as we stepped off the Tram. I recommend always carrying an umbrella when you travel in the Netherlands. It rains periodically through the day. Of course none of us had umbrellas. Since the Museum was full (they allow for a total of 650 max entries before beginning to cue - so get there before 10:00), we needed to cue in the rain outside. The wait wasn't long however. Once we were inside I realized that most of the museum is not excessible. It is undergoing a major renovation, which will not be completed until 2008. The works which we saw were located in a very small portion of the museum. Only the major works of (Vermeer, Rembrandt) were located here. The rest of the works have been distributed in various other locations.

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Following our trip to the Museum we had lunch at the nearby cafe. One thing that takes getting used to is the smoking in all the restaurants in the Netherlands. The music was a trashy thumping house music. Not really suitable for lunch time fare. Anyway it was food and gave us time to wait for the rain to stop. As a tip we learned that tipping is generally 10% on your bill.

We took the tram back to the Centrum, and briefly walked down the main shopping street (Nieuwendijk). Not interesting shopping, but more untility and tourist shops. I bought a much needed umbrella at the Hema - a buy all sort of department store with ikea like merchandise. We dropped off my parents and went wandering the grachts of western Amsterdam. Found many boutique shops to the west of Singel. Interesting area. Found Anne Franks house with a huge line up. Tonnes of cafes to stop and have a drink.

We went out for dinner at the oude holland