Post by Kim on Jan 12, 2002 10:33:18 GMT -5
Tuesday, 08 January
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Once again, hello to you all,
What can I tell you about this place? It is very big indeed, and to my mind at least, several 'different' cities depending entirely upon what you want out of it. <br>
First, it is dirty, seedy, rough, tacky.....think Times Square
before Rudy.
This is primarily so in the area around Central Station and Dam Square, the 'heart' of the old city. Full, chock full, of dive hotes, fast food joints, bars, tourist traps, currency exchanges and beggars like no where else. But it remains still vital and busy and full of energy. No place though you'd want your daughter walking after dark.
Go just a few blocks outside the center and it is basically more
residential, but still in a big city sort of way. The canals are amazing, even in the winter and fascinate me with their myriad trails. There are the 'main' ones, the five big ones that circle round the city. But criss crossing in between these are so many smaller, almost alley way canals. Most are filled with houseboats and assorted other barges and very busy even this time of year. The canal houses, the architecture of them is endlessly pleasing and a feast for the eyes. Have spent a good deal of time in the mornings just purely wandering and looking. It must be totally fabulous in the summer! There are 'garbage' barges that wander around in the mornings to clean up....the men have huge fish
nets of sorts on poles and they scoop the litter up. But trust me, the water in them looks youcky and most uninviting!
Then there is the historical/cultural side of the place and of course therin is where I have spent my time. In truth I have barely touched the surface of this place in my three days here, but have made a good dent on the museum side of the place. Anne Frank house.....my first stop and so poignant. I know nearly all have read it, and for sure seen one of the movies or plays. But nothing can prepare you for just how tiny, how very tiny it is. How they all hid there for so long is beyond me, but considering the other option at the time I suppose they did what they had to do. It is a moving place and can not help but touch anyone who visits. Also hit the Jewish Historical Museum....deals a bit with the 40's war years of course, but actually spends a great deal more
time on the lives of the Jewish prior to 1941. And Jewish life in general, it's religious and legal views. Most intersting, and a fine audio tour by the way. Also went to the Dutch Resistence Museum....get the feeling I am back into my WWII groove again?......which was probably the best of the historical type places I thought. Extremely well done, wonderfully organized and insightful. However, I felt it actually dealt more with the Dutch peoples conditions during the occupation in general much more than any sort of info on actual resistence....but I still rate it very highly. And of course I have made the rounds of the churches and synagogues. Almost dissapointing next to those I have seen thus far. Still pretty of course, but rather 'plain' compared to
those of other countries. Not a lot of soaring, gothic, gilt and vavoom in them.
Today I have spent 6 hours in the Rijksmuseum.....the art museum if you will. What a totally fabulous place! Rembrandts out the gazoo and Van Goghs and just so much to see it is mind boggling. Rembrandts 'The Night Watch' is there.....even if you are thinking what is that, trust me you have all seen pics of this and would know it in a moment even if not who the painter was. It is one huge thing! It just floored me, honestly. No picture I have ever seen makes clear just what a big canvas this is. Stunning, as all of his works there. I had planned on going to the Van Gogh museum as well, it's just down the street and where most of his works are. But I got so engrossed in the Rijksmuseum by the time I left the other was closing in less than an hour so no
sense paying the 9 euros to get in at that point. One thing I must say though is that the museums here are rather pricey! Average between 6 and 10....worth it for what you see, but still next to UK where they are free it is a bit of a budget cruncher.
con't in next thread
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Once again, hello to you all,
What can I tell you about this place? It is very big indeed, and to my mind at least, several 'different' cities depending entirely upon what you want out of it. <br>
First, it is dirty, seedy, rough, tacky.....think Times Square
before Rudy.
This is primarily so in the area around Central Station and Dam Square, the 'heart' of the old city. Full, chock full, of dive hotes, fast food joints, bars, tourist traps, currency exchanges and beggars like no where else. But it remains still vital and busy and full of energy. No place though you'd want your daughter walking after dark.Go just a few blocks outside the center and it is basically more
residential, but still in a big city sort of way. The canals are amazing, even in the winter and fascinate me with their myriad trails. There are the 'main' ones, the five big ones that circle round the city. But criss crossing in between these are so many smaller, almost alley way canals. Most are filled with houseboats and assorted other barges and very busy even this time of year. The canal houses, the architecture of them is endlessly pleasing and a feast for the eyes. Have spent a good deal of time in the mornings just purely wandering and looking. It must be totally fabulous in the summer! There are 'garbage' barges that wander around in the mornings to clean up....the men have huge fish
nets of sorts on poles and they scoop the litter up. But trust me, the water in them looks youcky and most uninviting!
Then there is the historical/cultural side of the place and of course therin is where I have spent my time. In truth I have barely touched the surface of this place in my three days here, but have made a good dent on the museum side of the place. Anne Frank house.....my first stop and so poignant. I know nearly all have read it, and for sure seen one of the movies or plays. But nothing can prepare you for just how tiny, how very tiny it is. How they all hid there for so long is beyond me, but considering the other option at the time I suppose they did what they had to do. It is a moving place and can not help but touch anyone who visits. Also hit the Jewish Historical Museum....deals a bit with the 40's war years of course, but actually spends a great deal more
time on the lives of the Jewish prior to 1941. And Jewish life in general, it's religious and legal views. Most intersting, and a fine audio tour by the way. Also went to the Dutch Resistence Museum....get the feeling I am back into my WWII groove again?
......which was probably the best of the historical type places I thought. Extremely well done, wonderfully organized and insightful. However, I felt it actually dealt more with the Dutch peoples conditions during the occupation in general much more than any sort of info on actual resistence....but I still rate it very highly. And of course I have made the rounds of the churches and synagogues. Almost dissapointing next to those I have seen thus far. Still pretty of course, but rather 'plain' compared tothose of other countries. Not a lot of soaring, gothic, gilt and vavoom in them.
Today I have spent 6 hours in the Rijksmuseum.....the art museum if you will. What a totally fabulous place! Rembrandts out the gazoo and Van Goghs and just so much to see it is mind boggling. Rembrandts 'The Night Watch' is there.....even if you are thinking what is that, trust me you have all seen pics of this and would know it in a moment even if not who the painter was. It is one huge thing! It just floored me, honestly. No picture I have ever seen makes clear just what a big canvas this is. Stunning, as all of his works there. I had planned on going to the Van Gogh museum as well, it's just down the street and where most of his works are. But I got so engrossed in the Rijksmuseum by the time I left the other was closing in less than an hour so no
sense paying the 9 euros to get in at that point. One thing I must say though is that the museums here are rather pricey! Average between 6 and 10....worth it for what you see, but still next to UK where they are free it is a bit of a budget cruncher.
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