Bonus Amsterdam day 2

Saturday, June 6, 2015

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I didn’t wake up until Clay came back from the gym today! We didn’t have any plans today and a half day to do it. We went up to Terrace for breakfast. The back deck was open, but it was a bit of a nippy breeze out there and we didn’t have on jackets so we stayed inside.

We were off Marina before 9am. We stopped at the TI desk in the terminal building before leaving to ask about the tram. It is number 26 that goes by across the street in front of the cruise terminal building. It costs 2.90 Euros for a ticket that you can tap in and out on public transit for 1 hour. She gave us a map with transit stops and numbers on it. It also showed some of the area outside Amsterdam that we covered yesterday. She said it was only a 10 minute walk to Central Station, so we just walked outbound. We found the Segway Tour store 2 doors down on the right. The sign said they offered public tours at 11am and 2pm but they were closed. Maybe next time as it is so conveniently located. It is segwaybookings.com.

So I had copied a full page from a guide book with a walking tour around Jordaan that I had marked in some extra things like the Pancake Bakery, a Jumbo grocery store and the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. It turned out the ACM was next to the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, but it was a shop without export tulip bulbs and charged for the museum in back so we didn’t go. Clay also remembered going to a Saturday market somewhere in Central Amsterdam when he was here alone a few years ago. He described it to the TI woman and she suggested it was behind the Noorderkerk. These things were now all within the Jordaan and would be doable in a morning. We set off.

We walked along the IJ River past the back side of Central Station to the first pedestrian crossing that we saw. I was hoping to avoid the crowds of Stationsplein and we did. We wound our way to the Saturday market on Lindengracht behind the Noorderkerk. It was as Clay remembered. The first stall I saw was selling flowers. I had bought a bouquet at a market in Montreal. The roses and baby’s breath had gone, but the fern and orchid stalk were still ok. The problem was that there had been 7 more buds on the orchid stem and at some point, the bouquet got sprayed with disinfectant and the fern got yellow leaves there and the 7 buds curled up and dropped off. So, I have left a sad looking fern leaf and a sad looking stalk with 5 beautiful orchids on it. I was thinking it was time to give it up or replace it. I bought a big bunch of tiny bright pink roses for only 3.50 Euros. The first stall he saw he had to stop at and get a herring broodje. That is a sandwich of pickled herring, with pickles and onions for 1.75 Euros. He was quite pleased with his stinky snack! We walked the entire length from Brouwersgracht to Lijnbaansgracht. We went down Tichelstraat to Westerstraat where we found Jumbo Grocery. We went in and found some Beemster cheese at 2.75 Euros (from the area we drove yesterday) and some chocolate speculoos cookies in individual packages for 1.22 Euros. From there we walked back up to the Noorderkerk and the Noorder Markt. It was similar to the last one, except they were serving freshly shucked oysters there. Clay didn’t want any though. I guess if we had found that oyster stall first he’d have eaten that instead. Anyway, since it was mostly the same things and we had made our purchases already, we did not walk the entire market.

We walked down Prinsengracht to the Pancake Bakery. There was not a line at about 11am so we went in and got seated after the one couple before us. There were no individual tables left and she asked if we would be seated at a large sharing table. We agreed. She took us to the very back of the ground floor where there was a table to seat 8. We sat on the back side of the table so others could join us. I went to the ladies room after ordering and when I left and when I came back there was a line out the door. When I returned to the table a young British couple had just joined us. Clay ordered a Trappist Witte ale 5.2 percent for 3.65 Euros. I ordered a cherries Dutch pancake for 8.50 Euros. Clay ordered an extra plate. It was all very good. I loved the cherry Dutch pancake! Check! This time we understood the big crock of syrup that the Dutch would put on any pancake, sweet or savory. I had marked a chocolate and gelato maker’s shop but Clay did want any more and neither did I. We walked instead to the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. It was right next to the Amsterdam Tulip Museum. Both appeared to be basically shops, like the Maple Syrup Museum in Quebec City and Montreal. In this case though, the cheese one was free (donations accepted) and the tulip one charged. The tulip did not have export bulbs, so we left. I will try to buy my bulbs on the way back home when we pass by here again. The Amsterdam Cheese Museum was an interesting place and worth the donation. They had samples of everything and you could email a photo. We did! Bonus was the penny smash machine for Clay.

CHEESE!

We walked on down that side of Prisengracht to Rozengracht and crossed beside the Westerkerk to the tram stop. We just missed the #13 and took the #17 right behind it. We got on and paid our fare and tapped in our cards. We got off at Central Station and walked across the tracks to the area where #26 picked up. We got in line and boarded and tapped our cards in again. We got off at the first stop #26 had at the Cruise Passenger Terminal (actually it was called Bimhouse or something, but you could see the building). We tapped our cards for the last time and walked back across the street. The Segway place was still locked up. Not sure what to make of that since I looked at their website for our return date as well as today and they would let you book many more times than the 11am and 2pm they had posted on their sign inside the locked shop. I guess we’ll just wait and see on that.

We were back onboard before 2pm. We sailed right at 3pm. It was actually windier today when we left than it was last night. It was sunny and about 25 degrees cooler though without the rain and lightning. But, before we sailed, I heard a loud roar of shouting and walked out on the balcony to see a canal cruise-type boat sail by. Clay went out to sit in his fleece and with the lap blanket, his camera and binoculars. I eventually heard the shouting again and Clay was sitting out there laughing and looking through the binoculars. I went out again and he told me, it's a bachelor party. On the back of the boat is a naked woman all over some guy sitting separately back there. He handed me the binoculars. Yep, she was completely nude and all over him. But, I told Clay, he's naked too! Clay took back the binoculars as the boat was no past us and informed me that no he was not naked, he was wearing a tutu. I took back the binoculars and thank God, the guy was wearing a multi-colored tutu! Clay took photos that he will NOT be posting. This is the Amsterdam you're always afraid of finding, the one with the naked prostitute. Right outside your bedroom window.

I was looking forward to sitting up in the front windows of Horizons for the sail out, but they had all the tables set for 4pm tea time at 2:25pm all the front window seating area was taken. I didn’t want to have to seat through tea and trivia to have a forward view anyway! I assume at some point at least some of those people will leave, but I guess by then I’ll be settled here with my TV bow cam and my balcony view. There are tons of swans and other waterbirds living along the canal. Some adorable paired geese with bright orange bills. Some small gray fishing birds with swallow tails. At about 5pm we got to the IJmuiden lock. Julie had announced before 4:30pm that we would get to the lock in a half hour and that was pretty close. It is 5:10pm now and we are stopped in the lock. The lock workers have tied us off to their dock bollards on the starboard side at least. I can't see the other side, only my side and the bow and aft cams. I can see traffic on the road across the front of the locks. Clay has gone to the aft of deck 15's Fitness Track to try get live photos of the lock closing behind us. I can see it sliding across behind us on the aft cam on TV now. As soon as it slid into place there were cars and people crossing it! The front lock gate is opening at 5:28pm! I still have no idea if we went up or down. It was imperceptible to me! I feel like it must have been to raise us to sea level instead of lowering us, but I have no idea! It must have been a very small change. I will Google while I wait for Clay to return as maybe he could tell from his vantage. Clay could tell that we went up to rise to sea level. Otherwise he said my TV was just as good as his, with the exception of the dirty camera.

We were in for yet another surprise. As we sailed out of the mouth of the IJ River into the North Sea, there were 100's of kite sails in the air! The seas are moderate and the wind a Moderate Gale force of around 28 knots according to the TV. That may or may not be accurate as they have not updated our location yet. The pilot had a heck of a time disembarking onto the Pilot boat.

I opened my box of French rose wine last night. I don't know if I like it better than the white, both are pretty good. We only have about 2 weeks to go so I will never finish this one at the rate I worked on the first box! Clay has not bought any beer since Canada and he'll be lucky if he finishes his supply as well.

We will go to Terrace for dinner and not go to the show. It is Backstage Pass again. There is definitely a new Jean Ann Ryan cast onboard. They have been stopping all service and traffic in Terrace since they arrived. The Currents insert describes most of them as aerialists. I am not sure how many they need! There is also a ballroom dance couple in the cast list. That is new. I don’t know how they use these different people in the same shows. Maybe we will go to the show just to find out. Tomorrow is a sea day after all.

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