Saturday, Market Day and Sunday, Soccer Day

The Saturday market is so fun.  So many new things to try.

Homemade pasta.  We bought Ravioli stuffed with truffle and celery

Olive and fig tapenade (mostly for Terry) and Artichoke spread (mostly for me)

The usual vegetables for the week

 bread, chicken and a small pork loin. 

Set for the week we headed out for a ittle self guided tour of the neighborhood and took a few pictures

Nordkerk (North Church

As we were walking up Princengracht past the Anne Frank house somebody called Terry's name.  She turned and lo and behold it was a friend from Charlotte who was in one of her book clubs.  Donna Hager.   She and a friend Pam had flown to Hamburg Germany to catch a cruise to Norway.  They decided to come in early and take a side trip to Amsterdam.  What are the chances that we would be passing the Anne Frank house while they were waiting in the line to get in.  Very small world.  We told them where we lived just up the street and agreed to meet later.  About an hour later they showed up at our loft.  We had a glass of wine and then walked over to Central station and took the free ferry to "The Eye" a modernistic cinema.  It was after 6 so all the exhibits were closed.  Only the theaters and restaurant were open. We walked around a little and then hopped back on the ferry and walked back to their nearby hotel where we had another drink with them.  They had a dinner scheduled and then were headed back to Hamburg in the early AM to catch their cruise.  It was a nice evening and fun to run into so from home.

Sunday

 

Pretty much stayed in and rested.  We went out to finish our self-guided tour from yesterday and to watch the people getting ready for the big soccer game.  Every body dressed in orange. 

TV's were set up outside on the streets and in every cafe/bar along our route.  

We found some little gardens (inside courtyards) that have been around since the 1650's

Another nice day in Amsterdam

Amsterdam - Phone

Yesterday we went out again to find a phone.  Went to Vodofone (the most widely known phone store in Europe).  They told us our best option was to buy unlocked phones (which means you don't have to sign up for a plan) and then when we move from country to country we could just buy a new SIM card (cheap).  This would be a phone we could just buy minutes and data gigabytes for and no contract required for a plan.  The Vodofone store did not have unlocked phones but there are two places where they are available;  Saturn and Media Market.  There was a Saturn Store (kind of like Best Buy) just up the street near Central Station where we could get one pretty cheap.  We finally find the store only to find our they are rearranging their phone department and have NO phones of any kind for sale until that is complete.  Now ain't that just dandy!!  Ok, we ask they guy there if he knows where the Media Market is and he says, yes about an hour plus Metro ride away.  He politely gave us directions on which Metro to take and how to find it once we arrived.  We thanked him and went out to the nearest Starbucks (one on every corner here like everywhere else) for their free wi-fi and googled Media Market.  What we got was a Media Market one stop from Central Station on the bus (first stop being a couple of miles out towards the suburbs, maybe 10 minutes away).  We found the right bus and the driver told us when to get off.  We found the Media Market after asking in a little department store and getting directions out the back door of the store into a little outdoor mall.

We bought Samsung phones and were directed right across from that store to buy our SIM cards and we were good to go.  Of course other than basic set up procedures, there are no instructions on how to use this smart phone: but, hey were two smart women, right?  Our brand "spanky" new phones in hand we can now call each other and maybe Erwin (the only other person we have been introduced to by e-mail in the Netherlands).  Whoopee!   We are patting ourselves on the back.  We find our bus stop and hop on and are back to Central Station in no time.  

Upon returning to our happy home, we charge up our phones and put our new phone numbers in each other's phones.  So Terry tries to call me and it rings.  I tap the green phone to answer and it wont pick up.  UhOh!  I try to call her and the same thing happens.  It rings but you can't answer.  Huh.  I google operating instructions for Samsung phones and it comes right up (in Dutch).  My Dutch is limited to hello, so not much help.  We put the phones away for another day.

This morning we got up and went to find a Gym called "Health Club Jordaan" not to far down the canal.  Found it on the first try.  The receptionist, whose name is Jolene, gave us a tour and the low down on programs we could join.  They have 1-3 month memberships (designed for tourists and ex-pats) and it was a really nice facility.  We signed up.  Interestingly, the 3 month membership is cheaper if you go at non-peak hours 7:30 am to 3:00 pm.  (perfect for us).  Apparently the Dutch prefer to exercise later in the in day.  Peak period starts at 3:00 - 9:00 pm.  Works well for us.

As we were filling out the forms to join the Gym, our phone numbers came up.  We told her we had spanky new Samsung's, but couldn't figure out how to answer calls.  Terry ask her if she happened to own a Samsung phone, and wonder of wonder she did.  We told her about our problem with calling.  She tried really really hard not to smirk at us or laugh.  Anyway, it seems that with the Samsung, when the phone rings you SWIPE the green phone left to answer and the red phone right to hang up. Us Apple product users TAP the green phone not SWIPE the green phone.  I ask you, "How were we to know?".  She was not very busy at the moment so she showed us a few other handy things on our "spanky" new phones.  Now if we can just remember them long enough to get home to practice.

Amsterdam

Hello all, we are mostly resting and getting to know our way around.  Yesterday, we walked to Cental Station to check on transportation passes around the city.  Found out we have to have a Dutch bank account to get the best rate senior discout card.  Not meant for tourists.  Ah well, may cost a little more, but trams are the best way around the city.  They go most everywhere in the city and there the  trains to outlying cities.  Anyway, while at the information center, we asked the girl who helped us if she knew where we could get a set of keys made (Teo, our landlord only gave Terry one set), so we decided to get one made in case we both went in different directions).  Both the street door and the loft door have separate keys. Anyway, she did know of a locksmith right next to a must see market.  Well 13,000 steps later, we finally found the market (not so great and not so must see).  Never did find the locksmith.  Obviously, our legs were falling off, so we caught a tram back to Central Station and wearily hoofed it back to the loft (had to stop for a cold Amstel on the way).  We stayed in for dinner and fixed a salad and pasta.  Very good.  Went to bed.  Took awhile to go to sleep as everything hurt, lower back, ankles, feet.  Yikes!!!

Woke up this morning and we decided to make this a stay home and rest, do laundry day.  The weather was quite cool, so it was a good day to do that.  Googled locksmiths in Amsterdam.  Guess what, there is one just around the corner from us.  Duh! and Duh!.  Wonder why we didn't do this in the first place.  Would have saved a heck of a lot of shoe leather, not to mention my aching back.

We finally went out around 5:00 o'clock to find the locksmith and he was right where google said he was.  Then walked back to the little neighborhood bar to get a drink before dinner.  We introduced ourselves to the bartender by trying to say hello in Dutch (we didn't get it right.  Not enough gutteral sounds.  Dutch is a little like German, but not).  This bar/coffee house has been around since the 1700's.  Jon (pronounced Yon) is the bartender and is quite friendly once you start talking to him.  We told him we were living here for 4 months and he said welcome and gave us our first lesson in saying hello.   We then walked down the street to another tapas restaurant (this one quiet unlike the rowdy one we were at the other night) and had dinner.  It was good.  

Not being quite full, we stopped back at our local bar (the corner of the building across the bridge)

and had one huge piece of apple pie (dutch style, more like a tort) with whipped cream and decaf coffees.  It was yummy.  Not often that you see apple pie in a bar.  It was a quiet night at the bar.  Last night, we could hear them from our loft (World Cup football and The Netherlands won).  Barges on the canal blew horns and everybody was cheering and having a good time.  

We walked across the bridge and home for an early night.

Amsterdam

We slept in this morning and had a leisurely breakfast.  We strolled across the canal bridge

and down the street to the Noordmarkt (North Market), an organic food market that is here each Saturday morning. There is also a huge market with antiques, vintage clothing, you name it, that is next to the food market.   

I loved the Davidson Farmers Market, but wow this was something.  The cheeses (didn't taste a bad one), 

the produce mushrooms of every shape and size.  

Bread lots and lots of different kinds.  Too much to choose from and we bought a lot including chicken and pork chops.  

We are cooking in tonight.  We were loaded down, so we brought everything home and then went back out in a different direction to explore our neighborhood.  I made an appointment to get my hair cut on Monday.  Terry already bit the bullet in Bristol, England and got a very cute cut.  Hope mine is as successful.  The girl that booked me had half her head shaved.  Not sure that bodes well.  We shall see.  Ha.  

We walked on down the street and saw this caliope playing 

Cheese stores everywhere

Bicycles everywhere

and flowers everywhere

and picked up a few things from the drug store and then stopped in a little salad bar and had a bowl of soup for lunch.  

Went back home and veged the rest of the day and fixed our dinner.  Joint effort and despite not being able to figure out how to turn on the gas stove top (we mastered the oven earlier and had roasted some beets).  

We ended up baking the chicken, cooking the mushrooms and asparagus in the oven and Walla, great dinner.  

Who says you need a cook top to fix dinner.  We sat in our doorway watching the people go by as we ate our dinner, which was every bit as good as anything we have eaten out.  

People watching

Cleaned up the kitchen and then face timed my sister Sandra and cousin Joyce.  Had the first really good face time connection since this journey began.  A good day.

Off to Brussels

Our last morning in London

 and then to the train station.

Got on the right train and headed for Brussels.  Yep, it goes under the English Channel and directly into Brussels.  We are now sitting in Brussels waiting for our train to Amsterdam.  All announcements are made in Dutch, German, French and then English I think.  We're not in Kansas anymore Toto.  However, things were going well.  Until.........

We are now on our way to Amsterdam, but let me tell you our little tale:

I went to check the departures board to see if our train was up and it was.  Only problem was, there were two departing at the same time and it looked like they were both going to Amsterdam Central.  I ask a nicely dressed business man next to me if he spoke English.  He said yes indeed and in truth he spoke it as well as I do.  He looked at my ticket and said he thought he was on the fast one and we were on the slow one.  So off we went to track 18.  Got there and the sign said going to Antwerp.  We ask a nice lady if we were in the right place as the Antwerp train was leaving earlier than ours.  She actually ran down and ask a train person and he told us to get on the train.  So we did...... then the lady who helped us ask somebody on the train and they said we were on the wrong train.  At the next stop the young man she asked helped us get off and into the station, but ended up directing us to the wrong train.  Before it left we found out we were again on the wrong train.  I tripped over one of my bags and cracked my head on the hand hold, but fortunately we managed to get me my bags and Terry and hers off before it left.  

We then ran and spoke to two train persons, who spoke very little to no English.  One of them managed to make us understand we needed to go back to Brussels Central.  Terry showing off her language skills says "Gracias" to two Belgians and we were off again.  Ha.

We jumped on that train with our bags (really beginning to hate these bags now) and back we go to Central.  Jumped off and checked departures for the THALYS train (ours) and found it was going to be at track 3a.  Off we tore with our bags and up the escalator, where I nearly fell again trying to get off the escalator.  One guy directed us in one direction for car 17.  Wrong direction, we were directed to the other end of the train, where this very nice train lady said we were at the right car, and on the right train for Amsterdam.  I can't believe we made it in time to get on the original train we were supposed to be on, THE FAST TRAIN.  Hint the THALYS on our ticket indicated the train line we were supposed to be on.  

Now here is the kicker.  This all took place within about twenty five minutes of getting the bad advice from Mr. Businessman.  Live and learn.  We hope to be smarter next time or ask a smarter guy.  Ha.

By the time we got our bags and selves on the train and settled, I was melting in sweat.  But guess what?  Terry was sweating too, and she never sweats.  We both broke out laughing at ourselves.  Probably would have cried if we had missed it.  We made it, although a little bedraggled.

Hopefully, finding our new home in Amsterdam won't be quite as stressful. 

No more trauma.  We are here and it is a big and lovely flat. 

Teo had a nice bottle of red waiting for us and boy did we need it.

From our front windows

 We walked down the street to a little cafe that was a tapas bar.  Literally, we ate at the bar.  It was really busy, rowdy and noisy but fun.  Bartender/waiter took our picture.  Albondigas (meatballs in tomato sauce) a green salad and a potato and beet salad, that was really nummy.  Who would have thought to put potatos and beets in the same salad.  It may be my new favorite.

Found a little grocery store and got a few basics, then back home.  I am totally unpacked for the first time in 6 weeks.  Hoorah!!  Resting tomorrow.

Last days of London

Yesterday, Wednesday we went out for lunch, Artichoke soup.  Yummy!

and then walked down to Kensington Gardens 

and decided to tour Kensington Palace (home of Pince William, Kate and baby George).  

Not a glimpse of any of the Royal family, but we did learn a lot about Queen Victoria, and her Consort Albert.  

She was only eighteen when she came to the Throne.  She claimed to have lived very simply - "never had a room to myself till I was nearly grown up - always slept in my Mother's room till I came to the Throne".  They had nine children and Victoria is still the longest reigning Queen (Queen Elizabeth has a year and a few months to catch her).

Riding jacket worn by Queen Victoria fashioned after the uniform of a General Officer

Other Royals who made this palace home:  Queen Mary II died at Kensington of smallpox when she was 32 years old.  She had only one living child who died at 11.  Her sister Anne was then crowned, but also died without issue.  The next in line was a German and a Hanovarian, George II.  He brought with him his Queen Caroline.  They were the only sovereigns to be named King and Queen of England.  All others have been only one or the other, King or Queen and Consort.  

Fashions of the day.  Note Terry in the finest of court dress

She also found another fellow, though he seems to be missing something

This is also the palace where Princess Diana lived with Princes William and Harry after her divorce from Prince Charles, and where all the flowers were laid following her death.

There was also a room with various gowns worn by Princess Margaret and Princes Diana for various functions they attended.

The gardens are quite lovely.  It is said that Kathryn, the Duchess of York can be seen often walking in Kensinngton Park or along Kensington High Street doing her shopping.  Kensington Palace has a long and interesting history.  

Thursday

Terry wanted to go see if she could find the flat that she and her husband stayed in when he was working in London,  It was at 22 St. James Square.  We hopped on the "Tube" and got off at Picadilly Circus and walked until we found St James Square.  We first stopped at 22a St. James Square and she thought it had totally changed.  After speaking with a gentleman inside he said his building had no rental flats.  We walked on and she saw 22  St. James and she recognized it immediately as the place they had stayed. 

We then walked up the street to the famous Fortnum and Mason (think tea) department store.  

flowers

goodies

soap

Murano glass

Hats, couldn't reach the red one to try on, but Terry tried the pink confection

Piece de resistance - Shower Caps, which I could reach and thus the red sequined shower cap

Pretty close in elegance to Harrods, but perhaps not so over the top.  A beautiful store.

On our way to the subway, we passed a street market and walked through, where Terry found a wrap she liked and ended up buying, by a designer named Gabriela Rose.  How we will find a place to pack it is anyone's guess.  I bought a scarf from her which doesn't require a lot of space in the suitcase.  Ah well, I'm sure we will find a place for it.

After vsiting Harrods the other day, I googled it to see if Mohammed Al Fayed still owned Harrods.  He does not.  After having owned and managed it for 25 years he sold it to a Holding company owned by the Qatari Royal family for 1.5 billion pounds.  The history of his ownership talked about the Egyptian stairs (escalator) that he had put in during his time there for 30 million pounds.  It has sphinxes at every level and they all have his face on  them.  He also said that he would never leave Harrods and planned to be buried in a golden sarcophagus on the top floor where his suite of rooms were located. After selling it that is unlikely to happen. After reading about this kind of bizarre but interesting man, we decided to make another visit to Harrods to find this egyption escalator.  And so we did...

He also had a statue of his son Dodi Al Fayed and Princess Diana put in at the bottom of the escalator after their deaths.  Many thought this was  a tacky thing to do, and we saw no evidence of it when we were there.  At any rate this egyptian staircase is quite a novelty for this over the top department store. By the way he started his business life in a market stall in Alexandria, Egypt selling pepsi's.  An interesting man.

It is said that Harrods makes more money per square foot than any other store in the world and attracts 15 million customers a year.

The United Kingdom adventure ends here.  We are headed home to continue our packing for Amsterdam.  TaTa!

Tickets to Amsterdam on the Eurostar.  Let a new phase begin.