Maybe Interesting stuff

Yesterday we decided to walk up to Central Station and buy a ticket for an evening canal tour on Thursday.  As we were walking along our street was blocked off.  We had just passed a small foot bridge across the canal so we back tracked and crossed over to the other side of the canal.  As we continued our walk we saw the reason for the blockage.  A moving van was moving somebody out of their apartment.  FACT:  Many of the homes in Amsterdam are built tilted forward just a bit.  No kidding.  A large hook is visible at the top of most, so a pulley can be attaced.  Reason being; the houses are narrow and the stairs up are very narrow and steep.  The depth is also narrow (I can attest to that because our own is quite narrow in all respects).  Anyway, they use pulleys to raise and lower things through the windows.  This is a modernized version, but we have seen the actual pulley system working in a lot of cases.  We seen power tools going up on rehabs in the area and construction debris coming down. 

Moving day

You can see the hooks sticking out at the top of the houses which are used for the pulleys

FACT: Amsterdammers do not wear bike helmets, nor do their kids

FACT: Terry likes to pose by flowers (not sure thats an interesting fact)

Yesterday we headed out to the gym and then jumped on the tram to go to the "Resistance Museum", An interesting and very well displayed museum.  It tells the story of the Dutch people during Nazi Germany occupation from 1940 - 1945.  With old film footage, posters, sound effects and artifacts they have re-created the streets of Amsterdam and the daily life of the Dutch during the occupation.  When The Netherlands surrendered to Germany after the bombing of Rotterdam there were choices to be made.  At first it didn't appear to be too bad to be occupied by Germany and things went on pretty normal.    Fears of the unknown and the uncertainty of the future forced the Dutch people to make choices.  The choices were "Adapt", "Collaborate", or "Resist".  This museum represents stories and pictures from all points of view.  Some adapted out of fearor to get along and to keep positions of authority that would otherwise be filled by Germans or Collaborators, others collaborated to be on the winning side and yet many others resisted the invasion of their country.   Identity cards were issued and all Jews cards had a "J" imprinted on it and were required to wear a Star of David on their clothes.  When the registrations began there were strikes in protest. When the deportations started, there were more strikes and resistance became more prevalent.  At the risk of their own lives, Dutch citizens began to help Jews to escape or to hide.  They became very good at forging identity papers and publishing papers with war news not propagated by Nazi Germany.  The stories of those who made one of the three choices makes this museum a must see if you are ever in Amsterdam.  The stories of the surviving resistors and the few Jews who either hid or survived the camps are filled with bravery, fear, compassion and sadness.  The background of the holocaust is always there and makes this a very sobering experience, but well worth your time.  It definitely brings home the fact that one should not judge others unless one has walked in their shoes.  

As we were walking to the museum we saw this little Memorial to the children lost in WWII

We decided we needed a night out, so went out to dinner at a little Mexican restaurant.  If I didn't know better I would have thought I was back in New Mexico.  The Chef's background was Mexican and Columbian.  The red sauce was fiery hot and the food delicious; and the margaritas weren't bad either.  Yum!  Met some youngsters sitting next to us, one an American, the others Dutch.  Had a fun dinner and conversation.

and then apple pie at our local bar

locals including the bartender with her back to you

Really old and decorative beer taps

More fun facts later