Amsterdam, Our last Days

Saturday here in our Place de Domicile!!!

John and I have commandeered the table for our computers

Waking up in our lovely room

Many a wine has been drunk in this lovely lounge assigned to us.

We have learnt very early in the piece, that Dale’s suitcase, that we bought in Chile, a few years ago, is not satisfactory. Just had the handle for pulling fixed in New Zealand, before we left, and it is already broken again, in transit
It’s heavy and with the sore ribs not making life easy. Thank God for Mr McCready and his gym work…he carried the thing, all the way up our steep 4 flights of stairs.

But a lovely surprise at the bottom of this staircase, this gorgeous stained glass window. Something to admire while you prepare to climb.

So we went to buy a new one at V & D Store. Managed to pick up a very smart Delsey Red, reasonable price on sale of course.
Then we bought deli lunch from the same department store. Great selection of salads and bread. Along with cheeses, a fine feast was had.
Cees came to join us, he had been in New York. The plan for the afternoon was for Wessel and Esther to take us all, on the canal on their boat.
Wessel has become Tour Guide Extraordinaire. One day factory tour, next the Canal. It a stunning way to see the City, Of course there are commercial boats but so much nicer to go private.

Cees and John

Wessels Guide Extraordinaire

Elise with Baby Elise

Can you believe this garbage unusual Amsterdam is a clean city

A barge and if I'm not mistaken my finger

Esther and her girls

These 3 barges are a playground for little kids.

Matching boats

Not tulips but geraniums on show

This was a wedding taking place on the barge with a bubble machine...(added extra!!!)

Back of the flower markets

Leaning houses of Amsterdam

Some clown tipped the toilet into the canal. NICE!

Back to the house cups of tea in Lise’s living room

Sena Wessel and Esther’s eldest daughter is a very talented little girl, she draws she dances and she play the piano. Only 8 years old. JT teaching her some tips.

Then up to dress for dinner.
We were very privileged to be taken by Cees and Elise to The Hotel Okura, to dine in their 1 star Michelin Restaurant Yamazto.
We had a 8 course Degustation Menu
It was divine
Plate after plate of beautifully prepared food was delivered to the table.
Lots of tiny morsels. So much work.
First course 6 different tastings
Abalone-Shrimp Sushi - Daikon Radish wrapped in Herring - Deep fried re mullet -

Shabu shabu sirloin wrapped around Chinese Broccoli
Eel
Then Green Pea soup with white asparagus and Tofu pudding
Sashimi, Tempura lobster, Sashimi, and so on

Dessert Green Tea Ice-cream, little raspberry things

We drank Champagne cocktail, white wine and sushi
Our host insisted on paying, we all feebly offered to pay our share but must admit on our reasonably tight budget, it was a relief to be looked after.
On reflection, as wonderful as the food was, we were disappointed in the service,

not as effortless as I would have expected.

Jt continually asking for her water glass to be filled. A long time to order.

Few little things you would expect to happen automatically. Mmmm.
A wonderful day… leaving tomorrow Quelle Domage.

Took some more shots of our residence.

The main house on the left our apartment on the right

Wessels and Esther live in here at the back of the garden

The Wessels girls Over to say farewell

Cees and Wessel kindly chauffeured us and our baggage to Amsterdam Central

We were so sad to leave. All of the family have been so generous to the four of us.

Our final look at Amsterdam...the station

We were very taken with the guard. Loved the outfit. I want that hat…might look a bit Peter Sellers, but he was helpful

The station, with me and the baggage.

Our train

There was a slight panic when the train arrived, we were standing where we were told by the guard, but the train came in with the carriages round the wrong way. Everyone rushing around from end to end, By the time we got to our carriage, most of the luggage spaces had been taken up.
All a bit tight really

This caused a little stress, the sore ribs were tested with the lifting of he suitcases, BUT on the bright side at least we didn’t still have the big blue one!!! C’est difficile…mais, when there is a will, there’s a way.
And so we settled in for our 4 hour journey to Paris “The City of Lights.”
Through industrial Holland, Belgium, into the French countryside lovely green and orderly, me listening to my Collins French Phrase Book. Dale to music. All very easy really.

Great Expectations

Tourists in Amsterdam, Starry Starry Nights

The sun comes and goes but it hasn't got much power in it.

So many delightful sights to see. I just love these Music boxes. The owner stands around shaking his money box, in time to the music. Of course the Music is bizarre. Mixture of old circus and Abba!!!

Just can't help snapping the canals...so pretty

Our first Tram ride about to happen. Unfortunately, I farted about taking the photo and we missed the Tram, had to take the next one. There ya Go. Yes, I did give her a coin to be my model.

Dam Square, the clock tower on the Palace

Part of the Square, unfortunately under construction, hard to get a shot without fencing and junk.

Fab buildings though.

The Palace

A trip through the Flower Markets is a must, so gorgeous. These sweetpeas were so fragile and fragrant
So many stalls

Tulips from Amsterdam

The souvenirs for the girls...Clogs and Windmills

Hi John, Coffee?

Our appointment for the afternoon, was to go on a tour at the Sandwich Factory, Sandays run and owned by Elise's family. They make 10,000 sandwiches a day, for airports, schools, businesses etc.

It is an amazingly run factory. A selection of their fillings, were prepared on Croutons, for our lunch. The quality is superb. Bit slow taking the shot. The gannets had been in already. But gives you an idea.

One needs to wear these hats for hygiene.

You may think we look silly. But take a look at this.

John it seems, is not a hat person.

We haven't laughed so much for ages. Back home, to rest up for our next event.

So we were off to see "The Starry Nights" Exhibtion at the Van Gogh Museum.
Apparently this expo oringinated in New York and will be travelling the world.
First up, just walked 2 doors down to Red, for dinner. A great concept. They only serve Steak or Lobster. Of course I had Surf and Turf. It came with the chips the Dutch and Belgians are famous for, served in a paper cone with Mayo. Yum
Nice view out onto the bridge.

We walked to the Van Gogh museum. Enroute we passed the Rijksmuseum, here they house the Rembrandts...Once again a builing under construction. Has been for years and will be for years. Only one wing is open.

So we get to Vincent's Museum, by the way this is 7.30 at night. Dusk and Dark not until after 10pm.

Elise got special passes for us.

To commemorate the Starry Nights exhibition the local Pub made a special drink. No... we didn't have one, but a nice concept nevertheless.

It was a Grand night. We finished it off over a few more wines. Can't get over how none of us have hangovers. We certainly tried. It must be the Chilean Wines.

We feeeeel GOOD.