Amsterdam and Harlem

 It was tough getting out of bed this morning, but we needed to meet our guide for a morning walking tour of Amsterdam.  He took us on a different route, rather than along the somewhat slippery metal walkway along the canal that we had gone on the day before, and was proud of himself for doing so, and for giving us a different perspective! He had long hair and was cute and entertaining in addition to being knowledgeable, and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour and his stories.  Amsterdam, as we had already seen, is a charming city of canals, gabled houses, museums, and lots of bicycles! About 90 Islands are connected by 1500 bridges, and it's a great city to explore by foot.  

A view at first light from our hotel, with a long boat docked on this side of water, seen under railing. 

Wild whale shaped science center

just a cool building shot through the bridge structure. 

The small box shaped building is actually rented out as a hotel room.  Might be a hoot!  Great view, certainly. 

Bikes are the main means of transportation, regardless of your destination!  Below that row he is headed to, is an underground parking area to help accommodate the millions of bikes. 

Now that is a tiny car!

Floating Chinese restaurant! 

Don't know what this building was ,but it was eye catching! 

Bicyclists showed little regard for traffic laws, and here, for where not to park! 

Every year, the canals are dredged and bikes pulled out, presumably stolen and dumped.  These are some of those bikes, chained to a  pole along the canal.  

Basilica of St. Nicholas 

one of the original dams 

I started spotting delectable shops windows, and had to snap some photos. 

cute kitty in the window became super lovable when I stopped to take his photo, and rubbed and raised his paw to me!  Would have loved to pet him of course! 

Wagg - 15th century building originally the city gate and part of the walls of Amsterdam. 

Wagg from the other side

The narrowest building in Amsterdam.  Buildings were taxed on their width, so they were built narrow to avoid taxes.  Some lean out toward the street, which was done intentionally to gain some room inside without increasing the width.  

The slim cookies on top of some of these outrageous concoctions are Stroopwaffles, the traditional  thin waffle like cookie filled with a caramel filling. 

This was the first I saw, bu soon learned the rubber duckies in all manner of clothing are a big thing!  Saw them all throughout our trip. 

Royal Palace of Amsterdam in Dam Square 

Major shopping area!Wish we had time to peruse!

a giant Delft duck! 

Lots of pancake places.  I wonder if the ones we had were not the best. 

The huge french fry places were intriguing! 

many sitting in outdoor cafes, despite the chill in the air. 

Specially painted ceiling our guide pointed out, the details of which I now don't recall! But it was interesting!  

We finished our morning city walk just in time to meet our next guide, and were taken by bus to Haarlem, a town outside of Amsterdam with a rich history, and lunch in a church turned brew pub! 

Wild building I shot from the bus on the way to Haarlem, I believe it was an art museum. 

Haarlem is a beautiful town, much like Amsterdam but more laid back and quieter, with charming streets, canals, and buildings.  We enjoyed roaming , and learning of the homes where elderly were cared for, and then visiting the gardens of one of those homes as well as the Frans Hal museum, and learning about one of the Netherlands famous painters. Hals lived and worked in Haarlem, and was known mainly for his individual and group portraits, and  his loose painterly brushwork.  He played an important role in the evolution of group paintings, breaking with tradition and  painting his subjects in natural positions rather than posed, and often smiling. His works could be photographs….snapshots in time. 

Once the gates to the city. 

The coat of arms of Haarlem, the saying on banner meaning "virtue  conquered violence" and refers to the many sieges of the city. 

The bar where we had lunch in what was once a church

and the exterior of the church turned brew pub

bikes, bikes, and more bikes, this was inside a small shop 

The narrow houses added ornate gables to add distinction, the one on right being an aptly named step gable. 

I finally caught a quick shot of one of the child ferrying bikes! 

our guide showed us down a small alley behind a house where this lovely little garden sat. 

and the continuation of the quaint alley 

posing for a shot at the entrance to one of the small charming streets

Susan and I stopped to admire the black and white paintings on a wall 

In the garden of a home for the elderly

Even in December, there are flowers in stands around town.

Amaryllis bulbs decorated for the holidays! 

curved streets

step gables, all the same here

Waiting for our guide to purchase tickets to go into the Frans Hals Museum, housed in what was once an Old Men's Home, where men over 60 could go to live in their fading years.  Over 60?? 

housed in what was a large Old Men's Home, the china cupboards were interesting in this room.

Huge doll houses displayed in elaborate closing cabinets that apparently were for the rich to show off their houses and belonging!  I guess better than taking visitors through your house on a tour, and having to make sure all the rooms were neat and tidy! But I didn't get it! 

Elaborate displays in each room of the dollhouse. 

Zaandam clocks, the icon of Dutch clock making, per Jeremy,  who collects clocks! 

Huge paintings by Hals of the guard, which was his trademark. 

The individuals are all looking in different directions, as they might have been had someone walked in on them, and taken a photo.  His masterful technique. 

I thought the figural finials were very interesting and beautiful. 

As we have learned, the husband is always on the left facing to the right, and his wife the opposite, in marriage portraits.  

After our visit to the Frans Hals museum, we continued on  our tour of Haarlem, once again past lovely streets to the central market square, the Grote Markt, and the Christmas market, where we had some time to peruse the market and additional streets before rejoining our guide to return.  

1603 Vleehall former meat market in Grote Markt 

Grote Kerk, or Great Church, a reformed Protestant church that was formerly Catholic. 

The meat market from the other side 

the image of the bull on the facade is testament to its use

Grote Markt, the central market of Haarlem 

Statue of Larens Janszoon Coster, who is said to have invented the printing press around the same time as Gutenberg, but was regarded as the first

City hall in Grote Markt 

Trailer on the right is selling salted herring, but we all decided to pass on trying that regional delicacy! The lights spelling Haarlem with a star for Christmas were barely visible in the fading light.  

We left as the darkness set in, and rode back to our hotel, where we opted to have dinner and call it a night.