Our first day in Amsterdam

 Tuesday, Nov 29.

We arrived into Amsterdam at 8:30 AM, after long but uneventful flights,  and discovered we were booked at a different  hotel than our friends  the Shelbys!  Too late to do anything about it, we headed for ours, the Movenpick, which while close to our boat departure, was a bit of a hike from the  Museums. Bad directions from our host sent us on a bit of a wild goose chase, but we finally arrived at the Anne Frank House in plenty of time to grab some Dutch Pancakes before our allotted entry time. More like huge crepes, we both thought they were not really our cup of tea, but check one off! We rendezvoused with our friends after the tour, and walked to the Van Gogh Museum, by way of a passage through the Reichsmuseum, and past an ice rink set up for the holiday season, already full of people enjoying themselves on the man made rink.  It reminded me of Rockefeller plaza with the winter time skating rink, but also of ice skating on waterways in the Netherlands!

Amsterdam transportation center. 

Dutch pancakes. Not what I expected! 

Some views of the canal near the Anne Frank House.  The house facade was under construction, and covered by scaffolding, and the entrance is a modern building, so no photos.  And no photos allowed were allowed inside.  But it was very moving to go through the rooms, and see where they lived those two years, with Anne's drawings and clippings still posted on the walls.  

So many swans! 

pretty church near Anne Frank House. 

The tower on the church was very tall, and  we caught sight of it walking around town. 

No Christmas markets in Amsterdam, but street vendors. 

Striking building, now law offices.  Wish I knew the history. 

Bike carriers, usually for children, but they even deliver mail and packages with similar contraptions on front of the bikes.  

The Reichsmuseum, which we walked through on the way to the Van Gogh.  That visit comes on tomorrows tour. 

                                                                 

Ice skating rink on Museum Platz, between Reichs and Van Gogh 

Susan and Clem walking across Museum Platz to the Van Gogh , where we enjoyed his work, as well as a special exhibit on Klimt.  

The Shelby's hotel in a historical building  was near the museums, and we went to see it and their room , and this was the view of the courtyard from their window! 

The shutters on these buildings were unique, and appealing. 

Could it be they painted the beautiful door to match their bike?  

Wonderful little delft houses arranged in the window of a great shop we stopped into  later in the day and purchased small ornaments.  

The cashier in this wonderful shop full of Delft pottery was so uniquely attired, I had to snap a photo as he wrapped our purchases. 

 After enjoying the works at the Van Gogh, including a special exhibit of Gustaf Klimt, we headed to a quaint looking restaurant we had passed on the way, and had a nice relaxing dinner, then summoned an Uber for the ride back to the hotel.  More than enough walking for one day!