From now on, this is how I shall write all postcards!
Visiting Volendam, Marken, and Windmills
Tourist Season had a second shot this weekend. Our guests were very generous and purchased us tickets on a tour! So we stepped out of Amsterdam for just a few short but fun-filled hours!
We began our little tour by hopping on a bus at the Damrak and heading for Zaanse Schans to play in some real, old fashioned, still working, windmills.
This particular windmill was a spice windmill where they were grinding mustard.
But there were a host of other windmills in the surrounding area and the smell of cocoa being ground pervaded the air. It was delicious!
Then we were herded back on to the bus and zoomed off to our next destination! The quaint little fishing village of Volendam.
There was plenty to see here, and it was all geared towards the tourist dollar. We spotted four different shops where you could dress up in “authentic” dress to have your picture taken. Himself declined, so I took photos of the boats instead.
Time slipped away and we were shuffled off on our own boat to our next and final destination of Marken. It was here in amongst the traditional houses that we saw a brief talk on how they make cheese from cow, sheep, and goat milk. All these cheeses were delicious! We also saw a demonstation on how clogs are made!
They are made from either poplar or willow and are still worn by farmers today.
It was quite something to see! I will buy some, I just didn’t want to feel rushed into a decision today.
Then it was back on the bus and returned to Amsterdam! All up, five hours well spent. I can’t wait to go back to each destination with some more time to take a LOT more photos!
Tourist Season
Now that we have begun to get our bearings and this beautiful adopted city is feeling more and more like home, we’ve had some guests come to visit! Showing them around has been a real experience!
We took them on a canal cruise. The same canal cruise that we went on on our first weekend. It was an entirely different experience now that we actually knew where we were going, knew the buldings we were looking at from walking past them every day, and have a better idea of the city.
This is a copy of a bridge in Fance, and is decorated in slave ships.
This is a place in the canal where you can look through seven bridges all at once. Though you have to be on the water to truly see the spectacle.
This is a replica of a floating restaurant in China. Though theirs seats 2500, and ours only seats 700. You can see the city Bibliotheek in the background 🙂
Being tourists, we then headed off to the Bloemenmarkt. I love that place so much, and showing it off is fun too!
The number of bulbs is awe inspiring. All those sleeping little bulbs, just waiting to wake up and burst forth all that colour!
As we wandered around, we realised something was on at the palace, though we didn’t figure out what. Though the spectacle of the roads being closed down to let the motorcade through was an experience!
Finally on Sunday we headed up through the Red Light District. Now you’re not allowed to take photos of the girls in the windows, and I’ve seen people try, and the girls will just draw the curtains on you. I appreciate the fact that the girls are accorded respect, and there is a statue next to the Oude Kerk (that a lot of windows circle) that reminds tourists to respect the girls too.
As our guests come back next weekend, I now have to think of a whole new set of adventures for them! Any suggestions?
Fabric Frenzy
I appear to have inadvertently found my way into Amsterdam’s Fabric Mecca at the Albert Cuypmarkt.
I could draw so much inspiration from these furnishing fabrics! I can’t tell you how much it makes me look forward to all out stuff arriving!
But that’s just the beginning! Check these out!
And the jewels of the day were these …
I can’t wait to have a sewing machine again!
Albert Cuypmarkt
Through the cold (12C) and the rain, I made my way via the number 24 tram to the Albert Cuypmarkt. As you get off the tram, it’s a fairly unassuming looking street.
It was a wonderful market. They seem to have a little bit of everything. There’s the organic food, beginning with the ever present cheese.
There were also stalls of every fruit and vegetable imaginable, and fish mongers.
There were sweets too. Poffertjes and Stroopwafels.
There were some delectable summer dresses which I would actually consider wearing!
Though with the weather the way it was, I wasn’t tempted to try them on right then and there!
And check out these gumboots with heels!
It was nice to see flowers in pots and growing, not just cut for vases from florists.
There really was a little bit of everything! (I want a blue one)
And of course, being Amsterdam, there were several bicycle stalls!
I can’t wait to start decorating and riding my bike!
ghoti industries 