Amsterdam

Holland, the birthplace of Carolyna's father, Fred, was a wonderfully pleasant surprise (for Alan that is - for Carolyna it was no surprise at all after living there many years ago!!)

The country is not large but can boast beautiful cities and towns, sophisticated highways and airports and architecture and art to rival anywhere in Europe.

Our first stop was Amsterdam, a city of just under 1 million people. The old part of the city has many canals which makes for a very attractive streetscape.

Amazing roofs....

Amsterdam skyline from the water including the Oude Kerk (old church).

So tranquil......

We ventured along the canals on one of the many "canal boats" which was very interesting giving you a water view of the many beautiful houses.

The Amsterdam houses are fabulous. Here is a typical house setting. Note at the top of each house the pulley system to move furniture into and out of the houses. Stairs are just too small, steep and narrow.

Bicycles are everywhere in Amsterdam, Without doubt the main mode of transportation in the centre. They rule the centre of Amsterdam and have right of way and you need to be careful crossing roads as they can fly past you very quickly and very quietly.

Bikes....

Bikes....

Bikes ....

Looks comfortable...bike to carry younger children and goods!

and more bikes. Every shape and function. This one had the childs bike attached at the front.

However I think this looks more comfortable below.

Amsterdam has some amazing art particularly from its golden era in the 17th century with the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hal, Jan Steen, Ferdinand Bol (yes a relative) and many more.

In fact, Ferdinand Bol, still has a place in Amsterdam.

Ferdinand Bol in Ferdinand Bolstraat

A happy relative pointing to great, great, great...Grandfathers street.

The outstanding art museum in Amsterdam is the Rijks Museum and it was a great pleasure to see some of the major works exhibited there.

If you are ever in Amsterdam it should be your first stop.

Another tourist favourite in the city is the Ann Frank House. Very moving. Not just for Ann Frank and her family but for all those persecuted during the second world war.

Ann Franks diaries pay testament to the ordeals of life in hiding during the war years. Her last diary note was a few days before being captured. She died in the same month as her sister in the Belson concentration camp in 1945, aged 15.

Below is a triangular shaped courtyard with housing all around - called Begijnhof. This was first established in the 14th century as an area for women, such as nuns (Beguines), who did good work within the community.

It was only for women and still is today. The Beguines were highly regarded for their community work.

Christmas decorations started to be seen throughout Holland. St. Nicholas in his long red robes with a staff,  tall mitre hat and white beard would be accompanied by Black Peter. Here is a modern day version of Black Peter.

Black Peter (Zwarte Piet) began in Holland in the 15th century and was originally depicted as tall, gaunt with a dark beard and hair and was represented as the punitive side of Christmas. His dark appearance was supposed to suggest a Spanish pirate, a reflection of Spain's occupation of Holland at that time.

Here are marjipan animals representing Zwarte Piet and St Nicholas.  Today the negative associations have left Black Peter and he has become an assistant to St Nicholas handing out presents every December 5th.

Dutch food whilst not having the recognition of some of its southern European countries has some interesting twists....

Paling (eel) raw or cooked is a favourite, as is herring eaten raw with onions finely chopped and also raw......Dad loves it this way.....funny I couldn't convince Alan to try it this way....

Smoked Herring and Paling is also very popular

And Holland must be considered one of the great cheese countries in Europe....yummy gouda.

A dutch "delicatessan" style outlet

Oliebollen (dutch style donuts) is a traditional dutch winter delight. They are essentially donut balls and come in a multitude of ways, with or without raisins, with strawberries and cream...

These are the plain ones...yummy.....says Carolyna  ....Alan liked them too!

Then they get more elaborate ....mmmnnn

Carolyna with a pannekoek or Dutch pancake with spec or bacon and her fresh mint tea!

These were very tasty.....warm freshly baked speculass pastry with marzipan centre and were selling like hotcakes at a Saturday market with a temperature of 0 degrees!!

And a girl's delight. Flowers were so inexpensive and beautiful. Especially the tulips

And there are still "Bols" in Amsterdam. Here we caught up with Laurette, Carolyna's cousin. Daughter of Fred's elder brother Leo.

We had a lovely dinner outside Amsterdam in Bergen (approx 40 mins north) in a restaurant which is located in the same building as the Bol textile shop was located.

Carolyna and Laurette at dinner!

Inside the restaurant

Outside the restaurant which was formerly the Bol textile shop.

As well as the wonderful historical buildings Amsterdam also has new buildings....here is a Renzo Piano building which houses the science museum.  Renzo Piano also designed the Pompadou centre in Paris and the RBC Building in Sydney.

                       And finally a beautiful city like Amsterdam must have tourists. Here are two!

Is Carolyna taking the photo?

Baci a tutti

Carolyna e Alan