Touring Amsterdam on the African Queen

Amsterdam is a city of 750,000 with a system of canals that give it a spider web look on a map. We got a first and look at the canals as our host, Fox Mulder, met us at the train station in his boat. I had barely stepped off the dock when I was handed a badly needed beer and the grand tour began. It took about 20 minutes to putter up the canal to Fox’s house. Fortunately, I was able to off load our bags without dropping them or me in the drink. Fox’s house sits along the canal and is quite narrow, maybe 20 feet wide. But it is tall, 6 stories including the basement, which is at street level. I am in the penthouse and Dave is on the floor below me. You make your assent up a series of steep, spiral staircases that were made for people with slightly smaller feet than my size 13 gunboats. The ceilings are 9+ feet, so you get a work out, especially with a suitcase.

Bicycles are a major mode of transportation in the city and the bridges are line with them. It is unusual to see one that is less than twenty years old, and most are in the 30-40 years old range. People ride with a purpose and you need to keep a sharp eye out. No one wears a helmet, and veering and weaving are preferred to slowing or breaking. There are also motorscooters. Think bicyclist on steroids. Of course many people walk and there are also trams. They all go to the Central train station. Although people do have cars, both parking and gas are pretty expensive, the traffic is pretty light.

We slept in this morning having had a late night and some long days with short sleep. We hit the street about 11:20 am seeking caffeine and a croissant. A couple of espressos later, I was primed and ready to see the sights. One of the main attractions is, of course, the Anne Frank House. The line was around the corner and looked like it was at least an hour long so we figured we would continue to wonder rather than spend time in line and come back later, assuming neither of us was nailed by a bicycle. We had lunch at a café with tables across the street along the canal. The streets are more like driveways, paved with bricks and only about 8 feet wide along the canals. I told the waitress that I would like a sandwich and a beer and please bring me whatever local people would have. I got a ham sandwich and a Heineken. So far from Syracuse, yet so close.

A second pass by the Anne Frank House revealed that we were not the only ones with the come back later when the line is shorter idea. We opted to continue wondering. We checked out a butcher shop and sampled some called er, eh, well it’s called something with way to many letters in it but tasted a lot like a meatball. We also checked out a slice of authentic New York Pizza. The crust was a little doughy for NYC but not a bad slice. We decided we should check on the location Piepers Bar, a little joint that holds about 50 people plus tables across the street along the canal, as we were to meet Fox there at 5:30. We found it pretty easily as it is just up the street from Fox’s house. We also figured we should confirmed that the beer was drinkable. Roger that Houston.

After some more wondering, we met Fox at the appointed time and were joined by Hendrick, another Getronics guy. We quaffed a few beers and then went to a place down the street for dinner. We finished up at a place called the Café American, attempting to add a little authenticity to the place.

Tomorrow, the train to Frankfurt and rental car to Luxembourg. And nothing screams tourist like a school bus yellow bicycle.