Amster-Day

Hotel woman at door of breakfast area asked our room number.  I heard the hotel guest before me.  I knew she would ask room number, then name.

I went blank.  Knew it was somewhere on the third floor.

"374," said Woodsie.

I piped up.  "I know our names.  We are Marilyn and Robert Wood."

She beamed and said, "You make a good team."

Now that was a GRACIOUS RESPONSE.  I suspect in an increasingly cynical world, where it is easier to sneer and denigrate others, the art of being gracious is not so common.  That woman is tops!

We first visited the flower market this morning.  Set on pylons in the canal, but assessible from the pavement, it is a row of different stalls.  There were some bright bursts of vibrant fresh flowers, but mainly bulbs, seeds and dubious souvenirs were for sale.

Next we waited for Amsterdam's tourist version of the bus...the CANAL BUS.  On this most wonderful summer day, we smoothly cruised around a section of the city's 100 km canals.  The Canal Bus runs three different lines, basically concentric circles, with some canals joining these together. 

From there we got off at the famous "9 Streets" shopping area.  With outlets like Jimmy Choo, Mont Blanc, Louis Vuitton and Burberry, it is not quite my intended shopping destination.  But it did lead to a destination we did intend to see: the Van Gogh Museum.  Once again, we strode like royalty past the poor, ticketless hordes, to the fast entry point.  We had pre-booked!

In the past, houses in Amsterdam were built on wooden pylons sunk 15 metres into the ground.  But when oxygen meets wood, decay commences.  Now they use concrete pylons.  On our stroll back to the cafe near the hotel, after the museum, where I sip a Heineken and tap out this, we saw several 
houses with a drunken lean, held in position only by their neighbouring buildings.  

This reminds me of what our Brugge walking tour guide told us about their historical houses.  There is an official, who treadles around the city, on the alert for any signs of building works.  If he sees a dribble of concrete, he will follow it and has the authority to inspect, ensuing all works are not illicit and have been approved.  If not, he can legally seal off the site!  Bet he's a popular chap!!!