Once we entered the Low Countries you
notice right away how flat the entire place is, canals here and
there, barges transport goods instead of long haul trucks, very green,
lots of cows, sheep, horses and geese everywhere in fields. Small
little brick houses with steep roofs and large windows with lots of
flower boxes. The roads are narrow and everywhere roads for bicycles
only, so do look left and right before crossing any road for bicycles
coming and again for cars. It seems everyone has a bicycle, from the
young to the old, an official statistic says that there are 6 bicycles for 7 people in Holland. It is the way to transport yourself, from home to
work and for shopping or visiting friends and family. We have seen
lots of large bicycle parking lots, around schools, government
buildings and shops. We were told by our taxi driver to keep in mind
bicycles have the right of way, pedestrians have narrow sidewalks. In
Amsterdam you have to be very mindful of this fact when walking along
a canal or street, pedestrians keep close to the buildings, then you
have the bicycle road and then the car road but sometimes it is only
bicycles and pedestrians who share a common area the street itself
being too narrow for cars. You also have lots of tramways who pass in
the middle of a busy road or have their own corridors, so listen for
the bells as they approach to signal they are coming. What we saw was
basically an understanding amongst the people, everyone really, you have to share the road and be civic minded. Civics as the basis
for democracy in a small country.
On our final leg into Amsterdam on the
ICE train, the announcements were in Dutch, German and English,
always on a jovial tone, the conductor and the personnel of the DB
Train believe that you are here to enjoy the ride so lets make it
enjoyable. Am impressed by that sort of spirit, none of the baloney
of what we see back home with the ''you are a valuable customer''
nonsense, when you know they don't mean it.
The weather is cloudy and sunny and
warm but not hot and a little rain drizzle falls her and there but
again you have to remember that we are on the seashore and subject to
ever changing weather patterns because of winds and currents. The
people seem not to pay too much attention to it all.
We are staying on Brouwer Gracht
(canal) at the intersection with the Singel canal, all the buildings
in the area are at least 400 years old, all brick with large windows
because this is the only way you can move furniture or goods in or
out. The staircase in the 3 floor building where we live is so steep
about 80 to 85 degree angle, we needed help to get our suitcases up,
though they are not large by any means. You have to climb the stairs
sideways to gain a good footing on each step and grab the handrail to
steady yourself, but that is Amsterdam standard feature in buildings.
There are lots of shops selling food
and cheese and drinks of course, so many restaurants for all budgets.
We visited one shop where all they sold was Dutch cheese or KAAS as
it is called, of various types and flavours, from the famous Gouda to
others with names I cannot remember, all good I am sure a beautiful
display.
Tomorrow we will explore some more,
take a boat on the canals and visit the RIJKSMUSEUM.
