Being surprised by the incredible weather this weekend, we decided to walk around Amsterdam a bit, like any tourist would do.
Here's our journey from this Saturday, accompanied by photos and some explanations(TREASURE MAP), follow the pointers on the map to get an idea where the photos were taken:
Our starting point, close to Centraal Station, near the luxurious Amrath Hotel and its 7 Seas restaurant. Amazing pillow of clouds in the background, incredible weather for this end of September.
click on the image for the full size version
In the center of the 2 images it's the Montelbaanstoren, one of the defense towers of the old Amsterdam, now is the HQ of an organization, Secret Garden Foundation, that promotes gay, bisexual and trans-gender Muslims.
click on the images for the full size version
What you can see hanging on the wall is the logo of De Witte Oliphant public school. Interesting concept!
click on the image for the full size version
The gentleman represented by this contemporary statue (2008) is the philosopher Baruch Spinoza, he used to live in Amsterdam, in the Jewish Quarter.
click on the image for the full size version
This lonely fellow can be found at the entrance of the City Hall, at Waterlooplein. Do pay him a visit, an artist is always happy to have an audience!
click on the image for the full size version
The Moses and Aaron church, Franz Liszt lived here in '66, 1866 :)
click on the images for the full size version
This is how sunny Amsterdam usually looks like, canals filled with boats and people celebrating the miracle of a clear sky.
click on the image for the full size versionLadies and gents, this is an authentic entrance to a lepers house built in the 15th century. The original location was a few meters away and don't worry, the lepers are long gone!
click on the image for the full size versionThis mighty statue is called "The Column of the Boundary Lives" and it represents the boundary between the old part and the new part of the neighborhood.
click on the image for the full size version
If you continue through the gate in the image, you will get closer to the Zuider Kerk (Southern Church) whose tower is already visible. On the right side of the gate, inside the square there's a building with a very beautiful facade, which unfortunately is now being restored.
click on the image for the full size versionAnd who do we have here!?! We looked around for Elmer Fudd, but there was no sign of him, maybe Bugs finally got to ditch the old fool.
click on the image for the full size version
An interesting passageway filled with book merchants. It used to lead to an elderly hospice from the 17th century.
click on the images for the full size version
While there's no interesting landscape captured in this photo, I liked they way the colors combined. My excuses to the 2 swans which were doing their afternoon siesta.
click on the image for the full size version
If you thought there can't be any more doorways pictured in this article, here's another one. Through this entrance used to pass female beggars and prostitutes who were condemned to spin wool and do needlework, sort of a rudimentary correction facility. Today it hosts the Social Sciences and Behavior Faculty of Amsterdam University.
click on the image for the full size version
For all the goal getters in vacation in Amsterdam, no worries, there's something for you as well!
click on the image for the full size version
In Amsterdam used to live 2 brothers, Louis and Hendrik Trip. And these brothers wanted to live together, so they decided to build a symmetrical house for them.
click on the image for the full size versionAfter their house was done, their coachman told them that he would the happiest man on Earth if he had a house as big as the front door of the Trippenhuis. So they built one for him, you can see it right across the canal.
click on the image for the full size version
The tower from the middle of this hotel (Doelen Hotel) is where Rembrandt's painting, The Night Watch, was initially housed. It was ordered by the captain of this defense tower. Check out the musketeers at the top, the legend says that one of them resembles Rembrandt.
click on the image for the full size versionAnd what can be more beautiful than some photos of the Amsterdam's canals on a sunny day?
click on the image for the full size version
click on the image for the full size version
Although I don't know anything about this little statue, I considered it to be interesting enough to post it on my 2 readers blog.
click on the image for the full size versionSo there it is, a small journey in Amsterdam, fit for a tourist wannabe.
The treasure is, of course, the joy in your heart of discovering these hidden little gems of Amsterdam