Today started slowly as we did not get started until after 8. We both needed to take it easy and rest (remember we jumped ahead an hour from Portugal so really only 7 body time). We have decided that Wes should see a Dr. and we would check it out today. The front desk of the hotel told us of a clinic down the block, so that is where we headed.
We learned that this clinic with two doctors is really busy right now and could not see Wes. Since tomorrow is a national holiday here, Ascension Day (Ascension Day commemorates the ascension of Christ into Heaven. Observed generally by Catholics and Anglicans, Ascension Day, also known as the Feast of Ascension, occurs on the Thursday 40 days after Easter), they are too busy to add anyone. But they did suggest another office just down the street about 5 minutes walk. So we went down the street and learned the same thing – no possible way to see a Dr.
The receptionist was really friendly and asked a lot of questions and wanted to know what drugs Wes has taken and is taking. She suggested that Wes come back on Friday morning if he needed but also suggested that perhaps he was on the mend since his real issue was lack of energy. She suggested that if he had been really sick that it takes time to fully recover. This made Wes feel better and we will wait until Friday (no choice really) and decide then if he feels better.
We returned to the hotel room about 11 and Wes decided to take a nap. I read for an hour until he woke up again and then we headed for downtown to see Anne Frank’s house. We have learned that the trams/buses here are very efficient and the tram for downtown is right outside the hotel. We also learned that it was a great savings, and convenient, to get a 72 hour pass so that is what we did. I would recommend any travellers to always check out the passes in any metro if you are going to use the transit system.
We arrived downtown Amsterdam at the stop closest to Anne Frank’s canal house (actually it was the warehouse where her father worked). I am so impressed and awed by the canals, streets and old buildings we saw as we walked around this area. This is similar to other parts of Europe but at the same time very different. The main streets are much wider and yet the side streets are very narrow. The buildings are 3 to 4 floors up and the fronts are very narrow. In many cases there is an attempt to make each building front different from the ones on either side, so it does not feel like a row houses.
The canals would not be something I would want to swim in, but they are busy and moored along the edge are canal boats, many that have been converted into boat houses. Arched bridges provide traffic flow over to the opposite side of the canal. As we got off the tram the first kiosk we noticed was one flying a rainbow flag. This kiosk is a gay/lesbian information center and we were impressed to find one on a main street.
We have been very conscious of the fact that this is a walking/biking city. It seems that everywhere you look you see normal sidewalks, separate red colored bike paths, lanes for cars and a center lane for tams/buses. Crossing the street as a walker involves checking for bikers, then checking for cars, then checking for trams – and that is just to get to the center of the street – and repeating this in reverse order to get to the far side. The bike lanes even have street lights on them. What a progressive city.
Ok, Anne Frank’s house. We have no problem finding it since there are signs on the street directing us to the front door. The line up is not long at all and it only took about 10 minutes to get in. However by the time we did get in I looked back and the line up had grown to flow around the corner. We really timed that well.
I was not able to take any pictures inside the house/museum so I have found some from the internet to include in the blog. It is hard to believe that 8 people lived in this small area and successfully avoided detection for as long as they did. It is still not known who tipped off the authorities. We are again reminded of the hardships and terror that Europeans lived through during World War II as we walked through the rooms and studied the exhibits.
After we finished touring the house we headed out for a quick lunch on one of the side streets. Then we decided that it was time to head back to the hotel since Wes was ready for nap.
We have decided to look for a store to buy supplies to make our own lunches and have some fruit in the room. So while Wes napped I walked around the area which included a flea market across the street and a shopping mall.
By the time I got back it was time for a break and a nap for myself (I really did not need it but hard to sit and read while someone sleeps so decided to take the opportunity too) and then out to dinner. Our first day in Amsterdam has been pleasant, relaxing and quiet. I hope the next few days are the same so Wes can completely recover.
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