Day Eighteen - Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tuesday 29 July 2014

Docked about 7:00 am  -- we were off the ship by 8:00 am.  We purchased a two day pass on the Metro --- and started walking over to the museum area --- we figured we'd take the Metro back to Central Station.   Several of the larger museums are in one area with a large park and a big "all purpose" museum shop --- a nice arrangement.    Just a word about the Amsterdam's famous Rijksmuseum -- it was closed for ten years and has reopened.   Since it would take at least one entire day  -- maybe two -- to go through the Rijksmuseum, we decided to forgo it this time and visit several of the smaller museums.

Dinner Restaurant in Amsterdam!

Pat by a Canal -- It is Amsterdam!

Van Gogh allows photos in two places -- this is one!

Phil after a very satisfying dinner!

Arriving at The Van Gogh Museum we see three long lines --- so we may forgo this one as well.  We wandered over to the "all purpose" museum shop's ticket window.  I inquired about the ticket situation for Van Gogh -- the young woman said she could give us 10:00 am tickets to Van Gogh -- it was 9:35 am. -- that worked for us.   We bought the tickets -- went back to the Van Gogh Museum expecting to wait 20 minutes but as soon as we showed our tickets -- the seas parted.  We were ushered right in the front door and it wasn't even 10:00 am.  The cost of the tickets was the same as advertised -- 15 Euros each.   We have no idea what we did but apparently we did it right.  

Is he thinking of hopping on a bike?

I opted for the Audio Tour -- Phil did not.   We wandered around the first floor -- then went up to the second floor which is when Phil came over to me and said he'd meet me in front of the Restrooms -- I wasn't paying a lot attention to him since I had my audio tour on and by the time I turned around he was gone.   Anyway -- I went through several galleries then began wondering if he was waiting outside the Restrooms -- I had missed what time he said to meet.    Finally I thought I better go check  -- and I'd had enough.  I returned my audio tour -- went out to the area by the Restrooms  -- no Phil.  I waited and I waited -- I even took a look in the Restaurant nearby and scoured the shop to be sure he wasn't there.  After half an hour I knew he couldn't be in the museum any longer but where was he?  

I thought he must be outside -- of course he had the coat check but I went over anyway and told them I lost my ticket.  Security arrived and ushered me through the coat check room so I could pick out our stuff which I did.  I went outside -- no Phil.  I waited about 15 minutes and then started thinking he was inside  -- so I went up to the official and told him I couldn't find my husband and could I go back in to look.  Again they couldn't have been nicer -- in I went --- no Phil outside the Restrooms.   I was totally perplexed and didn't know what to do.   Although I was beginning to think I should get out of there since they were probably getting suspicious of this "odd" American who didn't know where her husband was and had lost her coat check --- why was she still here?

I left the Van Gogh and walked though the museum park  -- no Phil.   I decided to check out the  "Museum of Bags and Purses" which I knew Phil wouldn't miss.  I found my way -- and went in to this wonderful small museum housed in a 17th Century Canal House.  The collection details 500 years of bag and purse history spread over three floors in this residence of a former Mayor of Amsterdam.   Unfortunately Phil had the camera so I don't have any photos but they do have a website -- www.museumofbagsandpurses.com.    This was such a delight.  

I was getting hungry so I found a small café -- had a cheese croissant and a cup of coffee -- delicious.   On my way back to the ship -- I popped into a couple of shops -- took the Metro to Central Square -- walked back to the ship -- arriving about 2:30 pm.

I opened the cabin door -- Phil was inside writing me a note.  He opened his mouth and I said "Don't even start."   What it amounted to was -- he said "Restaurant" -- I heard "Restroom".   It was as simple as that!    Phil waited at the Restaurant until 1:00 pm -- of course I was long gone by 1:00 pm.   Anyway as our friend, Dave, would say "Nobody Died".   

Undaunted -- we decided to go out about 4:00 pm to find a nice place for dinner -- we did eat in a lovely small french restaurant while here in 2001 with Marilyn and Al (my aunt and uncle) -- of course the chances of finding that place were not good.  Phil had a restaurant in mind that looked great on paper -- we found it,  however it was not open on Tuesdays.  

We scouted around the area and found Restaurant Haesje Claes, Spuistraat 275, 1012 VR Amsterdam.   We made the right choice -- Phil had:  muscle soup and a fish dish that he thoroughly enjoyed and I had a wonderful vegetarian dish.  

We walked part of the way back then took the Metro right to the port -- across from the passenger terminal.

We had a wonderful Day One in Amsterdam!

Thanks for Reading.

Pat