Our Trip Was Too Short: Paris & Amsterdam
Oct 10th, 2006, 06:24 PM
#41
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Exiting the Weesp station, we knew we needed to take bus 110 to the castle. Bus 110 leaves the train station at :03 after and :33 after the hour. When the bus arrived, we communicated with the driver where we wanted to go and he confirmed we were on the right bus. The cost to ride was 1.50 Euro each.
We had such perfect weather today, and at the third stop, the driver told us to get off the bus. He even gave us some directions on how to get into town.
After walking toward the town signs, we crossed a bridge into the most perfect little town ever. The town was empty and soon we were at another bridge where we could see the castle in the distance. People were eating at outside cafes by the canal.
As we continued to walk toward the castle, the houses we passed were empty. Where were all the people? Working in Amsterdam? We stopped at an overlook before going on to the castle. There were sheep and cows in the distance. This would be a great place for a picnic and there were a few picnic tables there.
Admission to the castle cost 17 Euro for two people. There was an English brochure but most of the signs were in Dutch. The castle had a moat around it and a drawbridge. I knew my husband liked the castle when he started making up a silly song about it.
The castle had some turets and was really fun to climb around in. We left the castle and went to the falconry where real falcons could be observed. We climbed up a small hill behind the falconry and then back down to reach the castle gardens.
After viewing the garden, lovely but ending its prime season, we walked to the "backyard" of the castle where we sat n a bench and had a picnic. The view of the castle and moat was spectacular. The flight pattern for Schipol had changed again so we were able to watch more planes descend.
Our backs were to the canal that widened the further away from town it went. There were several small and large boats waving various national flags as they cruised past. As per our usual tradition of staying at sites until closing time, we were signaled from afar that it was time for us to leave.
Interestingly, there were not only cobwebs all over the castle but also throughout the entire town. Perhaps it's the spider season or they can't be bothered to disturb the spiderwebs. We walked behind the houses we earlier had walked in front of as we came to the castle so we can see more of the cute homes.
We exit the town as the sun is setting. I will try to live here one day. We even looked at the prices of homes advertised in the window of a real estate office.
My husband walks ahead of me as we head back to the bus stop. A younger man walking on the opposite side of the street smiles at me and raises his eyebrows suggestively. It's quite humerous and I crack up laughing!
Crossing the bridge out of our fairy tale town, we sit with two women as we wait for the bus. Sometimes, people driving by in their cars look at us with curiosity as we sit on our bench. When the bus comes, I tell the driver where we are trying to go while handing him 3 Euro. He says we need .20 more Euro (maybe it's the rush hour bus price)?
We had such perfect weather today, and at the third stop, the driver told us to get off the bus. He even gave us some directions on how to get into town.
After walking toward the town signs, we crossed a bridge into the most perfect little town ever. The town was empty and soon we were at another bridge where we could see the castle in the distance. People were eating at outside cafes by the canal.
As we continued to walk toward the castle, the houses we passed were empty. Where were all the people? Working in Amsterdam? We stopped at an overlook before going on to the castle. There were sheep and cows in the distance. This would be a great place for a picnic and there were a few picnic tables there.
Admission to the castle cost 17 Euro for two people. There was an English brochure but most of the signs were in Dutch. The castle had a moat around it and a drawbridge. I knew my husband liked the castle when he started making up a silly song about it.
The castle had some turets and was really fun to climb around in. We left the castle and went to the falconry where real falcons could be observed. We climbed up a small hill behind the falconry and then back down to reach the castle gardens.
After viewing the garden, lovely but ending its prime season, we walked to the "backyard" of the castle where we sat n a bench and had a picnic. The view of the castle and moat was spectacular. The flight pattern for Schipol had changed again so we were able to watch more planes descend.
Our backs were to the canal that widened the further away from town it went. There were several small and large boats waving various national flags as they cruised past. As per our usual tradition of staying at sites until closing time, we were signaled from afar that it was time for us to leave.
Interestingly, there were not only cobwebs all over the castle but also throughout the entire town. Perhaps it's the spider season or they can't be bothered to disturb the spiderwebs. We walked behind the houses we earlier had walked in front of as we came to the castle so we can see more of the cute homes.
We exit the town as the sun is setting. I will try to live here one day. We even looked at the prices of homes advertised in the window of a real estate office.
My husband walks ahead of me as we head back to the bus stop. A younger man walking on the opposite side of the street smiles at me and raises his eyebrows suggestively. It's quite humerous and I crack up laughing!
Crossing the bridge out of our fairy tale town, we sit with two women as we wait for the bus. Sometimes, people driving by in their cars look at us with curiosity as we sit on our bench. When the bus comes, I tell the driver where we are trying to go while handing him 3 Euro. He says we need .20 more Euro (maybe it's the rush hour bus price)?
Oct 10th, 2006, 06:52 PM
#42
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After taking the easy train ride returning from Weesp to Amsterdam, we return to the hotel to rest. We make a plan to eat dinner at one of the takeaway Chinese places we've seen all over Amsterdam. The first place we see in Dam Square is called Walk to Go. The girl working the register immeadiately speaks English to us and there is a plasma screen playing English music videos.
My sweet and sour chicken with rice and my husband's coconut chicken with rice only cost us 10 Euro. Add the two beers we purchased at the Albert Hein on our way into Dam Square, and we have a great, hot meal for under 15 Euro total. We sit on a bench in Dam Square and people watch some interesting characters: drug dealers, city cleaners, large groups of tourists getting dropped off by their tour busses.
After finishing our dinner, we walked through the Red Light District again. I needed to confirm my first impression that this area of Amsterdam is really tame. It was. It really didn't live up to the hype. As I have mentioned, so a lot of things are legal here-that doesn't make it a wild place. Fortunately, my fears of pickpockets in this area was unwarrented.
I must admit, however, I do like being able to openly consume alcohol on the street without any problem. I could definitely support such a policy in the United States. We walked back to the hotel a different way (kinda like wondering through Venice) and we still managed to make our way back to the hotel. Our last full day, Thursday, was fast approaching.
My sweet and sour chicken with rice and my husband's coconut chicken with rice only cost us 10 Euro. Add the two beers we purchased at the Albert Hein on our way into Dam Square, and we have a great, hot meal for under 15 Euro total. We sit on a bench in Dam Square and people watch some interesting characters: drug dealers, city cleaners, large groups of tourists getting dropped off by their tour busses.
After finishing our dinner, we walked through the Red Light District again. I needed to confirm my first impression that this area of Amsterdam is really tame. It was. It really didn't live up to the hype. As I have mentioned, so a lot of things are legal here-that doesn't make it a wild place. Fortunately, my fears of pickpockets in this area was unwarrented.
I must admit, however, I do like being able to openly consume alcohol on the street without any problem. I could definitely support such a policy in the United States. We walked back to the hotel a different way (kinda like wondering through Venice) and we still managed to make our way back to the hotel. Our last full day, Thursday, was fast approaching.
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