{"id":9152,"date":"2018-11-24T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-11-24T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/?p=9152"},"modified":"2023-06-23T23:38:30","modified_gmt":"2023-06-24T03:38:30","slug":"lets-take-a-walk-around-center-city-amsterdam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/9152","title":{"rendered":"Lets Take a Walk Around Center City Amsterdam"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our friends, Andy and Candy Bloom, have \u201ctouristed\u201d with us before so they know the marathon it becomes when you have one day to see everything you ever wanted to see in a location you may never come back to. With our comfy shoes all laced up out the door we go to meet Peter and JF.<\/p>\n

The first things first, grab a travel guide. Yes Peter was pointing us in all the right directions but the discount tickets are found at the tourist centers. With tickets bought and a plan in mind off we go.<\/p>\n

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We are stopping at two museums, maybe three if we can squeeze it in but not the typical artwork ones. We don\u2019t have the time and none of us are really into famous art so it was a comfortable exclusion. First things first. Lets tour the city in the day light on foot.<\/p>\n

There are few things more fun than coming across those people with crazy ideas that actually turn them into a flourishing business. Sex sells right? Well, here\u2019s a twist on that and of course John has to have his picture taken. Their slogan \u201ceat your clothes off.\u201d<\/p>\n

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I love all the outdoor caf\u00e9s. They are quaint and inviting. It just makes me want to sit down and have a croissant and a coffee.<\/p>\n

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The alleyways between the major streets are so fun. I feel very European walking through here.<\/p>\n

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With the narrow streets that go in all directions, posting street signs has to be challenging. Amsterdam solved this problem in a unique way that is really very helpful. They post the street names on the buildings at the intersections of the streets.<\/p>\n

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Public transportation, aside from the bicycles is the most popular form of travel. They stabilize the street car wires by attaching to buildings. Some buildings display family coat of arms too, along with gorgeous slate roofs. It is kind of hard to see but jutting out above the top windows are arms with hooks attached. This is how furniture is moved into the apartments on the upper floors. The stairways are so narrow its the only way to get a couch or washing machine into the living space through the windows.<\/p>\n

Also notice that the windows on the bottom are large and as you continue to look up the windows get smaller. Back in the day the taller your building the richer you were. So to create the illusion of a taller building they put small windows on top to make the buildings look taller.<\/p>\n

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Along with ornate gables some of the buildings have fine shutters.<\/p>\n

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And seriously, I don\u2019t know which is more impressive, the building or the street lamps.<\/p>\n

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They are quite polite about their under construction stuff so it doesn\u2019t create unsightliness next to ornate buildings. I love the faux fa\u00e7ade.<\/p>\n

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As we make our way back to the Dam we come across an interesting sculpture and the infamous wooden shoe.<\/p>\n

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Isn\u2019t there a nursery rhyme about an old woman in a shoe?<\/p>\n

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I just can\u2019t get over all the different buildings and the architecture.<\/p>\n

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I must be getting hungry because this one looks like a gingerbread house. This picture is a little skewed from the angle I\u2019m taking the picture from, but it really is tilted. In fact there are a lot of tilted buildings in Amsterdam. The city is built on swamp and marshland on top of wood and concrete pillars sunk into the mud. As the water level rises and falls some of the wood beams start to decay when exposed to air causing the buildings to list.<\/p>\n

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The fine brick work looks beautiful probably because cars can\u2019t drive on it.<\/p>\n

\"1124181343\"<\/a>\"1124181341\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The toy store building drew our eye because of the rich black color.<\/p>\n

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It is the statues of the building that has caused us to linger.<\/p>\n

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In the Dam square we witness the pigeon whisperer. Yuck, I\u2019m not sure having wild pigeons land all over you is a healthy thing to do.<\/p>\n

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My feet hurt. Is it time for a boat ride through the canals, Peter?<\/p>\n

\"1124181308_HDR\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our friends, Andy and Candy Bloom, have \u201ctouristed\u201d with us before so they know the marathon it becomes when you have one day to see everything you ever wanted to see in a location you may never come back to. With our comfy shoes all laced up out the door we go to meet Peter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9105,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-container-style":"default","site-container-layout":"default","site-sidebar-layout":"default","disable-article-header":"default","disable-site-header":"default","disable-site-footer":"default","disable-content-area-spacing":"default","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[856,899,849,848,860],"class_list":["post-9152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-amsterdam","tag-bucket-list","tag-dusseldorf","tag-germany","tag-holland"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/1125180817_thumb.jpg?fit=721%2C542&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3hvz5-2nC","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9102,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/9102","url_meta":{"origin":9152,"position":0},"title":"Amsterdam at Night","author":"Wendy","date":"November 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"We are lucky enough to have our own personal guide, Peter who works with John and lived in Amsterdam for a while, to escort us around the town. He suggested things and we picked the ones we all wanted to do and see. While we are waiting to meet up\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/1123181924_thumb.jpg?fit=688%2C517&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/1123181924_thumb.jpg?fit=688%2C517&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/1123181924_thumb.jpg?fit=688%2C517&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9078,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/9078","url_meta":{"origin":9152,"position":1},"title":"Going To Amsterdam, Netherlands","author":"Wendy","date":"November 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I won\u2019t say that Amsterdam is on our bucket list of places to visit, but it is high on our while-in-Germany-we-have-to-do-this list. The guys are working in M\u00f6nchengladbach, Germany about a half hour from our hotel and on the way to Amsterdam. So it is decided that I\u2019m going to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/1123181358_HDR_thumb.jpg?fit=744%2C559&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/1123181358_HDR_thumb.jpg?fit=744%2C559&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/1123181358_HDR_thumb.jpg?fit=744%2C559&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/1123181358_HDR_thumb.jpg?fit=744%2C559&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9178,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/9178","url_meta":{"origin":9152,"position":2},"title":"Amsterdam Canal Ride","author":"Wendy","date":"November 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"After HOURS and MILES of walking around, it feels good to sit. We are taking a one hour canal boat ride. Amsterdam, being built on a swamp and marshland, there is plenty of water to go around. Though not as many canals and bridges as Venice, it is none the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/1124181501_thumb.jpg?fit=424%2C657&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9234,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/9234","url_meta":{"origin":9152,"position":3},"title":"Amsterdam and Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum","author":"Wendy","date":"November 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"We have never been to a wax museum before so this is quite a fun side trip. We don\u2019t know all of the figures depicted, but there are a few choice ones that are unmistakable. Before actually getting into the museum we watch a short movie about how they make\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/1124181112a_thumb.jpg?fit=655%2C492&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/1124181112a_thumb.jpg?fit=655%2C492&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/1124181112a_thumb.jpg?fit=655%2C492&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14200,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/14200","url_meta":{"origin":9152,"position":4},"title":"Helena, GA Going Dutch","author":"Wendy","date":"June 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"We've visited this Bavarian-themed town once before The great food, beer and fun atmosphere has brought us back on our way to Atlanta, Georgia. Look, John met some friends already. The decorations along the street are very unique. My favorite its the little tree house village with walkways between the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IMG_9273_thumb.jpg?fit=750%2C461&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IMG_9273_thumb.jpg?fit=750%2C461&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IMG_9273_thumb.jpg?fit=750%2C461&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IMG_9273_thumb.jpg?fit=750%2C461&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9285,"url":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/9285","url_meta":{"origin":9152,"position":5},"title":"Strolling the Streets of Dusseldorf","author":"Wendy","date":"December 8, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Lets take a walk together. As in most towns, there is the old part of town and the new part. The buildings in the new growth area of Dusseldorf are as impressive as any modern building in any modern city. The shopping district is mostly all new buildings combining lots\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/archives\/category\/general"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/1114181545a_thumb.jpg?fit=648%2C487&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/1114181545a_thumb.jpg?fit=648%2C487&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/1114181545a_thumb.jpg?fit=648%2C487&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9152"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9152\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14227,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9152\/revisions\/14227"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.2dogsbarkin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}