Sunday May 20th,
2018 Pentecost Sunday Weather sunny and warm…summer is back
News this morning from twin sister Mary, a photo of her and
her daughter flashed on their local TV Local celebrities! So much fun.
Yes, she was using her walker to get around. Good to know.
We were awake early and by 9:15 am out the door to walk to
the Tram #4 station that is nearby and will take us directly to the Central
Station for Mass at St. Nicolas’ Basilica to celebrate Pentecost Sunday. Surprise, the trams are fewer and further
between on a Sunday so we had a ten minute wait. I wore my warm gray jacket and Jim had on his
lightweight white jacket. I was
comfortable all morning but most people had their summer shorts and sandals
today; the sun is shining and it’s a beautiful warm day.
We’d arrived a few minutes early so spent some time checking
out the Train Station for our trip to the airport on Wednesday. Then we crossed the street and entered to a
packed St. Nicolas! We had expected a
Solemn High Mass complete with a magnificent choir; but not a Confirmation
Ceremony complete with the Bishop! It
was a beautiful service and lasted nearly two hours. But the music kept us enthralled so that we
didn’t feel of knees. 
After Mass we started walking over to Damrak Street to
follow the Walking Tour of Amsterdam in our Rick Steve’s pocket guidebook. We’ve already seen most of the sites but
have missed a few of them. The first
stop was at De Papegaat, the parrot, a
16th Century hidden Catholic Church that is still active. It was considered hidden as it is crammed
in-between commercial buildings on a busy street. Very narrow and built like the attic churches
with a balcony for extra seating. There
is a wire strung across the back of the church with a fake parrot perched on
the wire and note the common name references the parrot. Originally the church was tucked behind a
shop that was owned by a gentleman who was a bird trader. Thus, the common name as the church is
actually named for Peter and Paul.
Today, when we entered, there was a mass in process being said in both
Dutch and English. Much like the magician
on the cruise ship. It’s a real talent
to switch between languages so easily.
From there we continued walking to the Amsterdam
Museum. It has a very unusual entrance
and it sits slanted as though the ground has dropped on one side. Probably so.
We checked everything out but
decided not to go in as it’s basically a history museum and not much art except
for a few Rembrandts.
Then to the Flower Market in glass shops along the Singel
Canal. There are two blocks of them and
they are full of bulbs to plant and flowers to buy along with an ample supply
of souvenirs to purchase. I splurged on
an inexpensive five fingered Delft vase and a tiny windmill
to take home. We also noticed as we
crossed bridge after bridge that the warmer weather and the weekend have
brought out the tourists in droves. The
boats loaded with people are bumper to bumper in nearly every canal. It’s so different walking today in the crowds
as opposed to weekdays.
We arrived home just after two o’clock after stopping at the
ATM for more Euros for my summer trip and have enjoyed our afternoon with the
windows open.
We enjoyed our first evening out for dinner
tonight since we left the cruise ship!
We walked down the block to enjoy an early dinner. We selected a board of small plates for two
selected by the chef. It was unique and
delicious: raw salmon on a salad bed,
blood sausages, fried chicken, BBQ’d ribs, onion rings, potatoes, bread and
sauces. Delicious! Beer instead of wine and a slow walk through
the crowded park on the long way home.
Todays steps:
11,211 -- 4.93 miles
Monday, May 21st, 2018 Whit Monday (the day after Pentecost)
summer weather (rain expected)
I’d read my Kindle book late into the night and also had a
phone call from the USA about 11 pm. A
neighbor that didn’t know we were still in Europe called for the code for a lock box on the Electrical Panel outside.
Fortunately I knew the code and was able to help him. He was surprised when I said we were still in
Amsterdam! Today is a holiday in much
of Europe. Whit Monday is a religious
holiday in conjunction with Pentecost Sunday.
But, most things continue to be open as usual.
About noon we left the apartment… without jackets for the
first time…. And walked about two miles to visit a private home, coach house
and gardens that is known as the Museum Van Loon. Beautiful furnishings and very original
interiors. The home was built in 1672
and purchased by William van Loon who co-founded the Dutch East India Company as
a wedding gift for his son.
During our walk we stopped to watch two men hoist a
refrigerator up to the fourth floor using the pulley at the top of the
house. Scary!
The canals were bumper to bumper again with boat due to the
holiday and the beginning of summer! A
beautiful day full of sunshine and summer clothes! Jim walked to purchase our dinner and bring
it home to enjoy as I washed my hair early.
We enjoyed pita lamb sandwiches with a glass of wine. Our landlords, Sven and Claire, brought us a
bowl of fresh strawberries that we enjoyed for dessert.
My steps were short today, only 5,764 (2.61 miles) but Jim took two extra walks so
had four miles.
The weatherman says we’re going to have thunder storms
tonight! ??
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