Blog 64 – Back to things that make me smile about Amsterdam

Travel sites like World of Wanderlust will tell you: “With its canals and famous canal houses, [Amsterdam] is easily one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe.” https://worldofwanderlust.com/the-30-most-beautiful-cities-in-europe/

And it is beautiful … I have probably written that several times in this very blog. But, as we spend more time here, I find so many little things that make me smile; and I may or may not find these things in other cities; so, it is time to start documenting them here:

We always smile when we have dinner at a canal-side restaurant. This is a favorite; Cafe George on the Liedesgracht. View, food, and service.
My side of the table at Cafe George. The view here includes plenty of canal cruisers out and about on the water.
The allotments of Westerpark always make me smile – even more so now that they are decorated to celebrate their 85th birthday. If you are Dutch, and its your birthday, there must be “slingers”. (paper pennant strings)
On any given day, I cross over a dozen canal bridges; the water, the boats, the trees, always make me smile.
This is one example of a cobblestoned walkway, much of central Amsterdam still consists of cobblestone paths. A challenge in many ways and possibly why the shoes of choice in the city are trainers or Doc Martens – high heels do not work here.
The Dutch understand that kids and grownups need opportunities for fresh air. Even if there is no land – you can float a playground and benches to provide this option. One of many, this picure was taken at Westerdoc.
Houseboats at the Westerdoc make me smile
Houseboats on the Brouwersgracht make me smile too.
The Flower bikes stationed around the city make me smile, as does the Flower Bike Man when I see him with his bikes and a crowd of tourists taking their flower selfies. https://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2021/04/the-flower-bike-man-bringing-smiles-to-a-city-in-crisis/
The front fountains at the Cafe Americain makes me smile. On hot days, which this day was not, the fountain is crowded with young and old alike taking a splash.
On the Haarlemerstraat a street level fountain entices kids on all sunny days.
I call this the happy Lego, but in reality it is a gas access in a sidewalk across from the Melkweg. Access covers dot most sidewalks, but this is the only one that looks like a happy Lego to me.
There are plenty of very good restaurants in Amsterdam, we’ve had some great meals here. But, sometimes the translations seem a bit off – this was a better meal than ‘Homemade Stuff’ might have you think.
Another restaurant that makes me smile is The New Dutch on Prinsengracht. They pay attention to every detail of everything they serve. A great place to order an iced cappuccino; assemble it yourself, to your taste.
It makes me smile to see tourists taking pictures in a place we have been lucky enough to call home for over a year. And, yes, they are in front of a Flower bike. (Rijksmuseum in background)
Sunday morning walks. I Love seeing a single kayak on a canal. This is Bloemengraht canal; houseboats on the left, apartments on the right.
I smile at the single standup paddleboarder on the Prinsengracht too.
It is hard to see in the picture, but it always makes me smile to see the bubble-blowing bear outside the Tinkerbell toy shop on Spiegelgracht.
After over a year’s worth of construction work, a new underground bike parking lot has opened at the edge of the Leidesplein. The street levle area on top consists of concrete pavers, which mainly serve as ourdoor restaurant seating and a small park area covered with whatever these are. They are 5 to 6 feel long made of aged brass. I have to smile at this, even if I don’t know what I am looking at.
On the backside of the Leidesplein is the large Holland Casino; it too is on a canal.
Many buildings in central Amserdam served as warehouses back in the 17th century. This stretch of the Brouwersgracht canal is home to a particularly pretty section of buildings that have maintained their brightly painted shutters.
How do you know it is going to rain in Amsterdam? Are the streets crowded with bikes? Then the weather is not too bad, but if no bikes are out – you need to get moving, it is going to pour very soon.
Any book lover would smile at this; De Boekenmarkt op het Spui has been happening for over 20 years. Used books in multiple languages are sold in addition to maps and other papergoods such as postcards. Fridays about 10 – 4 pm. https://www.amsterdamsights.com/shopping/spui-book-market.html
Lest I forget where I am – sometimes I just look up and there is a windmill across the street.
One of the oldest sections of this old city is the Red Light District. It is known for sex workers in the windows and droves of drunken tourists looking at the windows; but it is so much more – a beautiful part of a beautiful city.
We will end this posting where we began; eating along the canal. Location is the Avocado Show on Keizergracht. Highly recommended for breakfast and brunch. It always makes me (and Andy too) smile.

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