Convoys and the Long Way Home

[drron]

But a double shower!
Back to the canals-

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We got off at the Heristop but as we are off to St.P next year visited a local market instead.The smell of mould was incredible.

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I did some duck calls and this fellow came straight over to me.So that's the problem.I speak Duck Dutch!

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The Bank of the Netherlands built this monstrosity on the edge of the canal-

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But nature is not to be denied-

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[justcallmeryan]

Not only did we find the church but it was on the Town Square with lots of nice buildings-

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Then we drove on to Amsterdam and the Marriott.At checkin we asked if our bags had arrived.No.Emailed BA luggage services again but they didn't answer that or any subsequent email.Fortunately the Marriott had a fantastic concierge.For the hotel review and the rest of the luggage saga see here-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ces-and-reviews/marriott-amsterdam-68573.html

Fantastic memories as I spent 6 months in University in Haarlem - what a great town!

 

[drron]

When we got back to the Marriott we were exhausted and it was now our 5th day in our clothes so once again it was the lounge for dinner.
The next morning was the day at breakfast was the day we witnessed the attempted bag theft.After breakfast we caught a tram to the Royal Palace.Around the square there are some of the major shops.This was so mrsdrron could buy some extra clothes.Whilst she shopped I looked around the square-

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Then going back to the tram stop we found the new W hotel for Amsterdam.Scheduled to open in 2-3 months-

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[drron]

Back to the Marriott and the concierge tells us nothing new from BA re our baggage.Mrsdrron is feeling a little low so after making her a cup of tea I am off to the Rijksmuseum.Got tickets for the 2 museums from the concierge.Not only at a discount but a timed entry for the Van Gogh museum.As I arrived a classical quartet started playing.Unfortunately for them a few groups of schoolchildren arrived at the same time.Not much music heard-

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As I headed for the entrance I thought this an entirely appropriate sculpture to greet me-

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All sorts of art on display-

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This one took my fancy.The Spanish arriving in South America-

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And on the top floor-

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Plus an interesting painting-

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[drron]

Then to a display of cabinets and ceramics,even a ceramic cabinet-

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[drron]

Then the magnificent library-

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Then to naval history.Once again you learn that history depends on who is telling the tale-

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I loved the detail in this painting-

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[drron]

I didn't learn of this action in history-

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Then to some of the masters-

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[drron]

some more-

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I really liked this one-

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This looked a little familiar-

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Then there was a whole room devoted to the battle of Waterlonly a few days and it will be 200 years ago that it occurred-

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In the whole room this was the only mention of the Duke of Wellington and the Prussians.Though a horse was presented-

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[drron]

So I do recommend a visit to the Rijksmuseum but leave a little time.After my visit I went out the back in the direction of the Van Gogh Museum.So the Rijksmuseum from the back-

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There is a cycleway through the middle of the museum.Gardens out the back with unusual sculptures-

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And past the garden a very large square-

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I took a break in the park as some seating to the side.There are signs up everywhere about keeping a firm hold on your property.Whilst sitting I witnessed about 30 young people talking loudly.They then surrounded a group of women and started shouting.Then 2 peeled off and ran away.The rest dispersed leaving 2 very visibly upset women.
Then to the Van Gogh museum.Long lines but as I had a timed admission I just walked in-so do try and do that.Totally different.No photos allowed although didn't stop a large group of Chinese.There are over 200 Van Gogh paintings and 500 of his letters.His estate was well looked after briefly by his brother then his sister in law and nephew.The nephew gave the collection to a Foundation and this museum opened in 1973.
It also contains work of friends including Gaugan,Monet and Pisarro.Definitely worth a visit.

 

[drron]

I walked a different way back to the Marriott so that I could walk through a park.Just before the park I passed a branch of the Seafood Bar and thought that might be a good place for dinner.But my legs were aching and mrsdrron didn't feel like going out.So to the exec lounge again.But finally better news on our bags.The concierge had rung Schipol baggage services and our bags were there in unclaimed baggage.They were about to be sent back to Australia.That night we had an email from AMS baggage services telling us how to get to them.They weren't going to deliver.
So after breakfast in the morning we diverted via Schipol.As usual the directions given meant mrsdrron had to walk back and forwards to get there as I waited in the car.One of the bags had the lock cut off supposedly by Customs.However the contents were all over the place and I would think someone else had gone through it.Nothing missing we feel.
So BA had probably put our bags out on the baggage claim belt and thankfully they were not picked up so sent to unclaimed baggae.Why did no one with BA at AMS think to check there?The bags did have large green stickers on with RTS in large black letters.

Fortunately we were only going to the HGI Leiden.This was so we could do some laundry.They have a coin laundry but it was out of order when we got there.
On the way to the HGI we took a couple of detours into the country side.Obviously a flower growing area with lots of tulips-an occasional flower still surviving.Also this windmill-

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We ate at the HGI.Mrsdrron had salmon and I a spring vegetable platter.Both quite nice.When we got back to the room the cloud suggested sunset was going to be a fizzer-

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However they quickly moved-

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And at last we had a very good sleep..

 

[love_the_life]

And a sunset to boot! I agree that both the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museums are fantastic but they sure do take time to see properly.

 

[drron]

Saturday and we are off to Brussels.On the way however we are stopping in Tilburg,a little outside of Rotterdam,for lunch with a former exchange student of our adopted family.At first the area seemed deserted for early Saturday afternoon-

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It is another University town so not surprisingly signs of recreational activities-

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Finally found the people-eating

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And the restaurant where we had lunch sitting outside-

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[RooFlyer]

Then to a display of cabinets and ceramics,even a ceramic cabinet-
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I was going to say 'I recognise that cabinet' by linking to my TR which included the Rijksmuseum, but I deleted the pics in a moment of elder confusion, some time ago but here's my effort:



I also enjoyed the detail in the paintings (RH one from the bottom RH corner of 'Battle of Waterloo' you illustrate in Post 108):




I don't recognise a lot of the exhibits you illustrate drron, so looks like they change things a fair bit.

 

[RooFlyer]

I walked a different way back to the Marriott so that I could walk through a park.Just before the park I passed a branch of the Seafood Bar and thought that might be a good place for dinner.But my legs were aching and mrsdrron didn't feel like going out.So to the exec lounge again.
We ate at the HGI.Mrsdrron had salmon and I a spring vegetable platter.Both quite nice.When we got back to the room the cloud suggested sunset was going to be a fizzer-
<snip>..

That would have been Vondel Park and the nearby Seafood Bar that I wrote about in the same TR. Shame you missed it, but with the bags saga I would have been the same.

 

[drron]

Indeed it was.there is another Seafood bar in the centre as well and wasn't sure which one you had been to.
So to lunch.The restaurant was very Dutch,No English menu.Fortunately we had someone who spoke reasonable Dutch with us.Unusual selection of lunch items with a great emphasis on different breads.basically everything came on or with bread.Mrsdrron had a huge omelette on bread.I had the lunch special.The meat was hoender.Our friend didn't know the word and the waitress could only say it is like turkey but isn;t.Not deterred I enjoyed my stuffed guinea fowl.

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Washed down naturally with a bottle of French SB-

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The restaurant is Villa de Vier Jaargetijden.It was a very enjoyable lunch in a good setting with great company.
From there it wasn't a long drive to Brussels and the Sheraton.No trouble reaching Brussels but although we had the road numbers and names these were mostly missing or very small.I had the Google map in my mind and luckily took all the right roads although a little hesitantly.So to our room-

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Still haven't used a bidet-

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And our view naturally was looking down on the Hilton and Crowne Plaza-

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I wasn't expecting much as the reviews aren't great but I thought it reasonable and in A reasonable position.

 

[drron]

Just 2 nights in Brussels so went on the hop on,hop off bus on their 2 routes.really slow,stops often a distance from what you wanted to see so really didn't think it was worth it.so some random pics-

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This is Atomium built for Expo 58.It is the structure of an iron atom.Each of the spheres is an exhibition space.I have enough problems with iron so really don't want to be inside an atom of it.

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[drron]

The tour of Brussels continues-

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[drron]

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The trams go either side of the statue.

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[drron]

I was starting to get a bit hungry by now but unfortunately this restaurant was closed-

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[drron]

Passing this park through the trees you could see fellows playing cricket-

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And the Triumphal Arch commissioned by one of the most wicked of monarchs Leopold 2nd.Probably 10 million Congolese died in his personal colony of the Congo during his time in charge in the late 19th century.

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And now the EU headquarters-

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And the Palace-

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