Amsterdam: Two Little Piggies Go to Market!

The big K and I love going to local markets, mainly because of the local food! There is something intrinsically special with local markets. The explosion of colors, the different sounds, the aromas that will assault your senses once you arrive is something else!  

As my blog moves along you will be reading a lot of posts about the different local markets the big K and I have visited in our travels. On this leg of the trip, we visited two well-known markets in Amsterdam, the Bloemenmarkt or the Flower Market and the Albert Cuyp street market.

The Bloemenmarkt is the world's biggest floating flower market (assuming, of course, that you believe everything you read on the internet). But whatever. It is big. It is located on the Singel canal, they have just about everything plant related and a few that aren't.

Flower stalls on floating barges.

Amsterdam: Houses, Hoists and Horses

First time you walk around the canals in Amsterdam, it is surprising and more than a bit alarming to look down a street and see the houses, all in various stages of lean, some rather more severe than others, like a long line of drunks caught in mid-stagger.

Amsterdam: Lunch is served!

Lunch was proving to be quite a challenge. It wasn't as much a question of where to eat but what to eat! Everything looked good! Breads, cheeses, herring, sweets and the list goes on.... We didn't know where to start!

Solution? Try everything! 

A bit pricey but oh so good!

Amsterdam: Art and Bags (not the eye kind.....)

After a hearty breakfast and another oh-dear-we-forgot-about-the-time chat with Carlos, the big K and I were finally off on another fun-filled day.

Our first stop, Rembrandtplein or Rembrandt Square. We were pleasantly surprised to find an art market set up at the square. The big K and I thoroughly enjoyed the different displays of sculptures, paintings and drawings done by local artists. It was so tempting to take home an item or two as souvenirs of our visit but the big K didn't fancy lugging a painting on a three week trip. 

There's Mr. Rembrandt making sure all goes well. 

Amsterdam: History, Water and Sex

The Rijksmuseum

One of the things the big K and I share is the love of history. Far from being history experts we do appreciate the stories that go behind it. So the first thing we do when we hit a new place is to visit the local museum(s) as it offers us the opportunity to get to know the history of the place. 

Getting around Amsterdam

When we were planning this trip the big K and I were toying with the idea of renting bikes to see the city but after the slight misadventure I had on one in a recent trip we completely abandoned the idea. Good thing that we did after seeing all the bikes whizzing past us, weaving in and out of traffic trying to avoid people mostly gawking tourists unaware of bike lanes. 

Yup, we are definitely walking. Or taking the tram.

Amsterdam: Sunhead Canal House Inn (formerly Sunhead of 1617 Bed and Breakfast)

If you're wondering what happened between breakfast at Sara's and day 2 is that nothing much happened. We were told earlier that our room would be available by 11 AM so we decided to go back to Sunhead, freshen up before we joined our free walking tour of Amsterdam at 1 PM. Well, that was the plan. 

It was too early for the tour so we decided to take a little nap, just a little. Oh dear, it must have been the most comfortable bed or our age was showing (I'd like to think it was the former) that we woke up at midnight. Oh well, there goes day 1. At least we had those pancakes to show for.

Finally, Amsterdam!

After months of planning and much anticipation, the big K and I are off on a three week trip of Europe. First stop, the city of bicycles, Amsterdam!