Amsterdam—Around Town

Today was our first full day in Amsterdam, but the morning was spent sleeping in. Although we didn't have jet lag to recover from, we did have post-moving exhaustion.

Me outside of Van Gogh Museum (guidebooks said we would have to wait in line for tickets, but we got right in).

As we are staying in the museum district, we walked over to the Van Gogh Museum and spent the afternoon there. Before meeting up with our Los Angeles friends, Abe and Frank, for dinner, we walked through Vondelpark, one of Amsterdam's main parks, and Oud Zuid, a very nice, residential area of the town where our accommodation is located.

We saw a few herons in Vondelpark. They did not seem bothered by people or dogs.

After being in Cambridge, we are used to seeing people on bicycles. However, Amsterdam is a much larger city and, though old, it's younger than Cambridge, which allows more of its streets to have room for cycle lanes. We do see more people cycling while on mobile phones and with friends and children catching a ride sitting 'side saddle' on a back rack.

Cycle commuters in Vondelpark.

Large, lovely buildings in Oud Zuid

While residential, Oud Zuid has a number of fancy shops—like this bakery.

Frank and Abe have been to Amsterdam a few times, and they made a reservation at Tempo Doeloe, the best Indonesian restaurant in the city (yes, there are quite a few). It was a fantastic meal filled with spice, heat, coconut, anise, coriander, meats, vegetable, and general deliciousness. Since it's been over a year since we've seen Abe and Frank, the meal was that much more special.

Abe in front of our newly served dinner—spiciest dishes on left, mildest on right.

Abe and me outside Tempo Doeloe.

We did pass on desert, in favor of touring the red light district. It's one of those things you just have to do. Still, it's a little disturbing to hear people negotiating with a woman in the window and then have the black curtain drawn. At least the women are unionized with access to medical care.