Woke to some rain this morning. It soon eased off and was done by the time we headed out. We caught a hop-on / hop-off bus which gives a good view of the parts of the city you probably wouldn't otherwise do. I think we could have achieved the same via tram, only losing the commentary and perhaps not seeing all that we did from this form of drive-by tourism. We would have missed the best line - "Amsterdam is a city built on piles."
First stop was at Anne Frank House. The queue took an hour to run its course, which passed soon enough by the time you add in trips for coffee, reading the brochure that thoughtful staff had handed out along the line, admiring the local architecture and eavesdropping on whining tour groups (American) that remind one of the joys of independent travel.
The house has been sheathed in a new-ish structure to protect it and provide entry and exhibition space, as well as cafe and shop of course. Bruce said this wasn't here 25 years ago. The story is well known but made more impelling by visiting the place where it happened and seeing videos of interviews with Otto Frank (father), Mies Geis (an accomplice who provided food and supplies to the Frank and Van Pels families) and a survivor of Birkenau who knew Anne and saw here just before she died. We took about an hour to complete the tour.
Anne died of tuberculosis about 1 month short of the camp's liberation thinking that all her family had perished. Her father survived and dedicated his life to publishing her story and opening the museum. He died in 1980.
The exhibition space had two displays - one called "When I Am Fifteen" about the outlook Anne had for her future and the implicit nod to children today who are incarcerated as refugees or slave labour. The second was a video display of the treatment of refugees and their human rights. Having seen three Muslim women walk by while I was in the queue, I was reminded that even today the only thing that truly amazes me is the ability of the humankind to visit misery and pain on itself.
Soapbox can now be put away.
While waiting for the bus we saw a strange contraption the took 8 to 10 people all pedalling and presumably drinking. Someone sat at the front steering. It looked like fun unless someone stopped or the legs gave out. This would hardly be a problem for locals. The bikes here set a cracking pace and pedestrians are treated with disdain. Bikes have priority over cars and walkers it seems. You stray into a bike path at your own risk.
We hopped back on the ho / ho and stopped for a wander around the Red Light District. While this is the original 24 hour convenience store experience, today it is more a tourist attraction and a place for bucks and hens parties.
Back on the ho / ho, we drove around very different parts of the city. Stops included the Gasson Diamond tour (it's free! we didn't) and the Heineken Experience - presumably that's a hangover.
We finished the bus escapade at the Museumskwartier intending to visit the Van Gogh. Time was the enemy, however we were able to book for tomorrow to beat the queue. Around the quarter there is presumably a big park. I say presumably because it was filled with stages, display tents, bikes and people. The blog photo is of some of the bikes.
This is the Uitmarkt. It was very busy and what really surprised us was that it was all dedicated to one sector only - the Arts. Every dance, ballet, theatre, opera, music, choral, literary, reading and art group in the country had a stand promoting their work for the coming year. Most impressive.
We dropped back home for a break and change of clothes and headed out to drag bingo. No, we didn't change into drag! It was in a small bar (Spijker) that was difficult to find. It was a lot of fun although once the bingo call was done the place emptied fairly quickly. Much like every church hall across the country no doubt.
We jumped a tram and headed to China town for dinner. Having a rich colonial past at least provides Amsterdam with good Asian cuisine not found in other continental European cities we've visited.
We found a nice Vietnamese and had a good and inexpensive meal.
Back home to dream - not about stairs this time!