Claudia's dad Maarten wanted to take us for a walk through Amsterdam. We were very happy to oblige. Knowing our penchant for the Febo snackbars, a visit to one was already a firm conditon of the walk.
With Maarten, Claudia and her infant daughter Norah we set off for the tram to Amsterdam centrum. We have kept our special 'OV Chipkaart' from our 2011 visit, which is required for best fare tag-on tag-off public transport. To our suprise we still had a bit of credit on these cards and were able to get there an back without loading up. Maarten and Claudia don't have these cards and have to pay the hefty one way fare of 2.80 each way, compared to our sub 1 Euro OV fares...sheesh. Get an OV Chipkaart people!
On each of our previous trips we have spent lots of time in the centre of Amsterdam so everything is quite familiar to us. Amsterdam however is such a beautiful city and a chance to take a stroll with some lifelong locals is a real pleasure.
We got off the tram around Leidseplein and almost immediately spotted a Febo. With willpower we struggled to walk by without a purchase, delayed gratification - later.
From here there was a bit of a walk down memory lane for Maarten as he told of how he used to live in this nearby area. Memory lane is now knocked down, built over and something else stands in its place.
By now the tour was over. We'd eaten our share and were all walked out. Conveniently this walk had led us right to the Tram 2 line - our tram which takes us directly back home to Sloten. Sweet.
With Maarten, Claudia and her infant daughter Norah we set off for the tram to Amsterdam centrum. We have kept our special 'OV Chipkaart' from our 2011 visit, which is required for best fare tag-on tag-off public transport. To our suprise we still had a bit of credit on these cards and were able to get there an back without loading up. Maarten and Claudia don't have these cards and have to pay the hefty one way fare of 2.80 each way, compared to our sub 1 Euro OV fares...sheesh. Get an OV Chipkaart people!
On each of our previous trips we have spent lots of time in the centre of Amsterdam so everything is quite familiar to us. Amsterdam however is such a beautiful city and a chance to take a stroll with some lifelong locals is a real pleasure.
We got off the tram around Leidseplein and almost immediately spotted a Febo. With willpower we struggled to walk by without a purchase, delayed gratification - later.
We strolled through Amsterdam. The weather a bit cool and overcast, but as Claudia said - perfect walking weather.
After a bit of walking around Maarten took us to our first food stop - 'La Place' cafe on the top of the Amsterdam public library on Oosterdokseiland, a small island next to Centraal Station. This gave us an interesting viewing position over Amsterdam.
Next stop was a quick walk through the red light district and Chinatown...
To get to our old, frequently visited in the past, red light district Febo!
We all got some goodness from the warm windows....mmmmm, fatty.
Leaving Febo we crossed through the last of the red light district then the tacky tourist shop area...
...over the Damrak (main central Amsterdam street)...
...to the Van den linde ice cream shop. This was Maarten's must have food item of the day. For 1.60 euros you get a cone, stuffed with cream and then a ball of 'soft ice' ice cream. This was really really good.
By now the tour was over. We'd eaten our share and were all walked out. Conveniently this walk had led us right to the Tram 2 line - our tram which takes us directly back home to Sloten. Sweet.
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