I have to admit, we didn’t do a good job of getting to know Amsterdam. Between wanting to get out in the country and see the tulip fields, and falling in love with the villages around Amsterdam and the weather being biting cold and windy – we really didn’t do it a solid. What we saw was beautiful – we just didn’t schedule enough time to do what we intended.
As soon as we arrived we found a cheese shop and did some tasting and admiring. We would have loved to bring some bundles home for happy hours but our bags are full. Next we headed to the trams – National Geographic named Amsterdam’s 110 year old historic tram 2, as one of the world’s best tram rides in the world. They say you can see all that’s magnificent about Amsterdam as a city from the windows of tram 2. We enjoyed it and saw the beautiful Museumplein and the Leidseplein with all the hotels and restaurants, theatres and cinemas and then rode on to the beautiful palace. The route goes right through the centre of Amsterdam , past the famous flower market, and by numerous monumental buildings. Along the way you cross over all the canals that together make up the unique canal belt. The end point, brings you back to Amsterdam’s main railway station – Central Station.
A Dutch specialty we saw on most menus was bitterballlen. These little fried morsels are a beloved snack. They are a smaller, rounder version of a croquette. They contain meat ragout and are served with mustard for dipping. We wanted to try them so and our tram ride ended right at lunchtime so here was our chance. They did not disappoint.
Maybe we are late in our travels or just having a lazy day after our big biking expedition but we didn’t do the city the justice it deserves. Instead after lunch we hopped on the bus and went “home” to Monnickendam. We seem to need a quiet day of wandering streets, visiting the small town museum, and “fueling” (one of my favourite activities). So between the bakery for hot chocolate and pastries, and my favourite, favourite cafe’s white asparagus soup (I’m going to crave this down the road) and great fish and chips for supper – we had a wonderful, relaxing and grazing afternoon.
