Dinner in Amsterdam

During our stay in Amsterdam the owners of the B&B we stayed in recommended several restaurants.  We actually had to go twice since the first time the wait was too long.  It's an Indonesian place called Restaurant Blauw.  This was the first time we had Indonesian food and it was quite an experience at this popular place. 

Jackson had the traditional full course meal.  I don't know what all the food was called but it was served on many plates.  We took pictures -

Indonesian Dishes

Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House was a must-see destination for us in Amsterdam.  This is the place where Anne Frank and her family went into hiding in occupied Holland.  She wrote her world-famous diary there (which is on my list to read) in 1942. 

The museum has been open since 1960 and you can see how Anne decorated the walls of her room with movie posters.  It was most moving to see the tiny bit of sky that was visible through the attic window. 

We went at a good time since the line was short.  It felt somewhat claustrophobic in there though but it didn't seem to bother Jackson.  They took great care to preserve the house and it's belongings. 

There was a movie made of Anne's life called The Diary of Anne Frank.  Shelley Winters won an Oscar for her role in the film.  I haven't seen it yet but we did see a really good Masterpiece Theater production of the story before we went there.  It helped to bring the story alive so the house was somewhat familiar when we saw it.

Evidently, Shelley Winters told Anne Frank's father that if she won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, she would donate it to Mr. Frank.  It is there on exhibit so we saw 2 Oscars on this trip - hers and Grace Kelley's.

I highly recommend a visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.  I will post a review of the her book once I read it.  I have a huge list of books on my "to read" list!

Red Lights

When we were in Amsterdam we had to stop at the famous (or infamous) Red Light District.  It's considered a must see in Rick Steve's guidebook.  According to his book, the neighborhood has hosted the world's oldest profession since 1200.  Oscar nominated director Quentin Tarantino reportedly wrote the script for Pulp Fiction while staying in a hotel there. 

We came across the Condomerie  (a veritable condom museum) first where they sell all manner of condoms.  While in the S&M sex shop we heard a man ordering some kind of gear.  We also had a tour of the Sex Museum to view sex down through the ages!  They even had a huge ceramic part of the male anatomy that people posed under to have their pictures taken.  I declined! 

We walked down the alleys where the hookers pose in the doorways of their little rooms.  If the light above their rooms are lit up then they are available for business.  They are not nude but what they are wearing leaves little to the imagination.  They are not all thin and gorgeous.  One prostitute had her door open and was looking at me.  So I said to her, "Nice shoes!"  She replied, "You just like the shoes?  What about me?"  Jackson and I regretted that we didn't engage her in more conversation as it would make a better story!  They all wear those ridiculously high-heeled hooker shoes. 

We witnessed an underage guy receiving a talking to by the police.  One of the cops said he looked like he was 15!  I'm not sure if he got arrested or just received a stern warning.  Can't blame a guy for trying I guess!  Since prostitution is legal (since the 1980's) the women don't consider themselves to be exploited.  We walked by a sex nightclub called the Banana Bar but I had no interest in going in!  The Red Light District was sure something to see!

Lunch in Amsterdam

After we arrived in Amsterdam and checked in at our B&B, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant on the corner.  Later on we had dinner at the same place.  We ate lunch outside and planned the rest of our day.

Me with my giant hambuger

Jackson had a tuna melt on a big bun.  He said he had never had a tuna melt on a bun like that!  The waiters and waitresses spoke English everywhere we went on this trip and were always friendly.

Jackson's lunch