On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Captain C
Having been to the most serious part of the trip, we continue with mostly scenes from my walks on Friday evening and the first part of Saturday.
Near the Tilted House (the first picture in this series) is this, the most subtly named coffeeshop in Amsterdam.
The Bluebird, the first coffeeshop I ever went to, nearly three decades ago. It’s a very chill place, with two stories, and when I first went the stairs were the traditional Dutch steep-and-narrow, which as you may imagine made things interesting after partaking of the various products found therein. They’ve since renovated and the stairs are a little more manageable.
I love Dutch architecture, both old and new.
Gardens on the canal.
A canal at night.
Saturday was a lovely day, with sunny skies and perfect weather more like September than mid-October. It was a nice change from the three previous rainy days (which were nice in a different way).
The Homomonument, It commemorates all the LGBTQIA+ people who have been persecuted for being so. It’s right by the Westerkerk and near my hotel.
There was an old school tram going on a fan trip around the palace.
There go two miscreants
Very pleasant pictures to see as I am about to have my own coffee!
eclare
The canal in the sunny photo looks like a lovely place to have a conversation and a coffee.
bjacques
Thanks for your series of pics. I live here and often take it for granted, but they are balm for my soul in the winter. That Saturday on the canal pic looks like it was taken next to the Tulip Museum and is a few blocks from my place.
Trivia Man
Im sold. Amsterdam joins Istanbul and Buenos Aries on my bucket list.
MelissaM
Is there more to the Homomonument? It’s odd and I’m trying to see the seriousness in what looks like a pie server into the canal. Is it like the Vietnam wall where when you get there, you realize?
And thanks for the coffeeshop pics. I can smell them here.
frosty
I love the canal gardens!
WaterGirl
This might be my favorite set from the whole series! All the canal pics are wonderful, and I love getting a feel for the charm of Amsterdam that you capture in the first few pics.
J. Arthur Crank
@bjacques: I went to the Tulip Museum 7 or 8 years ago (I had an on-the-road post about that). I really loved that neighborhood.
J. Arthur Crank
@Trivia Man: Once you have spent at least a week in Amsterdam, leave time for other places in the Netherlands, like Utrecht, Leiden, Den Haag, Rotterdam, the bulb fields, Kinderdijk, etc.
I never have been to Turkiye, and have only been through the Buenos Aires airport once (or was it twice?) on a three hour layover, so I can’t say much about what to do at those places.
Sister Golden Bear
@MelissaM: I’m guessing it’s an allusion to the Pink Triangle, but I agree it’s so subtle I doubt anyone who didn’t already what the momument was would get it. Kind of like the Human Rights Campaign’s bumper stickers.
Ruckus
@eclare:
It was when I was there over 50 yrs ago. Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities. I have a few cities that I really liked walking around and seeing and talking to the people. They are all in Europe, mostly the northern half, although the southern half does have it’s charm, it just made a different impression on me. And I think it’s because people live in every part of the cities where as here in the US, because we have/had generally more land per person per square mile, (some of the bigger cities are less so – take NYC.
Captain C
@There go two miscreants: Thanks!
Captain C
@eclare: Agreed.
Captain C
@bjacques: * Checks google maps * You are correct, it’s near the Tulip Museum and also the Anne Frank house. It was taken on the way to or from a postal outlet, from which I mailed a stuffed rabbit (and a postcard and Delft Christmas ornament) to my girlfriend’s dad–said rabbit has been going back and forth between them for decades and I was enlisted to help.
And you’re welcome. Amsterdam is a lovely city and I’m hoping to be back for a few days this September after a family reunion in Rotterdam that I’m hoping to make.
Captain C
@MelissaM:
@Sister Golden Bear:
The pink triangle allusion is correct. There’s also some signage, IIRC, and I think like many such monuments/memorials in Amsterdam, it’s understated.
* Grins * Me too.
Captain C
@WaterGirl: Thanks! It’s a wonderful city.