An entry in the TFS Travel Journal
Haven’t had a decent breakfast buffet since Bruge, yum! Set off to explore the city on a grey, cool, drizzly day. Walked first to the diamond place we’d seen our last time here, but the next tour wasn’t for an hour, so we walked to the Jewish History Museum.
The building is comprised of three old synagogues that have been connected and somewhat modernized, but one can still appreciate the intrinsic historical structures. Tremendous collection of Jewish antiquities of all types, mostly from Dutch and European communities. Also, two interesting temporary exhibits: A collection of pictures by Joan Roth, a photographer, of Jewish women from areas with few other Jews, including Yemen, Morocco, Ukraine, Ethiopia; and a beautiful collection of Jewish textiles (torah covers, challah covers, etc.) from all ages.
We then saw the Portuguese-Israeli synagogue, built in 1674. A very large and impressive building, with spectacular natural light flooding in through its huge windows (and we were there on a very cloudy day!) We then went to Gassan Diamonds for their advertised free tour (Amsterdam was the diamond capital until 1918, and still a major diamond center). We were assigned to Corrine, a nice french lady tourguide and french teacher. First a few minutes on how diamonds are cut, shaped and polished while watching some of this actually taking place, then all of the sudden, we’re two-on-one in a private showroom with this woman showing us small-to-LARGE diamonds with prices and settings! As Milton began fidgeting and sweating unobtrusively, Wendy enjoyed turning the spit by trying on several rings the woman brought forth and asking a few questions. All in good fun and idle curiosity, with some genuine edification thrown in, then we were on our way with our wallet intact.
Next stop was the (in?)famous Red Light District (prostitution being legal in Amsterdam) which we had to see because, well, we’re here. Surprising number of quite unattractive offerings, though a few extremely young and pretty ones, also. Although we heard a few deals being negotiated, there seemed to be more tourists than customers. Again, we kept our wallets to ourselves, and headed on foot to our dinner destination, walking a lovely gallery/antique shop lane along the way.
Dinner was an Indonesian ristaffel (rice table), which contained about 18 variously spiced small dishes (beef, chicken, pork, vegetables, though not all of which we ate) and rice. Service was a bit snippy, but quick, and the food was excellent, especially the sauces.
We walked home (a lot of walking today) but along the way the sky turned black and another pounding downpour burst upon us, so we ducked into a doorway along a canal and waited out the storm. Another memorable moment, as the rain drove most everyone from the streets, and we were left alone with a view of the lovely old Amsterdam architecture, the canal, the sound of just the rain falling, and the feeling that we were looking at a scene a hundred years old.
Then it was back to our charming room to pack and think of some of the things we won’t be missing: beds that were too high/low/narrow/soft with sheets that were so starched they woke us up when one of us turned over, pillows that felt like they had an octopus in them, hand-held showers that were too hot/cold/both/neither, church bells every few minutes, crazed bicyclists (wait, we’ll still have those), living out of our suitcases, three-figure laundry bills, not having a kitchen; and all the things we will be missing: see the previous 38 journal entries.