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Amsterdam, Netherlands

After a fantastic comfy rest we set off for our first walking tour courtesy our podcast from Rick Steves which we had loaded onto our IPAD. Firstly we took a tram into Dam Square and got a bite to eat – Rockwurst in a bun for €2, it was delicious. At the starting point we set our IPAD and off we went with Rick. We wandered canals and alleys complete with houses on happy leans.

Along the way we tasted our first ‘Dutch Herring’ and Frittes. The herring is raw, and even though I eat raw fish – sashimi by preference I found the texture a little, how can I say – raw? Needed some more salt or vinegar or something. It is served with fresh diced onions and pickled gherkins which helped a bit and you eat with a toothpick, or you can have it on a bun. In hindsight I wonder if it was just sliced a bit thicker than what I am used to, being served as a whole/half fillet of the fish. A strange thing happened though, about an hour after eating it I finally got free of my waves of nausea – so they must be really good for you as the dutch maintain! Vernon refused to kiss me for rest of day.

Vernon however preferred to indulge in Frittes – hand made chips and the original French Fry as we are familiar with. The dutch eat it with mayo and yes it was a nom, nom, nom moment. We bought both the fish and chips from ‘trucks’ parked at a square near the Anne Frank House for €2.5 each. An experience worth repeating.

We completed our walk through the Jordann – which was the jewish neighbourhood and braved the constant queue outside the Anne Frank House. This was something that Vern wanted to see, I have never read the book and only vaguely remembered seeing a movie, but was very glad to have gone. The whole experience was very sobering – people of all ages and races – even Arabic – deep in thought quietly progressing through the rooms as the story unfolded.

It is the actual house and of course has her diaries, photos and artefacts on display. The famous bookcase complete with books hiding the entry led you up steep stairs to the extension where the families hid. Blackened windows and dim lighting added to the somber experience and authenticity of the period of hiding.

Whilst the atmosphere was very emotionally charged I don’t know what I felt, I kept asking Vernon what it meant to him? Outside we chatted to some lovely Jewish women from New York (Vern had helped one up the steep stairs) – and I wondered what it meant for them? All I know about the shared experience is that it was special, and its important that we not forget human mistakes and strive for peace and human rights.

Another great day enjoying the cooler air and despite feeling wintery to us it stays light quite late here, getting dark about 8:30-9:00pm. For dinner we warmed up in a cafe with a coffee and shared a ham and cheese pancake as it was quite expensive, then topped up with a pre-made salad and jammon (spanish ham only €28 per kilo), egg salad, and rolls from the supermarket.

It was nice to come back to Blackcurrant liquor, chocolates on our pillow and a soft bed!

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