Before trying the hotel’s breakfast, I was able to find a place to do a plank, crunches, and all those things required by the 7-minute scientific workout. Had to stack the suitcases to make room. But it was completed!
Breakfast is now included in the room price at Hotel Bellevue, since they were purchased by IBIS Hotels. Down in the basement we found a breakfast room with coffee, tea, juices, eggs, bacon, baked beans (?), breads, croissants, yogurt, cereal, milk. Perfect beginning to the day.
Just before we headed out into the sunshine, our room phone rang and it was Shoe and Carol. They had been dropped off at the hotel and were ready to strike out on an exploration. So getting together with them was very simple. We picked a walking tour out of Frommer’s Amsterdam called The Golden Age Canals where we walked along 3 17-th century canals: Herengracht (Gentlemen’s Canal), Keizersgracht (Emperor’s Canal), and Prinsengracht (Princes’ Canal). Â The canals are tree-lined, intersecting many smaller canals, and edged with 17th century canal houses with all sorts and styles of gables.
Homes along the canal – typical Amsterdam
We passed the West-Indisch Huis, the structure that housed the 17th century Dutch West India Company’s headquarters for trade, including slave trade, between Holland, the Americas, and Africa.  Our walk was peppered with humpback bridges, moored houseboats, and the picturesque  Brouwersgracht (Brewers’ Canal).  Noordermarkt square was empty; but on Saturdays it houses a farmer’s market, on Mondays a flea market.
This particular boat have 6 of these wine bottle trees. Is this my next craft project?
We ventured into Zon’s Hofje, where a hidden almshouse surrounds a courtyard at the end of a long passageway. The courtyard was the site of the Mennonites’ church called De Zon. It was demolished in 1755, and the Mennonites held meetings in the courtyard. De Zon was located at the end of the passageway because Mennonites, as not the “official” religion, were not permitted a structure with street frontage.
I want a tower that changes silver into gold
The warehouses and brewery warehouses have been or are being converted into chic, upscale living quarters. At 123 Keizergracht we found the house with heads on its facade representing Apollo, Ceres, Mars, Athena, Bacchus (Mike’s favorite), and Diana.
The Huis met de Hoofen at 123Keizersgracht, this facade dates to 1622
Then onto Anne Frakhuis, long line and long wait, but worthwhile. This is where Anne Frank (1929-45) hid from the Nazis and wrote her diary. Very moving.
Would you park this car on the street across from the Anne Frankhuis?
This delightful residence is permanently moored here in this canal
Since we are a group who travels on our stomachs, it’s off to lunch at De Prins, Prinsgracht 124. Beer, wine, a salad with warm chèvre, and sandwiches. We sat outside soaking up the sun. We had a few instances where we were sure a car or truck would come over the hump bridge and fail to make the turn – ending up at or table on the sidewalk.
Shoe, Carol, and Mike at lunch
Hope the car makes the turn in time! Or else, join us for lunch!
The horse definitely did not want to join us for lunch
We continued on our walking tour visiting Westerkerk, strolling past all the elegant houses along Keizersgracht and cutting over to Herengracht. We checked out the exterior of the Nienhuys Mansion, built in 1889 for a tobacco tycoon. We continued on to the “Golden Bend” tracing the evolution of residences of the wealthy in the 17th century.
This blue boat contrasts with the orange one from yesterday
After a break back at the hotel to acquire additional layers of clothing, we strolled down through the shopping district (that area where young skinny women indulge in the latest fashion), found a few diamond shops (Mike and Shoe weren’t buying), and stumbled upon the Begijnhof. Begijnhof dates to the 14th century, and though not a convent was a cloister for pious women of Catholic faith. Â It was an option for women who did not wish to become nuns and who preferred to live without husbands or children.
The central area of the Begijnhof
Hydrangea clinging to a fence at the Begijnhof
From there we found the flower market (the Bloemenmarkt). The market is some 15 or more stalls located on permanently moored barges. Lots of tulip bulbs, fresh flowers, bonsai plants, and, of course the myriad tourist souvenirs. After a quick walk through the Royal Delft shop right at the market, we headed over to a sidewalk cafe for a glass of wine.
varied calla lilies at the flower market
Tulip bulbs for sale at the Flower Market
Continuing on our stroll, we searched for a place with seafood for dinner.  We found Haesje Claes on Spuistraat. Mike and Shoe had duck leg, Carol had beef stew, and I had cod filet – perfectly executed with steamed vegetables! Yum!  We headed back to the hotel to call it a day!
When the hour struck, the bells in this tower rang!
The back of the barges holding the stalls of the flower market
