I am sterdam!

We spent most of today in Jordaan in the west of the city. It was a very poor working class area but has been transformed since the late 20th century. Many of the canal side houses still have the shutters from the old warehouses and other small calls were removed from the district altogether because of the disease they carried. Not like that today thankfully, quiet and pleasant as we had a walking food tour around the district.

We started in a 16th century brown cafe with Dutch apple pie and cream and then on to have some Suranamese specialities, a former Dutch colony which were very interesting. We learned that Rijstafel, which is Indonesian food was actually a Dutch invention to show off the varied produce of their colonies in the East Indies. Another interesting fit it was that Advocaat was in vented in the West Indies using avocado blended with brandy. When they returned to Holland there were no avocados so they used eggs to make the mixture instead. We were told that as we ate an advocaat cream filled profiteroles! Another tasty tit bit.
The tour culminated in an hour long boat tour do the canals on the oldest tourist boat in the city. It has been used by Churchill, Rhianon and One Direction!  It was beautiful and we had drinks with cheese and Bitterballen on board. These trips are so good as you learn so much about a city and its foods and traditions.

Before leaving Jordaan we stayed for a while at another brown cafe where jenever used to be produced. The main makers were Bols and Hoppe. This one served Hoppe. The Dutch tradition is to drink the jenever with a beer. Well you have to try it don't you! ( We did share the jenever!)

Returning to our hotel we walked along the Herengracht (gentleman's canal) by contrast to Jordaan, one of the richest residential areas when it was built. I have chosen this for my blip as I just love the variety of activity going on as well as all the different roof styles.
If you look at the windows there is a lady in pink texting. In the centre there is a man playing a guitar and on the steps under the canopy there is a lady reading. At street level there is a couple sitting in the shade, she is reading a magazine. So much happening here.

Other highlights today: an incredible visit to the Anne Frank museum first thing this morning; a visit to the tulip museum; more shopping in the 9 streets; a cultural evening starting with G&T's  in the Vang Gogh museum and seeing Sunflowers followed by a walk around the red light district; a welcome cup of tea and a cycle rickshaw ride back to our hotel.

Phew, and I haven't even mentioned all the preparations for Euro Pride.
PS apparently Grace was sporting space buns not balls!