Amsterdam 2009,

JohnK — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:46:40 +0000

As part of my 60th Birthday celebrations in May, Carol organised a weekend trip to Amsterdam. Despite being familiar with the city from many years ago, and having visited it on numerous excursions, I was grateful to Chris for pointing out some attractions that were not previously on my visitor list. Even the coffee in the coffee shops was good. I still have not figured out how they have got around the European law banning smoking in a public place though? The first photograph shows an interesting variation on interpreting this law. We stayed at the wonderful Dorint Hotel, near Schipol, which we will undoubtedly be visiting again – a really first class hotel, great staff, superb facilities, and an amazing choice at breakfast! Anyway, they got around the smoking ban with a booth in the foyer. Why haven’t more places adopted this?

Smoking Booth

Carol in the smoking booth!

Once the early morning business customers went on their way, we had the pool , steam rooms, etc, to ourselves.

Hotel Pool

Inevitably, photographers take photographs of canals when in Amsterdam, so I make no apologies for this one at Kolkswaterkering

Kolkswaterkering

Cows on House Boats are a bit unusual though?

Cows on a House Boat

Transport is varied….

A modern version of the Jinrickshaw

To a more traditional form of transport,

City Transport

Sights vary from the harbour, which I could sit and watch all day

Amsterdam Harbour

….to the characters

Street Fighting Man

And finally, an opportunity to photograph Marilyn Monroe – well a model of her in the Sex Museum (which is not worth visiting!)

Marilyn Monroe

Celt Photographic » Amsterdam 2009,

Amsterdam 2009,