Visiting the Tourist Office

 

Goden Dag.

It's my day to have my room done,and who knows when that will happen? I'm tired having put inn more than 11K steps today, so I've done something I seldom do. I brought a snack of olives and almonds and my computer down to the lounge/bar for my aperitivo. There's no bartender, Citadines depends on its residents honesty.I bought myself a Belgian beer, and mighty refreshing it is too.

Now I'mgoingto watch the Team Presentation for the Tour de France. It starts tomorrow in Barcelona and promises to be a terrific contest. I could go on and on about it, but I'll spare you.

 began my day with a trip to the grocery store. I especially wanted more of that lovely Beemster cheese, but I searched for it in vain. I got some Gouda instead, and one can't really go wrong with Dutch cheese. Should you find yourself in Amsterdam and crave cheese, you cannot escape it. Cheese shops are everywhere!

For all that walking I did not accomplish much today, but that's about to change. I have been trying to buy an Amsterdam Card on line, which will give me free admission to sites and allow me to book my entry day and time. Most of the major sites in Amsterdam require this, and it's common in many European capitals. I approve of the system, especially for visitors to Anne Frank's House because previously wait times would be two or three hours.

But though I tried multiple times to buy my desired card, my request was rejected. The only thing left for me was to go to the tourist office called I am Amsterdam at the Station Centraal. You can see the neo Gothic station abaove.

Aayway, I found the tourist office and expressed my desire. The nice young ladies at the service desk said the product was available only on line. I explained the proble and we messed around on my phone--to no avail. It simply did not work.  Eventually, instead of the card I wanted, I got a three day card that also includes public transportation. I'll probably not use it much because I come to Europe to walk. I certainly appreciated the time and trouble the young ladies took for me.

Then I strolled around the city. I went to the Dam Square. I passed the major department store of the city. I used to go in to yse the toilet, but I still had to pay. The name means bee hive.

Even the shopping malls in Amsterdam are in historic buildings

                                                

Here is the royal palace. The Family lives at the Hague, so tourists can visit this building, and I intend to.

A family has come to take advantage of the lounge. The children are noisy, so I can barely hear my computer.  They are having lunch and behaving normally, so I''ll just have to deal. And once they left, the vacuuming began. The guy did such a thorough long-lasting job that I did not hear much of the Team Presentation. And my room is not yet done, and I have no idea when it will be.

Tot Ziens