Day 2 in Amsterdam was a tad bit busier than our first day. I had two activities planned: a canal tour and a trip to the Van Gogh museum. In my opinion if you have the time, both are a must. We asked for an early wake-up call. And the hotel actually managed to call at the correct time. The previous day they didn’t fulfill the request at all. I rolled over, answered the phone, and then promptly fell back asleep. Oops. Thanks goodness our activities didn’t have a specific time.
After waking up and having a cup of tea we were off to find the starting point of the canal tour.
A beautiful start to the day
Did I mention it was Easter Sunday?
When I picked up the tickets for the tour at the main office I was told, “The next boat leaves in three minutes.” Thank goodness the boat was right outside or we wouldn’t have made it. As we boarded the boat I noticed something. It was full. There were a few seats available, however it was like I was back in a high school cafeteria. Everyone spread out and claimed their space. The mean tourists didn’t want to share with us. I had a chuckle and headed for the back of the boat. I wanted to take photos and the inside of the boat had glass windows. Several other people were forced into the back of the boat. It was chilly, but not too bad. The only thing I disliked about being in the back was that I couldn’t hear the guide speak. So I snapped photos but didn’t really know what I was looking at. However, the scenery was stunning so I didn’t mind too much.
People waiting outside the Anne Frank house
Halfway through the tour, the mean tourists who didn’t want to share a table with us started making their way to the back of the boat to take photos. I did my best to get out of their way to allow them a few shots. One tourist was super annoying though. She decided to push a few of us out of the way completely for the rest of the trip. There wasn’t a lot of space where we were standing so I did my best to stand my ground. This seemed to annoy her. However there wasn’t much I could do. There was no place for me to go. She didn’t want to share in the beginning and now she wanted me to make room for her. I tried to be easygoing but it did irk me some.
Move so I can take this photo
And this one
Just get out of my way
After the tour we made our way to the Van Gogh museum. I had paid for our tickets online and this was supposed to get us in quicker. However, it was Easter Sunday. Lots of people wanted to see the exhibit. The poor gals in the front of the line had to inform all of us that even if we already had tickets we had to wait in line. One gentleman started ranting and raving about wanting a refund. I shrugged and got in the queue. It wasn’t their fault it was so crowded. Once inside I was amazed by how respectful everyone was. There was a wait to see each piece, but for the most part everyone did their best to ensure everyone could get a good look. No pushing or shoving. Unfortunately no photographs are allowed. If you are in the area, I highly recommend seeing this exhibit.
Some brave souls. This past winter was much colder for a longer period of time
The line outside
Afterwards we needed nourishment and stopped here.
The walk back to area where we were staying was beautiful.
Finally we made it. This was outside of our hotel.
It was a great day. Next week I’ll discuss our third and last day.
50 Year Project 
Looks like a beautiful place! I shall have to plan a visit one day
I recommend the city!
Brilliant. Just a shame about those pesky tourists! I’ve only visited Amsterdam in the past on what might be described as ‘lads’ tours so I think it is somewhere we need to visit for a more cultural encounter.
It is a great city for a “lads” tour. Anything goes 😉 We always try to be respectful wherever we go. But some tourists are just annoying and I don’t think they notice or worse, they just don’t care. They do provide a lot of humor though.
Well this day did sound a good one… I would have pushed the annoying bird into the water..Ooops.. sorry… oh well your photos do show you got to see most of what you wanted to… lovely share..
A part of me hoped that the boat would hit a bump and push her over the side. But it was a great day. Thanks Bulldog
Amsterdam is on my list of places to visit. Your pictures look so inviting – in spite of tourist’s head in the shots. She was probably just excited. *Grin*
That’s a good way of looking at it Renee.
That sounds like a perfectly wonderful day, and your photos are fantastic! As for the pesky, rude tourist, you should have pushed her overboard – that would have solved the problem! LOL 🙂
Seriously do you get arrested a lot? Do I need to be concerned?
LOL!!!! Nah, I’m all bark and no bite. I just seriously hate rude people :).
Me too, but I never say anything. Not sure it would help
You have to admit, though, it would have been funny :).
I’m admitting nothing!
Lindas fotos!
Amsterdam is a beautiful city. We had such great weather, we passed on the museums. Too bad about the pushy tourist who needed to dragged through the canal by the boat.
Here’s our trip there. Enjoy … a must see is the video about the bikes to is in my reply to Starla’s comment. http://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/on-amsterdam/
Great pictures – I’m glad your sense of humor helped with that pushy person!
Over the years I’ve learned it’s more enjoyable to laugh and to sometimes mock.
what beautiful photos! there’s just no pleasin’ some people. i agree with the ones who’ve suggested a nice swim might’ve cooled her off a bit 😉
I wonder how cold the water is.
When I was in Amsterdam I went on a canal tour too- fun!
I think it’s a must!
Trust, me there are tourists just like that lady absolutely everywhere! But gosh, the city seems so charming and inviting! Thanks for sharing.
Daniel
http://www.myworldatyourfingertips.com
Charming and inviting are great words to describe the city.
Think you ran in to a classic tour boat terrorist :-). Looks like a great day.
There’s one in every group.
As always, gorgeous shots!
Great pictures! I was in Amsterdam last weekend and loved the Van Gogh exhibit.
It is one of the better exhibits I’ve seen, even though it is in a temporary location currently.
What a full, beautiful day, and wonderfully documented. We loved the Van Gogh Museum, and only a few steps away from there is the Rijks Museum if you like history. We happened to be there for a big exhibit commemorating the coronation of William of Orange. His regent, Johan De Witt, was an ancestor of my husband’s, and it was thrilling to see busts and paintings, even actual outfits that he wore and letters written in his hand.
I really enjoyed Amsterda. Did you have pancakes while you were there?
That’s pretty cool that you saw the exhibit and that your husband is related. How special to take part in something like that. Did you guys dress up in costume? I can kind picture that. we did have pancakes but not till day three. I’ll share that next week. Have a lovely weekend!
Some really great pictures. I agree, you should have pushed her in – it would have made another great shot!
Lynn 😀
An action shot!
What an annoying woman I would probably be in prison now for slapping her! 🙂 love the photo of the tower reflected in the canal.
If you slapped her I wouldn’t have told on you. I would say, “I didn’t see a thing, officer.”
🙂 🙂 🙂
I can’t believe I haven’t been to Amsterdam. It’s just across the water and I love canal boats. What’s stopping me?
Nothing. Go!
We finally got round to a canal tour after a few visits there and sailed as the day was ending – the bridges begin to light up as it gets dark, really pretty. We struggled to find our dock and got chatting to a group of Dutch medical scientists who were gonna head out on a ‘booze cruise’ to celebrate a big discovery – we got an invite to join them till their ‘minder’ turned up and thought it was a bad idea! Least we didn’t get on the orgy boat by mistake I guess!
And G always pulls people up for that sort of rudeness – in a way I agree but he gets pretty in peoples face about it so it usually ends in me making excuses for his rudeness! Ironic! But theres often a few people commend him afterwards if the ‘victim’ really deserved it 🙂
Glad you survived the canal tour without hopping into the fire. And G, I could use his skills every once in a while. I would be giving him a high five actually. I just don’t get some people who think everything is about them.
Lovely, soon very soon. 🙂
OH have fun!
Oh, what a great trip! Sorry about the run-in with the rude tourist–some people can be such dolts.
I love Van Gogh….
I’ve always liked Van Gogh, but after seeing this exhibit I think I appreciate him even more. it’s amazing that one day he decided to be an artist and then he did it.
You got lots of good pictures. Even if someone WAS in the way…;)
Thanks Patti. I did my best to work around her.
First of all I’m loving the tour and I’m loving how you take me through the canals with your awesome pics. Love them and loved your little Heineken break. But what was up with that tourist? I think I would have pushed her over the boat. Yeah. Most definitely I can’t handle people who think they are the only people on this Earth. High five to you for restraining yourself. 🙂
Oh and I absolute love the view from your hotel room. NICE!
People like her get on my nerves but I’m just not the confrontational type. Probably because I think of the perfect thing to say the next day when it is way too late.
That was fun! But I think I’d have told annoying lady what I thought of her and her antics 😉
I would love to see you do that!
Beautiful series of photos. Great presentation of Amsterdam.
Thanks, I’m glad that you enjoyed it.
Really beautiful shots. Thank you! And ‘shame’ to that ugly American (I assume she was American. But I’ve met some rude Europeans too.)
Actually I don’t think she was American. I’m horrible at figuring out languages and accents, but I’m confident she wasn’t speaking English. I’ve found rude people all over. There always seems to be one rotten apple in each group.
Am I bad for thinking I might just have accidentally on purpose tripped and pushed her and her camera into the canal so she could get a close up
LOL, I wouldn’t judge you 😉
It’s funny. I almost did the exact same exploration when I was there. Yes, Van Gogh is a must as is the canal ride. April looks like the perfect time to go with the tulips blooming. I had gone in August. It was beautiful then, but much hotter!
It was freezing when we went and since the winter was so cold the tulips hadn’t bloomed all that much. Next time, I’ll go later in April. And hot sounds good right now. I’m tired of cold and wind.
Those mean tourists would have irked me too. I don’t understand why some people are like that. I’m glad you had a great day overall, though.
I enjoyed the canal tour when I was there, but the Van Gogh museum was closed, so I didn’t get to see that.
That’s a shame about the museum. Since you are an artist I think you would have loved it.
I loved the Van Gogh museum. I think it’s one of my favorite museums. What I loved most about it was being able to see his progression as an artist from the Potato Peelers to his time in Southern France. Usually a museum will only have one or two works by a particular artist so you don’t get an appreciation for their artistic development. Unfortunately Sunflowers was not in the museum as it was traveling around the world at the time. 🙂 Did you get to see that one?
We did see Sunflowers and both of us were surprised that not many people seemed interested in that one. The rest of the works had loads of people around it, but that one. Not sure why. maybe because it’s more well-known.