Amsterdam: Smuggy-style
To continue my too-brief journey through the Netherlands last month: Amsterdam.
We got kind of a late start, but I blame the delicious hot herbal tea and catching up on our laptops in a beautiful, spacious kitchen (with perfect Dutch window light!) But Amsterdam just had to be seen, so off we went.
The train ride in was adventurous, mostly because of the giant Chinese restaurant/hotel along the way (between the windmills!) which I am told is so big and gaudy you can see it from the air. :lol3
Once in Amsterdam we walked around. I have no idea where we went. The architecture was old and gorgeous, the houses were slanted and tall, and I enjoyed seeing unique shops and some familiar ones nestled in all the cobblestoned alleys.
I had a turn with the fisheye this morning.
I love what great environmental portraits you can get with this thing!
In this square there were many, many pigeons bathing in the puddles. They were having what we called a "wet feather contest" because the male birds seemed to really favor the bedraggled, molty look of the females.
Maybe you had to be there. :rolleyes
Anyway, moving right along.... we walked. And walked. And walked some more. I was never tired of seeing things because it was very similar to the other big cities in Europe I'd seen, yet very different. There was great graffiti, a thousand and one bikes, unique Euro fashion and tons (TONS!) of tourist shops selling drug and prostitute-themed tshirts and other tourist wear. Not to mention the picturesque canals and the hundreds of tulip bulbs sold along the water.
There was, of course, more extended lunch breaks on the patio while we watched people walk by.
Eventually we came to the big green behind the Rijksmuseum. Well, the big green between a whole buncha museums. The big sign is there: "I AMSTERDAM" and while we were trying to get a creative shot of the thing every tourist who spoke English looked at our gear and asked if we could snap a photo of them with their family. :lol3
I saw these bold, bare trees all over the city. I thought they cast very distinctive shadows, particularly since they had no leaves.
There was more tea, more people watching... on the way back through downtown we passed an art gallery specializing in glass. And Dale Chihuly! I don't know if this little guy is his work, but he's cute and the pieces inside the shop were breathtaking.
We voted Mexican for dinner. Since sushi was consumed the night before. Apparently you don't get a lot of "traditional" Dutch food in the NL.
Not a very Mexican salad, perhaps, but I was amused that their definition of beans was "corn." There's a (strong) margarita in the background there that made up for it.
One thing I noticed most about both cities I had seen in this country was the emblems and national pride. I thought it was beautiful. Utrecht had their crest embellishing every lamppost and hidden surface, but it was humble. Amsterdam had humble touches as well (such as simple line carvings in the concrete of the sidewalks) but it made sure to do things on a grand scale, too:
After dinner we took a stroll down to the red light district because, well, you just have to. When am I going to be in Amsterdam again? I was taken by how beautiful it was: the canal, the shops, the trees and the bridges and boats. Most of all the architecture. Between the grand old houses where bewitching women stare behind the curtains, historic turrets and towers stand in the distance over the rooftops. Just watching.
At the train station heading home. There was some sweet, warm light pouring down this time of the day. A perfect end.
Light, cameras, and friends.
We got kind of a late start, but I blame the delicious hot herbal tea and catching up on our laptops in a beautiful, spacious kitchen (with perfect Dutch window light!) But Amsterdam just had to be seen, so off we went.
The train ride in was adventurous, mostly because of the giant Chinese restaurant/hotel along the way (between the windmills!) which I am told is so big and gaudy you can see it from the air. :lol3
Once in Amsterdam we walked around. I have no idea where we went. The architecture was old and gorgeous, the houses were slanted and tall, and I enjoyed seeing unique shops and some familiar ones nestled in all the cobblestoned alleys.
I had a turn with the fisheye this morning.
I love what great environmental portraits you can get with this thing!
In this square there were many, many pigeons bathing in the puddles. They were having what we called a "wet feather contest" because the male birds seemed to really favor the bedraggled, molty look of the females.
Maybe you had to be there. :rolleyes
Anyway, moving right along.... we walked. And walked. And walked some more. I was never tired of seeing things because it was very similar to the other big cities in Europe I'd seen, yet very different. There was great graffiti, a thousand and one bikes, unique Euro fashion and tons (TONS!) of tourist shops selling drug and prostitute-themed tshirts and other tourist wear. Not to mention the picturesque canals and the hundreds of tulip bulbs sold along the water.
There was, of course, more extended lunch breaks on the patio while we watched people walk by.
Eventually we came to the big green behind the Rijksmuseum. Well, the big green between a whole buncha museums. The big sign is there: "I AMSTERDAM" and while we were trying to get a creative shot of the thing every tourist who spoke English looked at our gear and asked if we could snap a photo of them with their family. :lol3
I saw these bold, bare trees all over the city. I thought they cast very distinctive shadows, particularly since they had no leaves.
There was more tea, more people watching... on the way back through downtown we passed an art gallery specializing in glass. And Dale Chihuly! I don't know if this little guy is his work, but he's cute and the pieces inside the shop were breathtaking.
We voted Mexican for dinner. Since sushi was consumed the night before. Apparently you don't get a lot of "traditional" Dutch food in the NL.
Not a very Mexican salad, perhaps, but I was amused that their definition of beans was "corn." There's a (strong) margarita in the background there that made up for it.
One thing I noticed most about both cities I had seen in this country was the emblems and national pride. I thought it was beautiful. Utrecht had their crest embellishing every lamppost and hidden surface, but it was humble. Amsterdam had humble touches as well (such as simple line carvings in the concrete of the sidewalks) but it made sure to do things on a grand scale, too:
After dinner we took a stroll down to the red light district because, well, you just have to. When am I going to be in Amsterdam again? I was taken by how beautiful it was: the canal, the shops, the trees and the bridges and boats. Most of all the architecture. Between the grand old houses where bewitching women stare behind the curtains, historic turrets and towers stand in the distance over the rooftops. Just watching.
At the train station heading home. There was some sweet, warm light pouring down this time of the day. A perfect end.
Light, cameras, and friends.
0
Comments
SmugMug Technical Account Manager
Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
nickwphoto
Totally! That's why you have two.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
This one's shadow resembles Kokopelli.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
SmugMug Technical Account Manager
Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
nickwphoto
A great set of photos.........................also
great trip
My Gallery
Nick, you have seriously outdone yourself this time!
Thanks for the kind comments, guys.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
Awesome shots, Schmoo! The wet feather contest was great, also
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
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They do wet feather contests much better there, but what can I say? It's Europe.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography