Wandering in Amsterdam, part 2.. Travel to the capital of the Netherlands

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Saturday - May 8
Early in the morning we visit the Anne Frank house, nearby, a stone's throw from the Wester Kerk of which we hear from the ringing of bells, he also talks about Anne Frank in her diary (the house is practically next to the church), long tail, we pass through the spaces in which they are exposed to the testimony of the anti-Semitic persecution, documents, photographs and showcase some original pages of the diary, you climb into the house and is accessed via a steep staircase to the rooms where they were housed eight illegal immigrants who spent more than two years in silence and darkness, we see the secret passage hidden behind a shelf and the attic with the chestnut tree that appears to the small window.
We go out pretty excited and we continue walking along the canals and guides in hand we go looking for historical buildings, so you see the difference, especially the gables and the decorations, then we head towards the Oude Kerk, going to visit the Centraal Station Catholic Church of St. Nicholas, near Schreirstoren see the (tower of weeping), an ancient medieval fortress, much like the Waag, inside there is a shop.
The Oude Kerk is located in the red light district, close by the canal and the adjacent street (within walking distance are the features of windows with little women), is the oldest church in the city, in the Gothic style, the tower is one of the most beautiful city, this is only used as exhibition space, the interior is pretty bare, has a nave, large windows with attractive stained glass, known the famous organ in 1700, the floor is practically composed of tombstones.
We return to the Centraal to make a boat trip on the channels (almost all the excursions depart from here, including the card), especially as it starts to rain and we're pretty tired.
The tour is very interesting, lets get a better idea of the architecture of the city, the system of canals, the houseboats, in particular to compare the different types of gables and beams (hoists) that are typical elements of buildings and that, in my opinion, allow us to date the buildings, the oldest are the gables beak, with steps and bell, some of them have frames and sculptures and other decorative features that are also reported in more recent constructions, of course already knew all this before you leave, then helping with the guide we went to look through the canals the most emblematic buildings one by one, do not miss the golden area of the elbow near the Leidsestraat on the Herengracht.
Then we go to the Hermitage to visit the exhibition "Matisse and Malevich to" approximately 75 works of Impressionist and modern painters, from the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and other Russian art galleries.
But before we go to the museum restaurant, the Neva, elegant and bright with a large menu, very modern, spacious bar with sofas, waiter service (a bit slow), take a potato soup, vegetable soup made with vegetables Russian and meat, a dessert, a glass of wine and a beer, 2 cups, about 28 euro, very satisfied.
The exposure is very accurate, great masterpieces such as "dance" and "The Red Room" by Matisse, to name just two, but also works by Picasso, Utrillo, and other great artists.
Taking advantage of the more clement weather, we make a piece of Kaisergracht to go and see some buildings, including the building at No. 123
In the evening we go to the Leidseplein, where the nightlife is concentrated in the city, the square is very busy, young jugglers and musicians performing in every corner, many restaurants, pizzerias, bars, clubs, and then we go to the pub Café Reynders, a young, Music on the big screen and so on., there you go just to drink.
We order tomato soup, and leek, potato chips, Irish stew, beer, wine, 2 coffees, account for 39.60, we were satisfied.
Sunday, May 9
The weather improved we take advantage to walk on the Herengracht and Kaisergracht, we see buildings dating back to the golden age with the characteristic gables, external staircases, until we come to Rembrandtplein, beautiful square with the monument to the famous painter, surrounded by bars and restaurants.
So let the Reguliersgracht with its famous seven bridges, humpback, whose arches are reflected on the water to form perfect circles, and some buildings have front-leaning slightly forward, the famous "hanging houses".
We arrive at Bloemenmarkt the floating flower market on barges (though you must know how to figure it out), on the Singel, also bought the bulbs.
On another side of the square Munttoren the medieval gate, an old brand with the high clock tower.
Then visit to the Rijksmuseum, under renovation, you can only see a few rooms dedicated to painting the Golden Age, in particular the works of Rembrandt and Vermeer, needless to say that the room is more crowded with the display of La Ronda.
We go out and go to lunch at the restaurant Canaletto, not great.
In the afternoon we visit the port area, with the tram 10, then take a pedestrian path along the canal entrance to the port, many joggers, the suburb is not very tall buildings, the area is very tidy and streets clean the city center.
We return with a bus driving around the harbor brings us back to the station
The evening meal in a restaurant bar in the Waag, located in Nieuemarkt, the oldest city market, the building is also one of the oldest in the city (Waag), was originally one of the gates in the walls that surrounded it, see it looks like a castle.
The menu is rich enough, Dutch cuisine. We've got: chicken slow cooked risotto with turnips, soup of the day, French fries, beer and coffee spending around 51 euro.
Monday, May 10: a brief visit to Zandvoort and Haarlem
We start the day with the sun, take the opportunity to visit the Prinsengracht, to see some buildings with special pediments, then go to Cuypmarkt, a standard local market.
Then lunch at the cafe on the Herengracht Panorama, commonplace, then by train (€ 18.4 A / R 2 PERS) go to Zandvoort on the North Sea, a small village, about 40 km from Amsterdam, where in the past place Grand Prix Formula 1
The country is almost uninhabited, sandy beach, such as Rimini, a lot of wide, long out of sight, cold wind, few people, but at sea there are some surfers, some deck chairs on the beach with tents for shelter from the wind.
Then by train to Haarlem, a city where we visit the Renaissance of the Grote Markt, a market that is taking place on many large square bar with outdoor tables, historic buildings of the Renaissance, some have sided with Baroque sculptures in the center of the square statue of Laurens Coster, which is claimed to be the true inventor of the printing, the famous church of St. Bavo building that dates back to 1300, the church was closed, we can only appreciate the massive Gothic-style exterior, a very tall tower (Torre lantern), some shops leaning against the wall, do a tour of the city
We return to Amsterdam and go to dinner at Cafe Bloemers, where we have dinner with soup of the day, a stew of meat, vegetables, desserts, spending around 40 euro for two, we were satisfied.
Tuesday, May 11:
start, last lap for the channels
Ferny Forner
Rita Risoli