If you've never experienced the fun of the locks of the Panama Canal just take a cruise into Amsterdam. Last night the captain shared we'd be picking up the local pilot at 2am and will be at the dock at 8am. I had a question, why the long time difference. Turns out to get into Amsterdam from the North Sea you have to do a lock down as the water that flows from the Mediterranean side is lower than the Atlantic Ocean. So, 4am we do a lock, 5am we're out. There, you've just saved 10 suck hours which the Panama Canal (still don't understand why people want to experience that).
Entering the locks at 4am
The height when we entered the lock
After an hour the lock wall almost doubled from the water pumped out
They're in the process of adding an extra, larger lock
The green line shows how high the ocean water usually is within the lock
This lock had the original lock house from 1929. Time to create a new house for both locks
The new lock house, showing how deep the legs will be
7:30am, still dark but we're here
Welcome to Amsterdam
A little treat when we walked off the ship and into town
Amsterdam is a quirky town. Rounds of cheese vendors next to a Dutch bakery next
to legalized prostitution house next to an H&M store. After a while
you like the funkiness of it all.
Quick 7 minute walk to the city center
Even the trash is transported by barge
I followed these ladies as they were so eager to find the prostitute museum
A bakery next to a cheese store? Yes please
Anything look good to you?
The most amazing slice of cheesecake and fresh cream
Another city carnival / party?
Monument to those that died in WW2
Map of how the town is just a series of canal arcs
Behind the carnival is the Palace of Amsterdam. When the East Indian Trading Company started making all their money back in the 1600's and the money came back here and made this plush administrative building. There was a people's revolt shortly after it was completed, the mob killed a lot of the elected officials that met here and this place turned into an estate for non other than Napoleon Bonaparte and is now the home of the royal family of the Netherlands.
A little carnival on the doorstep of the palace
The Citizens Hall (main hall)
Showing just how grand this place
The weight of the world is on the god Atlas's shoulders to manage
The highest degree of relief work outside of France
Even back in the 1600s the East Indian CO knew a lot of navigation but they also knew the mapping isn't done (this map is nearly 30' across)
Notice none of the chandlers are ever hung straight down from the ceiling
The guest room many heads of state will stay in when visiting
They also know how to make a breathtaking chandler
Now, the emotionally heaviest rooms, the Tribunal room. The worst of worst criminals were brought here to determine their fate in front of a judge
Here the condemned person would learn if they would be put to death. The room is front and center on the ground floor so all citizens could witness the proceedings
The justice would sit on a long table facing this wall with the condemned person between them and the wall, in hopes looking at the wall would remind the judge to be righteous in their work
First, a horrible crime is committed by the accused
Depiction of Judgement of King Solomon, who managed to find the truth in court, here to remind the judge to find the correct judgement
If determined to be guilty a sentence of beheading would often be given
Death was the reason they were meeting in the room, the child reminding everyone how they were all once innocent and pure
Depiction again of justice being blind
Around the room you'll find the snake and apple, reminding those of the origin of original sin
Upon the entrance doorway is the snake the apple
This town is just fun. On the outer 'streets' you'll find such diversity of goods for sale and odd character elements.
Yup, they're ready for Christmas
Yes the buildings to the left and right are leaning into the center
Flower / bulb market
You can find your favorite bare root or bulb flowers here
Monument to Rembrant
It was raining so hard at this point even the dog was unsure about going out
One of the original pedestrian locks that would raise as boats needed to pass under
Since streets are really canals people can't have a car, so EVERYONE has a bike. Parking lots like this are all over
The rain just wouldn't stop after 3 hours so I'm done for the day. So beautiful
Tomorrow - basically the end of this crazy trip - Brugge, Belgium
No comments:
Post a Comment