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Post by amboseli on Jul 14, 2018 14:49:30 GMT
I love your pictures. That last one, with the sunrays peeping through the trees ... magnificent. lagattaIs this what you are looking for? www.johnbeerens.com/tangle-teezer-thick-curly Years ago, my niece brought them from Germany for my D-I-L and in the meantime all her friends have been supplied!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 14, 2018 20:49:31 GMT
the Rijksmuseum closed for renovation in 2003. It took nearly ten years for it to reopen completely. I have some good information from the net to show when I do my report on the museum. In the meantime, this might interest you: www.nytimes.com/2013/12/18/movies/the-new-rijksmuseum-a-documentary-by-oeke-hoogendijk.html (I'm not an A.O. Scott fan, but this serves well enough as an introduction to the documentary.) Amboseli ~ you have made my day! Thank you very much.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 14, 2018 21:00:24 GMT
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Post by fumobici on Jul 14, 2018 22:04:24 GMT
That sculpture must have a thing for canals. This is Venice 2016! Wonderful so far! I am enjoying seeing things here both familiar and new to me. Hoping you'll share much, much more of this city I have a great affection for.
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Post by mich64 on Jul 14, 2018 22:47:10 GMT
Really enjoying taking a stroll with you Bixa! I particularly like the photo you described as a photo for magnets and the canal shot, the light, shadows and the stretch, quite nice.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 15, 2018 10:16:20 GMT
That sculpture must have a thing for canals. This is Venice 2016! Hey! It turns out that the Dreamer arrived in Amsterdam only four days before I did. Previously it was in Rio and then in Venice, where you saw it. Love your photo!Wonderful so far! I am enjoying seeing things here both familiar and new to me. Hoping you'll share much, much more of this city I have a great affection for. I appreciate that so much, Fumobici. There will be much more to show, although inevitably I'll miss much as well.Really enjoying taking a stroll with you Bixa! I particularly like the photo you described as a photo for magnets and the canal shot, the light, shadows and the stretch, quite nice. Thank you, Mich! I wish you could be here strolling with me, particularly today. I'm returning to the Museumplein in order to check out this fun event. I need you to help me shop enjoy it!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2018 10:50:27 GMT
Oh!!! I want to go to that market too!!! I'll bet you see some really cool stuff there. (I keep thinking about all the windmill themed art/crafts that you may well have already encountered, albeit a lot of it tacky but... I have a few old etchings of some of the old windmills from Long Island that were used for grain back in the day).
Anyway, your photos continue to enthrall especially as your focus veers so much away from all the photos I've previously seen of Amsterdam. (a couple that I know spent some significant time there and while the gentleman is a decent photographer his eye was clearly elsewhere and I came away with more off a meh than I have with yours.) Going back to that covered passageway photo in the middle of page 1 all the way to the photo of the light through the trees and many,many others. And, love, love your Art Nouveau finding!
I have to say were I there I would have gone on the canal by now. I'll give you some time. Maybe all that time living literally on the water has shied you away.
Overall, so far, I feel that much like New Orleans, the French Quarter in particular, remnants of a bygone era, not quite "funky" but (and this is so true of NYC, the East and West villages SOHO etc.) have eroded and become "too clean", (I'm avoiding the "G" word here gentrified). As a friend of mine once put it NOLA, NYC has lost some of it's grit.
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Post by mich64 on Jul 15, 2018 17:53:40 GMT
Wow! That would be a great day sharing this part of the stroll with you! From the photographs on their website, it would be difficult for my husband to tear me away from trying to see everything. Enjoy!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 15, 2018 20:53:43 GMT
Casimira, the etchings of the Long Island windmills sound lovely. The market was pleasant, although not filled with things I had to have. But today, while hot, was gorgeous, so I enjoyed being there. I also took advantage of my museum card to check out the diamond museum. It failed to engage me, although I can see where it could be fascinating to some. But that's the beauty of having the card -- you don't feel disgruntled because you didn't shell out for a dud experience. Thanks so much for the kind words about my pictures. You know, there are several other Amsterdam reports on anyport: Ninchursanga, Tod, Fumobici, & Kerouac have all shared their experiences. I know what you mean about grit and funk disappearing from places. Since I was never here before, I don't keenly notice it but yeah -- I did expect a little more raffishness. It was full of lovely things, Mich, although with a certain amount of repetitiveness. It was great to be out there in the sunshine with so many people having a nice time. Speaking of markets and of dud experiences, my next walk here will encompass both. My objective was the Waterlooplein flea market, which turned out to be a very long walk from my apartment, but of course I was snapping as I went. This lovely little bar is on a canal. Can't you just feel the water over there to the right? Gratuitous rose shot ~ What you're seeing on the left are the backsides of the flower market stands. Note I didn't bother taking pictures of the insides. I entered at the far end & asked a guy working there if this was the Amsterdam flower market. "It's really just touristic", he answered ~ Just over the canal from the flower stands, this building is a double gift shop ~ Further on I stopped in my tracks, goggling and marveling. Little Dorothy seems to have found the Royal Palace of Oz!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 15, 2018 21:06:44 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 16, 2018 9:41:46 GMT
We're moving on toward the flea market objective -- of which there are no photos, since it was unphotoworthy --taking in sights along the way. This excavation was going on right next to the movie theater. I marveled at how wet and dark the soil was, especially considering that there's a drought on right now. Then I remembered excavations in New Orleans & thought, "oh yeah, of course!" Next to this statue of Rembrandt & hidden by the hordes of tourists is a statuary group of The Night Watch. The nice people to whom I've surrendered bunches of money must live in that big building behind Rembrandt ~ What's this? I had to wait to find out until after all the people on the right posed with the glamor posse ~ They told me they were filming a tv show called, I think, Dragway, then graciously posed for me ~ The confection on the left is the Grand Café l'Opera. I quite like the modern/modernized(?) Booking.com building, too ~ A peep into a courtyard ~
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 16, 2018 9:53:26 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 16, 2018 10:26:36 GMT
I was wondering when you would discover the Tuschinski Pathé, since it is impossible not to be drawn to it. If I am not mistaken, PatrickLondon made a post about it somewhere a couple of years ago.
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Post by bjd on Jul 16, 2018 11:57:32 GMT
Finally home again and looking at all your photos, Bixa. As much as you manage to get some really nice shots, especially that movie theatre, I am glad I am not there among those zillions of tourists. You do manage to find some quiet spots and courtyards, so I know you are not surrounded by mobs all the time but I guess Amsterdam is done for me. I have been there a few times, but the last time in summer was in 1993 or 1994, so it was much less busy.
It's a shame because it's really a nice city. Have you taken a commuter train to Haarlem? It's pretty and less crowded.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 16, 2018 13:27:06 GMT
bjd, if you go out of season, it is much less crowded except in the "microcentre". It is chilly and rainy too, but at least if I'm going there then, it is far less frigid than Montréal. However, it is also darker, as it is much farther north, so the days are very short.
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Post by bjd on Jul 16, 2018 15:23:01 GMT
Lagatta, I also had a flight stopover for a few hours in 1997 at 7am and it wasn't crowded then either! We also spent a week based in Katwijk, and made a day trip to Amsterdam on a Sunday. That was in July and fine, but there were nothing like the crowds I see in Bixa's photos.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 16, 2018 15:29:20 GMT
Whenever I pop into Amsterdam, it is just fine. Obviously the hypercentre is overcrowded, but it is very easy to find tranquil streets along the canals or in the middle of nowhere.
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Post by mossie on Jul 16, 2018 15:31:11 GMT
It is many years since I have been to Amsterdam, but it is still the same place. Thanks for some very descriptive pictures, but shame on you for showing us the infamous drag queens and not the demure ladies posing in “the windows”.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 16, 2018 17:52:56 GMT
The problem is, the window ladies are far more likely to have been trafficked by mobsters. The city has closed quite a number of the windows, and it wasn't just over second thoughts about full legalisation of the sex trade, but the fact that the mobsters were also trafficking weapons, hard drugs and other sundry stuff. Someone I know who used to live in the discreetly posh neighbourhood Oude-Zuid (on the other side of Vondelpark from where Bixa is staying kept hearing neighbours - the type of old money types who didn't flaunt their wealth - complaining about the Russian mob moving in and dressing and behaving in a distinctly loud and indiscreet manner. There are also mobsters from the Balkans, as well as Turks, Asians and Africans. And obviously longstanding Dutch are also involved. And taking pictures of the ladies is likely to get you beaten up by said mobsters. The Red Light district is one of the oldest parts of Amsterdam; after all the Oude Kerk is there. Like everywhere it is being gentrified now. www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/world/europe/24amsterdam.html
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 16, 2018 18:08:20 GMT
True, I have never dared to photograph the windows myself. However, I am sure that with mobile phones, quite a few photos are taken these days in total impunity.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 16, 2018 18:25:15 GMT
I know you are not surrounded by mobs all the time but I guess Amsterdam is done for me. ... Oh, I hope not, Bjd! Remember that the pictures in this particular post are so crowded because I deliberately went into a touristy area. It's a big city, so full of people anyway, but it's quite possible to do and see what you want without being trampled by tourists. And, as Kerouac mentioned, there are pockets of tranquility all over. I take a walk every evening, just wandering if in whatever direction from my apartment, and it's always a pleasant, relaxing experience.Have you taken a commuter train to Haarlem? It's pretty and less crowded. Yes, extremely pretty, but sooo shopping intensive! I went on July 4th and will report on it separately. it is also darker, as it is much farther north, so the days are very short. But boy oh boy are they looooong in the summertime!Mossie, I have deliberately not been to the red light district, although I'll probably go eventually because of the Oude Kerk & other old architecture. Apparently picture taking is so frowned upon there that one can even have the camera taken away. Anyway, I hate the idea of taking pictures of people who might well be slaves. Sorry to be so humorless about this, but the reality of their lives is horrible to contemplate. As it is, there is still much of Amsterdam to post about and I'm still behind on it, plus I keep seeing more stuff. Remember, as with Haarlem, there are days that don't make it into this particular report. The pictures most recently shown are from July 9, and here we are at the end of July 16. And wouldn't you know it, today yielded another 80-some pictures from a most interesting place.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 16, 2018 18:43:11 GMT
Please don't post them. We are all bored.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 16, 2018 18:46:27 GMT
Okay.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jul 16, 2018 18:51:34 GMT
True, I have never dared to photograph the windows myself. However, I am sure that with mobile phones, quite a few photos are taken these days in total impunity. Can’t think of anywhere I would rather go less.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 16, 2018 19:07:43 GMT
There is a little Chinatown near the Red Light; Zeedijk en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZeedijkI've never been to the Oude Kerk as I tended to avoid the area, but it is certainly worth seeing, as is the "New Church", which is a bit newer but still venerable.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 16, 2018 19:13:01 GMT
I have even eaten in that Chinatown. It was not very good.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 16, 2018 20:43:14 GMT
I've never been to the Oude Kerk as I tended to avoid the area, but it is certainly worth seeing, as is the "New Church", which is a bit newer but still venerable. I visited the Nieuwe Kerk because I wanted to see the World Press Photo exhibition. It's only on until July 22, so to anyone reading this who might have an opportunity to see it: Do not miss it! I have even eaten in that Chinatown. It was not very good. And did that surprise you?
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 16, 2018 20:46:46 GMT
No, the Chinese restaurants looked completely touristy but since normal Dutch food is pretty awful, I was ready to try just about anything. The Indonesian restaurants are at least slightly better, at least for people who have never actually been to Indonesia.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 16, 2018 22:36:41 GMT
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Post by amboseli on Jul 17, 2018 8:29:22 GMT
We love Haarlem. Much prefer it to Amsterdam (okay, both cannot be compared) because I'm not a person for big cities. It's indeed a bit further north but in terms of daylight there's almost no difference (sunset in A'dam on Jul. 17 is at 21:54, in Haarlem at 21:55).
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