Day 2 4/5/08 - Netherlands

Schipol -> Amsterdam -> Schipol

Highlight

• Had so much trouble trying to get a bike. The ones at the hotel were mountain bikes and I couldn’t adjust the seat. Our normal hire shop had nothing my size, in the end, I had to get a kid’s bike.
• By the time we got to Museum Het Rembrandthuis, it was almost 12pm, which meant the whole city of tourist has come out to play. The weather was glorious again, quite hot really, so we had to avoid all the tourist who accidentally step into the bike lanes.
• The house itself was very boring, there aren’t even any famous Rembrandts there!!
• Bumped into Joelle and Wendy on the way to the Van Gogh Museum.
• Just like last time, the VG was excellent. There were lots of people, so I had to push through the crowd to see anything, but I really like the exhibition, especially John Everett Millais, of Ophelia fame.
• There was still sunshine left, so rode to Vondel Park. Yet again, filled with people enjoying the sunshine. Makes me miss BBQs.
• We stopped to have a lie down and to listen to some music.
• Pass the very small Remembrance Day silent march.
• We wanted to go to Tempo Doeloe for dinner, but it was packed, so we went to the offshoot place instead.
• Food was ok, a little sweet, but the rice table with all the different varieties was fun.
• Also observed 2 minutes of silence at 8pm.
• Tried to go to the coffeeshop De Dampkring, where scenes from Oceans 12 were filmed. The place was packed, with tourists and locals alike. They had the scene from the movie on rotation, and I actually remember the scene.
• So yet again, we had to go to an offshoot, Abaxus, which was relatively empty.
• This place was definitely for beginners, with muffins and brownies available, as well as spiced drinks. I decided to start off easy by getting 1 spiked milkshake and having 1/3 of a muffin (they were out of brownies). You have to wait for the stuff to get to your bloodstream, but I felt nothing, so we went back to the hotel instead.
• Tried to use the spa and sauna but it was already closed, so that was a waste.

Food

• Sheraton breakfast:
  • smoked salmon
  • pancake
  • pastries
  • croissant
  • cheese
  • cold cut
  • shrimp
  • pate
  • fruit
  • muesli
  • yoghurt
  • scrambled egg
  • bacon
  • baked beans
  • mushrooms
  • sausages
• apple
• banana
• dinner at Indo:
  • prawn crackers
  • yellow rice meal
  • chicken satay
  • goat fried rie
  • vegetable
• spiced caramel milkshake
• cappuccino
• hash blueberry muffin