Navigating Amsterdam

I was doing so well...the streets here are very long but unlike Paris, they keep sort of the same name and with my handy map, I hadn't been lost once...until yesterday.

I should have known it was going to be a bad direction day when I was walking just two blocks away to find the canal cruise Rick Steves recommends.  Where can it be? I thought and then it occurred to me that the canal cruise will be on the canal, not on the street and found it. This was a covered boat and a really nice one hour cruise that even takes you out to the canal that leads to the North Sea.  There's a new building in the big shipping area called Nemo which looks like a ship. It was designed by the same architect who designed the Pompidou in Paris. It houses a kids' science museum. There were only 7 people on my boat and it's the cheapest tour in town so another good recommendation from that guidebook.  An interesting fact was the explanation for the skinny houses in Amsterdam--you were taxed on the width that was on the street. So the fronts are narrow with these narrow steps but the backs are extended. Also, the guide showed us the hooks at the top of the houses to move furniture through the windows. I can understand that since I can't even maneuver my suitcase on these stairs.

Rick said to go to the Anne Frank house after 6 (open until 8) so I got there at 6.  I walked right to it except I was on the other side of the street which, in this city,  means the other side of the canal.  There was construction on one sidewalk so I looked ahead and saw a bridge and was finally able to say those famous words "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."

There was a line but it wasn't so crowded once we all got inside. I was surprised to see how many floors we walked up--I don't know why I was surprised since all these buildings are 4-5 stories.  The stairs were more narrow than mine here in this apartment and I actually had to look down to see how to place my feet. I won't pretend to explain how moving this experience is but I will say this: having seen it, it is easy to imagine how they hid for two years and second, making a museum was the right thing to do.

I had decided to walk back the same way I came when I was stopped by a Brit who was trying to get to the Dam. I knew exactly how he should go and gave him directions. I was going the same way but somehow missed my street (who knows where he ended up). To make a long walk story short, I somehow ended up walking in a big circle (it's that right vs. left thing) and then I knew I was totally turned around. I knew all these streets but I didn't know which way to go on them. Finally, I asked someone and it turned out I was going in the correct direction so I made it home.  I ate at the Sampurna just a few doors down from my apartment. Johnny sent me there for sandwiches, but of course, it's an Indonesian restaurant. I don't know what I ate for dinner but the vanilla ice cream with ginger was really good.