The train to Maastricht on a Friday

'Take the A train' from Amsterdam to Maastricht.

Friday on the train.

$29EU down the Netherlands

The City of Maastricht

The old City Wall built in the middle ages

Jane and Ruud's brand new town house, in the cities center.

*I'll add some shots of the house after I take them.

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Here are my closing shots from Amsterdam

Anne Franks house / center - black doors.

Anne Franks house, museum built on the corner. People everywhere.

Amsterdam’s Central Station is among the most prized example of Dutch Neo-Renaissance architecture. Like other buildings from this period, the station was designed to glorify Dutch culture and represent the nation’s economic prowess. Amsterdam Central is the Dutch capital's main station, located right in the heart of Amsterdam, easy walking distance from most of the city's sights and hotels.  The impressive station building was designed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers and completed in 1884.  Cuypers also designed the Rijksmuseum, the similarity is not coincidence.  Pause a moment to look up.  The right-hand tower has a clock, the dial on the left-hand tower shows the wind direction.  

In the late 19th century, Amsterdam’s municipal government was eager to adapt the city around Noord-Holland’s growing railway network and began laying plans for a centralised station. Amid considerable protest, the station was eventually constructed on three artificial islands in Amsterdam’s harbour. This decision effectively cordoned off the river IJ, creating a large barrier between Amsterdam’s waterfront and its historic town centre. Many officials despised the station and claimed that its existence undermined Amsterdam’s image and character. However, many other Amsterdammers admired its grandeur and thousands paid to visit the station when it finally opened in 1889. Soon after the station’s completion, Amsterdam’s urban planning began to shift away from aquatic transit and towards ground based modes of transportation, leading to the development of the city’s extensive tramway network.

Thursday and my last day in Amsterdam

 Thursday in Amsterdam, the city of canals.

A sex shop.  Duhhhh

A tourist relaxing with an Amsterdam smoke by the canal.

The Amsterdam city corn tax building of 1620.  

I was so curious I stopped and knocked on their door to ask "what is this building?"  (it might have said it on the sign by the door, but I still cant read Dutch.)  Turns out it's now an office for a magazine, but started back in 1620 built by the city (and a famous Dutch architect whos name escapes me) as the place for the taxation of imported corn.  Yes, the editor of the magazine (a Dutch rag whos name also escapes me) gave me a tour of the place with a lengthy detailed interesting explanation. 

An African Ridgeback who's owner insisted I take her photo.  She seemed less than enthused.

Amster-damn-it

A 'fun filled' Trip to Amsterdam!

Amsterdam Airport.  

But first, the nightmare trip: a delay in Tampa, then a delay in Philly & a missed flight, re-book to British Airways for a 90 minute delay at Heathrow, then 2+hrs through Immigration in Amsterdam.

Philly. The RE-Booking Line for delayed missed flights, 90min!

My Tampa flight was supposed to arrive at 5:47pm and depart at 7:12pm.  Instead, we arrived at 6:52pm.  Upon arrival in Philly we had a "medical emergency" in the aisle 3 rows ahead of me.  Everyone in front of that got to deplane while we had to sit and watch a couple of EMS guys talk to a lady who was 'sick to her stomach.'  She refused all medical treatment and Ambulance, but DID ask the EMS guys to help her get her luggage down. (really!)  I ran through the Philly airport like OJ back in those stupid commercials before he killed his wife.  The plane was gone and so was my happy face.  That's OK, after about an hour and a half standing in this line they rebooked me on a flight from Philly to London Heathrow at 11pm and then on to Amsterdam.  (the London flight was also delayed an hour but without incident.  *#Heathrow is a zoo!)

The Line to ENTER Customs/Immigration

(it went on forever and then out of frame right, 80min. before entry.)

Still in the Amster-damn line

The line once you actually reach the Immigration area.

(out of the shot is a monitor reading "5 minutes to front." It took 35m)

Finally 8pm on the train to my hotel.

Note: I don't want to sound 'bitter.'  I'm used to delays and travel.  But I did get about a years worth of bad luck in one single trip.  Instead of arriving in Amsterdam at 8:40AM as ticketed, I arrived at 8PM.  Same day, same city, just 12hrs delayed.  Tired.  No, very tired!

My hotel, a short 8min walk from the train.

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Wednesday, a new day!

The 'guard cat' in a coffee shop.