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The most un-tourist like weekend in Amsterdam

Plant pot of petunias hanging of a railing with bicycles leaning against the railing.

Ok, it was a little touristy, I got a photo of bicycles after all. From the start I am biased because of my general dislike of big and busy cities. I live in the countryside for a reason - I prefer this pace of life. I should begin to tell the story from the start. 

Petunias with the view of the canal and boathouses in Amsterdam.

This trip to Amsterdam was part of a longer adventure the Musical Phantom and I tackled last June. I say tackled because we planned it without really knowing what it would entail. We travelled from the west of Ireland to the east of Poland on a motorbike. Amsterdam was our second stop along the journey.

Picture of wooden doorway and a tree outside the building in Amsterdam.

Exhausted and sore from the long and strenuous journey, we arrived late on a Saturday night. In reality we only spent 2 whole days there. Two very hot and lethargic days. On Sunday we waddled around the city not knowing where we were at any point. Trying to avoid the busiest areas we looked at canals, bicycles and leaning buildings.

Section of the Oude Kerk Church with pink flowers in the foreground.

Plants inside a greenhouse on a sunny summer's day in Amsterdam.

Unsatisfied with our tourist experience of the city, we decided to go on a canal tour on Monday afternoon. We got lucky and shared the boat with another couple and the tour guide. We saw more canals and more leaning buildings. We were also unprepared for the scorching sun. The following morning we woke up with lobster faces and raccoon eyes. Not that it made a difference when we had to wear helmets for most of the day.

The Royal Concertgebouw with pink hydrangeas in the foreground.

One of the most memorable parts from our visit was the walk through The Royal Concertgebouw. In the passageway we were greeted by a quartet consisting of 2 violins, an accordion and a gigantic lute. They played beautiful classical pieces. I've never heard the accordion in an ensemble like that before. I could have stayed there all day, sheltered from sun, enjoying great acoustics.

Boat on the river, taken from underneath a willow tree and overlooking the canal in Amsterdam.

Other posts that are part of this trip: Bruges.

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