After arriving late yesterday, a stop into The Flying Dutchman for a beverage and traditional bar food items – Dutch Bitterballen and a sampling of cheeses.

The stained glass windows along the stairway to our room are beautiful along with sculptures around the hotel. There is a tour of this historic building which we haven’t taken yet…maybe tomorrow.

When we climb into bed in our hotel room, we find this man painted on the wall. It turns out is – William the Silent, also known as William of Orange, was a Dutch nobleman and leader of the revolt against Spanish Habsburg rule that ignited the Eighty Years’ War, leading to Dutch independence. “Father of the Fatherland.”

Breakfast at the Bridges restaurant and then off to explore Amsterdam.

There are a multitude of photo opportunities of the canals. Each one is more picturesque than the next.

The Opera/Ballet Theatre looks like it would be magnificent inside!

The Rembrandt House is quite interesting. It is where Rembrandt lived, did business, and painted. His etchings are featured as well. An audio tour takes you through the house telling his life story.

There is a room with his curious collection of items brought back by the early Dutch traders – shells, books of sketches, armor, etc. – strange to say the least.

From here we wander over to the Flower Market. Lots of flower bulbs and flower shops along the canal side. On the other side of the street of the market are tourists shops with cheese, postcards, etc.

A must see is the Dam Square. I was here in 1974 much busier now than it was then. There is a war memorial, the Royal Palace and Nieuwe Kerk in the square.

Walking along the side streets, there are many interesting shops and museums to amuse a person. We stop by the Oude Kerk -the oldest church in Amsterdam now a modern art museum. You have to pay an entrance fee even to just go inside the church. This is located on the edge of the famous ‘red light’ district.

Always some amusement in the signs you come across in cities.

A stop at a local tavern named after my brother and of course a sweet Dutch treat to end this day of wandering Amsterdam.

Nice friendly people too!

Tomorrow we hope to take in a more of what Amsterdam has to offer. Then, if we have the time, learn more about the history of this hotel before boarding the Viking Rolf for our River Cruise on the Rhine River.