Saturday, April 14, 2007

The Bookends


You've now seen our apartment and our 2-block street (Elandsgracht) here in Amsterdam. Here now are the two canals that run perpendicular to our street!


On the busiest end of our street, where the Johnny Jordaan plaza is (last post) and from where you would head into the center of the city, is the Prinsengracht canal. I have actually gone a street down to look back at the bridge that takes you across the canal on the left to our street (so our apartment is off to the left). There in the distance is the Westerkerk, which is on the corner near the Anne Frank House. It's the church she could see out of her top-floor window while she was in hiding during WWII.


Now walk the two blocks down our street to the other end where you see the Lijnbaangracht canal. I've done the same thing again--walked to the next bridge and looked back at the bridge that takes us to our street. It's the only white wooden bridge in A'dam thus far that I've seen. Our apartment is 10 storefronts down on the right, on the other side of the street. Our grocery store, BTW, is across the bridge on the left about a block away.

So there you have it! I'm quite sure I'll be showing you more canals and bridges over time but THESE are ours. They really are the bookends to our wee street!

14 comments:

  1. Very picturesque, I would love to visit Amsterdam. And you seem to be having lovely weather for your explorations too, just right for photography!

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  2. I felt some tears, 'cause I remember back to 1965, when I went on the Grand Channel Tour in Western Europe. Amsterdam was one of our most memorable places....

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  3. Ex-S: Apparently it's unusual but we've had sunny days the entire week we've been here thus far. No rain at all. So, yes, it's been perfect for taking pics!

    Tor: 1965 was a looooong time ago! That's when we were in university, right?! I think it's time for you to come back!

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  4. You live in a fabulous area, Ginnie. I love A'dam and we can't wait to discover the neighbourhood through your blog (and also face to face, soon).

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  5. ok - I keep messing this stuff up heres. the correct comment!

    I can't wait to learn that much more about the area also... And now you have that google earth incentive. ;-)

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  6. CS: I have thought of you and O-X almost every day while here. One day we'll meet here face to face. I can hardly wait!!!

    ET: HA! Yes, I need to go do that--Google Earth!

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  7. These two canals would occupy me for days by themselves. Each canal boat is unique, and just watching the comings and goings within your neighborhood will be so much fun.

    Have you met any neighbors yet?

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  8. What beautiful pictures of the canals and the bridges - you have captured the atmosphere so well Ginnie!
    What a neighborhood - I so much remember the movie about Anne Frank's dairy.

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  9. Ruth: This place/street is so ALIVE. Stuff going on all the time. Thank God our bedroom is in the back! We haven't met any of our above-floor neighbors properly yet. We did "meet" one neighbor as we were hanging out the window for something and he was coming into the front door. He looked up and said we had a great window advantage. :) Yes, we do.

    Renny: Thank you! I want to see that movie again! It'll have such new meaning now.

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  10. So picturesque. City life can be so exciting -- everything at your fingertips.

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  11. I just LOVE those canals with the boats and the green trees alongside. So beautiful!

    We've been having fabulous weather here - quite out of character for this time of year. It should be quite a summer. :-)

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  12. It's so cute!! How excited you must be!! I am excited for you just reading about it!

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  13. These are beautiful! Definitely would be fun to travel there. :)

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  14. Karen: HA! So well said.

    Christina: The same was true in A'dam! It was supposed to be in the 50's our entire time but actually got up into the 70's over our last weekend. Then it started to cool down again. It's colder here in Atlanta right now! I had to turn the furnace on when I got home yesterday!

    RRD: Thanks a million. We're loving it!

    Tim: You'd love it, I'm sure!

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