Amsterdam!

OK, ...these are not my photographs, but by the time you read this I am probably fast a sleep and getting over jet lag in Holland. We are now in Amsterdam enjoying a little R&R with family. With any luck I will be able to post a few messages to this blog during the trip, but expect them to be rather infrequent during the next two weeks.

Ariel view. The Stopera is the large structure on the right

that houses the modern City Hall and Opera House. That's

where Jan plays cello with the Holland Symphonia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stopera

http://www.hollandsymfonia.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schiphol_Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canals_of_Amsterdam

There are about 700,000 bicycles in the city. Each year, about 80,000 of them are stolen and 25,000 end up in the canals.

The two oldest warehouses in the city

A Narrow house (painted red)

...an even Narrower house (narrowest in Europe). It's located at Oude Hoogstraat 22 and is about 2 meters wide (or 6 2/3 ft.)

THE Narrowest house in the world. Singel #7. 1.05 meters wide (3.4 ft)

The Rijksmuseum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rijksmuseum_Amsterdam

De Oude Kerk (inside and out). It has a great organ.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oude_Kerk_(Amsterdam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvBNuXAPgsA

Anything is possible in Amsterdam...

An example of the Amsterdam School of Architecture on the Keizersgracht
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam_School

Look carefully, this bridge doubled as a prison

The new Muziekgebouw
http://www.muziekgebouw.nl/

Jan performing there with his quintet "Nepomuk"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RJi45mctKY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvIcjIMUbRk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_jPyyNC5X4&feature=related

Interesting facts:

1) Holland is the most densely populated country in Europe.

2) Two-thirds of the country is below sea-level and has been victim of flooding - most recently in 1995.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floods_in_the_Netherlands

These two facts combined with the dire prospect of raising sea-levels due to global warming have prompted the design and construction of "floating homes."

http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/02/dutch-floating-homes-by-duravermeer/

"Waterworld" is here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterworld

Some cool links:

82 pictures of bicycles taken during 73 minutes on 9/12/06 in Amsterdam by"Brian" http://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/

The "WoZoCo" building...
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/amsterdam/wozoco_mvrdv.htm

The "Nemo"...
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/amsterdam/nemo.htm

The "Eastern Docklands"...
http://www.easterndocklands.com/east1.html

and Graffiti Artists too...
http://www.skezoid.nl/2008/03/amsterdam-series-4.html
http://www.amsterdam.info/graffiti/pictures/

General information...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tourist_attractions_in_Amsterdam

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