Amsterdam photo blog (another)

Last Saturday I once more went on a day trip to Amsterdam.
Perhaps this "Sensation Express" bus should be more aptly names "Surprise Express", since you're always in for some. Keen eyesight helped me to spot the bus at the very far end of the station, the opposite end from where it had been last time, at least 100 meters away - that is, to spot a bus that looked different from the regular public transport ones, more like a travel bus, and so I walked over to inquire and it turned out to be the one. Other people apparently kept calling the driver on mobile phones, having trouble to find it.
I felt grateful and kind of proud that, having no such gadgets, my keen warrior senses once more proved to be all I needed instead.

It kept raining on and off, but all in all the weather kept improving the closer we got to the destination. There was some traffic jams and slow going on the highways too, and eventually the driver stopped the bus on Piet-Hein-Kade, next to the Ij-Tower, and announced he wasn't going any further. I asked him to be sure he'd be back in this same spot for the return trip at 8:30 PM. At first he had trouble understanding my English but then he told me to be there by 8:20.

Personally I didn't really have any problem with the odd place of arrival (and pick-up) he'd chosen but it did bewilder me and I was wondering how the other people might feel about it - I had no problem because I know the city well enough, I wouldn't have any trouble to find my way around from here nor my way back here in the evening. But had I been a stranger to Amsterdam and here for the first time, I imagine I'd have felt quite a bit taxed by the situation and worried about finding back later. I'd have searched for a sign with the street name and then bought a map somewhere - but as it was, I didn't even consult the old map I had with me already, and not a single time for the rest of the day; I had the advantage of familiarity with Amsterdam and so it wasn't a thing for me to complain about. But I'd understand perfectly well if the other passengers would complain! But maybe their fancy gadgets helped them along again.

Zuiderkerk reflection

I decided to walk all the way to Waterlooplein and then rent a fiets (bicycle) at the MacBike rental there, and to pass by "Knuffels", the plushie store where once I bought my sweet Sharky - years ago, my first one, and they've never had such a pretty sharky again.
This time they had spiders. LOL

Sharky - with me since ~2007

Spiders at Knuffels store

At Waterlooplein I strolled the market for a bit, then went to MacBike to get a fiets on which I rode on to Albert Cuyp Market. Sadly I found no more of the warm "winter" leggings of which I bought a pair there back in December and which I was in fact wearing. They're certainly NOT fit for actual winter, of course, at least not without an additional pair of thermo-leggings underneath, they're only a bit plushy inside, similar to tennis socks. Outside they're printed to look like jeans. But this time around they only had the regular, thin ones, so I didn't buy any as I already got enough leggings that can be worn with long underwear only (unless it's summer, which rarely happens in actuality - not only on the calendar).

Old cams at Waterlooplein Market

Interesting tidbit: At a drugstore I noted that painkillers (which in Germany you can't buy at drugstores at all but only at pharmacies) are ridiculously cheap there while hair dye is ridiculously expensive - at least 3 times the price it is in Germany!

Turds at Albert Cuyp Market. LOL

I rode on to Vondelpark. As I settled down there on the trunk of a willow that extended nearly horizontally over the pond where I intended to have some lunch (brown bread with honey & diet coke, bought at supermarket) it suddenly started hailing. Fortunately it lasted only a few minutes.
As it was closing in on 4 PM I decided to return my fiets already so I'd have to pay for 3 hours only - beyond 3 hours you have to pay a whole day, which isn't even that much more (about 15 € instead of 11 or so), but it wouldn't have been worth it since I'd have had less than 2 hours more because MacBike closes at 5:45 PM. So I returned it & even got a discount again as a regular customer - even if only once or twice a year, but MacBike is that cool. :)

Iepenzaadjes (elm seeds), everywhere in Amsterdam now

I walked on toward my next stop: The English book store in Kalverstraat! I browsed the store for about an hour and eventually found two books of sci-fi short stories that I bought.
Later I still bought some very nice plush ear muffs at a souvenir store by the Flower Market, and they're the kind of things you really need in these climes.

Me at the Flower Market

My souvenirs

About time to slowly move in direction of the central station again - passing by Dam Square which I found transformed into a fairground. The occasion I'm unsure about, it may have been for the upcoming King's Day celebrations already - formerly Queen's Day, which used to be right on Walpurgis, but they recently changed it and I think it's a couple days earlier now too. (26th? But that would be Chernobyl anniversary... whatever. LOL) I didn't go on any of the rides but only took photos of them since they were expensive and I'd already spent so much on the books & ear muffs, and my backpack would have hindered me anyway.

Fairground at Dam Square

Beautiful sunlight reflections

Last I went to the public library building which is seven stories tall with a cafe terrace at the top one, from where I took a few more photos. (I took a ton - more will be on Facebook.)
I was at the pick-up location on Piet Hein Kade early and was amazed that everyone else had found back there in time as well and we were in fact already departing by 8:20 PM.