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2017 09 21 - day 5 -Amsterdam.
Halfweg-Zwanenburg where we are staying seems like a major transport hub. While sitting at the railway station massive double decker trains go hurtling past. Halfweg-Zwanenburg is also near the airport. From 7.00 am there are hundreds of planes flying overhead. This stops about 10.00 am and then starts again around 4.00 pm till 7.30 pm.
Amsterdam Central is next to a major waterway and when you look into the distance you can see large ocean liners as well as river cruising vessels. On Sunday ours will be there somewhere!
Out the front of Central is an old converted barge which is now a floating push bike parking station. It will hold about 4,000 bikes!
There are some interesting buildings on the opposite bank. One of the high rise buildings appears to have an adrenalin junkies ride. While having lunch we saw a chair (like a deck chair) swing out from the side of the building about 20 stories above ground!
After lunch we went for a walk through the Red Light District while trying to find the Oude Kerk (Old Church). The Red Light District was interesting and Don took some photos which he posted to Facebook and this generated quite a few comments!
We were very disappointed with the Oude Kerk as we had to pay 7€ (about AUD$10.50 to get in). It was very empty of furniture (pews and other ecclesiastical fittings) and there was scaffolding everywhere. You could not see the organ or altar. It looked like it wasn't used! It was undergoing a major refurbishment. If we had been told that we most probably wouldn't have gone in.
An interesting fact from the self-guided audio tour was that there are 12,500 bodies buried under the floor. Over the years as time passed, a corpse would be dug up, the bones buried in a mass grave ad another corpse would take its place. During this time, incense was used extensively to cover up the smell of death!
Another fact about the Oude Kirk is that it has houses built up against the external walls of the Church. Some of these are still private residences, some are combination residence/businesses and some are just businesses.
We came across a pissoir (it is a structure that provides support and screening of urinals in public spaces and allows for urination in public without the need for a toilet building). They are very open as you can see the users head and legs. Only the vital parts are screened! While we were taking a photo of it, someone went in and used it! It must have been blocked as urine was running down the street and into a canal!
Time to head for home on the train. Of course we have to pick up dinner supplies as the hotel has no restaurant to provide evening meals, only breakfast. We have to stop at the koffee shop for our coffee and tiny, tiny ice cream!
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