Amsterdam in rain (2)

Another view of the canal.


Then I decided to try to find Anne Franck's house, where Anne hided for two years and wrote her famous diary "Het Achterhuis" before being caught and killed in the concentration camp.

A restaurant.


This grocery store is probably asked too many times how to get to Anne's house, so they put a plate above the door to show the direction.


Then I found a long line trying to get into a small door.


I gave up. At least 100 people were lining up there. According to travel guide, half million visitors enter Anne's house each year. And because it's a very small house, they allow only a few people to go in at once.

It's a pity I couldn't go in. But I'd rather see more views of the city anyway (than spending much time on Jewish history).

Not far away is the West Church (Westerkerk), which has the highest tower (85M) in Amsterdam. It was built in 1622! And what interests me more is that Rembrandt was actually buried here (but nobody knows exactly where in the church?!).


A lovely boat house on the "Prince canal" (Prinsengracht).


Then I got a little tired and it's also near lunch time, so I started walking toward where I started--the Dam.

A decoration of the pier.


When I walked by the Dam for the second time of the day, it became very crowded with lots of tourists and street performers. There was also this cute buggy.


The hackman looks like a good friend with the horse...


A souvenir shop.


I didn't buy anything there, though I almost did buy the canned sunflower seeds and tulip bulbs that seem easy to cultivate. Just worried the Taiwanese customs wouldn't allow me to bring it home. Otherwise it seems like a good gift...

A florist.


Having no idea what to eat for lunch, I decided to go back to the hotel. Cafe Roux, the main restaurant in the hotel, surprisingly, doesn't supply lunch. So I ordered from room service menu. But before that, I was shocked that my camera was out of battery!! It is quite special battery (CR2) so I really worried maybe I couldn't even find it in this European city on Sunday. I rushed to the main shopping street and look for film processors. I found a coupe of them but none were open, deepening my concerns. I tried a few souvenir shops. They don't have this type of batteries, either, as I expected. I went to a store selling travel gears with little hope in mind. Indeed they don't sell this battery, but the boss advised maybe I could find it in the biggest camera shop in Amsterdam and showed me the way. So I finally got two CR2s for 17 Euro dollars. Very expensive. But better than none.

A test photo basically. On the main street (Damrak).


There are many such tiny alleys in the city.


Wooden pillar in the canal.


Little yellow Fiat.


Then I went back to the room and had a hamburger for lunch. But it wasn't very tasty. :-(


(To be continued)