notes_on_a_boat_tour epitome of incomprehensibility Of Amsterdam. First, a few fast ones illustrating my extreme cluefulness: -St. Nicholas church named after patron saint of seafarers -70% or 17% of Amsterdam's "reclaimed" land - used to be underwater -house boat -houseboats -Maritime museum - green one? no, that's children's technology museum -Turned onto "gentlemen's canal" - Herrengracht - Herrenbracht - HERENGRACHT -There's a bank called "The Bank" -17th-cent. canal smelled like sewage -music - Indian music? - coming from right -"Embassy of the Free Mind" - also, house of the six heads (thieves who were beheaded by servants) (Greek gods) -Lieve - Lees - Gefeliciteerd (don't tell me that's Live_Laugh_Love again) -Bikes decorated with flowers all over. 3 like that, parked near gate. -Lots of parked bikes. -Central Station build on 3 artificial islands. "Eclectical architecture" style. And, more gathered afterwards: The actual tour guide was great, but there was also a recorded track with commentary (in English) that was incredibly cheesy. Everything had to have adjectives and good cheer. Everything. When they came to the part about Dutch shipping companies transporting slaves, my mind went, "Okay, let's see them put a cheerful spin that," and then the woman's recorded voice went, "...but none of them were enslaved in Dutch households!" in an upbeat tone. That's...good, I guess? 230521 ... e_o_i *cheerful spin ON that, gah 230521 ... e_o_i I think the "Lieve Lies Gefeliciteerd" card was congratulating someone. "Dear Lies, Congratulations" (Lies being a name and not plural falsehoods.) According to Prof. Google, 17% of the land area of Netherlands as a whole - and all of Amsterdam - used to be lakes or seas or swamplands. Under water, basically. 230522 what's it to you? who go blather from