Mark brought me flowers for my first day of work.
Ah, how sweet!!!!

Freestanding Urinals

These things are all over the city on the weekends. Definitely not for the shy. Ladies, luckily there are not versions like this for us. If you are lucky enough to find a public restroom or restaurant that will allow you to use their facilities, be prepaired to pay at least 50 cents for the use.

Il Mare

(favorite pizza in Amsterdam)

Walking distance from our apt. (on Zeedijk) , this pizza place is a great little restaurant. Free drinks while waiting for your "take-away" pizza. The staff is always friendly, which makes for an even better experience.

Zeedijk (sea dike).
This street borders the Red Light District & is home of our favorite pizza place in Amsterdam (Il Mare) as well as being the small China Town of the city. It is also known to be a "shady" or "seedy" area, though it seems to have improved beyond its reputation.

This street was built as a barrier to high tides & storms of the Zuider Zee. From the earliest days as a port, the area catered for sailors who came ashore in need of alcohol & female company.

Notice in the back of this photo is De Waag. This is only a couple of blocks from where we live, which seems like a completely different section of the city.

The Red Light District
Photos taken from both sides of the bridge.

Oude Kerk (Old Church)
This church was dedicated to St. Nicholas, who protected people against the dangers of water. In the 15th c., the basic stone structure was established making it the oldest existing church in Amsterdam. Rembrandt's first wife, Saskia, is buried beneath one of the 2,500 gravestones.

Mark's office.
Universiteit van Amsterdam

View from Mark's office looking from the right, then the left. Not bad for a 1st year professor!

10/23: Mark's 1st lecture at UvA.
Topic: Mood Disorders

Kind of a blurry shot of Mark as he prepares for class. The photo was taken right before the influx of hundreds of students.

Schottenburch Wynhandel

We love this place. Great cheap wine you can pour from casks in the back. They also house decent (more expensive) wines, but we prefer the rustic method of pouring it directly from the barrels.

Mark is ready to begin the wine pouring!
Love the shutters above!

I'm pouring Vin de Pays. Quite delicious for €2.65 for 75 ml or €3.30 for 100 ml.
Who says cheap wine can't be good?

10/23:
Mark filling his bottle with a little Chenin Blanc.

Rembrandthuis

Rembrandt bought this house in 1639 & lived there at the height of his career, until his bankruptcy in 1658. The house has been refurbished with furniture and objects of Rembrandt's time.

de Sluyswacht
Once a lockkeeper's house is currently a "Brown Cafe". The "brown" in the title comes from tobacco stained ceilings & walls as well as the wood paneling & floorboards. Notice how it leans to the right.

Also, take note of the "typical Dutch bikes". The land is flat, so there is no need for mountain bikes.

De Waag c 1482
Once a gatehouse, had executions, a weighing station, surgeons' guild, and housed an operating theatre (scene for one of Rembrandt's most celebrated works...I think the Nightwatch, but I need to look it up) In the heart of Nieuwmarkt, which is the area where we live.

Both day & night views from our apartment of the tour boats.

View of the street from our window.

Jonah & Angele visit Amsterdam! Photo taken at the Heineken Brewery. 9/15-9/20

10/1:
Today we decided to take a 25 mile bike ride through the Dutch countryside. We began by taking a boat across the IJveer to Amsterdam Noord. It rained on and off, so you will see photos of varying skies and raincoats on & off again.

Starting out on the GVB boat to cross the IJveer.

10/1:
Mark getting off the GVB boat.

The village of Broek. It was once a very rich community b/c it was connected to the Zuiderzee through various lakes & rivers. Most of the wooden houses date back from the 16th & 17th century.

Mark in Broek. This village was hit hard by the flood of 1825. During the first few years after the flooding many houses were only painted with a grey primer since there were other priorities. After the years, the people decided to maintain the grey color in memory of the hard yrs. that had passed. You will find many houses in Broek still painted grey.

On a bridge after leaving Broek.
10/1

On the way to the small island of Marken. It is known to be a traditional Dutch village.

Cafe Land en Zeezicht.

-Marken-

Back view of the houses in Marken.

Mark's first time to try haring. He also notes that this is his last time to try haring.

Sailboats in the village of Marken.

Marken
Having hot chocolate at a cafe.

View of Marken. The cafe where we stopped for hot chocolate is just after the curve. Friendly people & a great place to look at all the sailboats.

Mark riding his bike on the IJsselmeer, which is the dike.

After leaving Marken, we stopped for a quick photo with the California-esque windmills & sheep grazing on the beautifully lush green countryside.

We're not sure, but we think this is the Zuiderzee. Beautiful area nonetheless.