Amsterdam, Netherlands January 2 - 6, 2026
Friday, January 2, 2026
Farewell to Alex and Hope who will stay for another day and then return to Dereieich to see the new kitchen, the installation of which Kat has been supervising. The four of us are off to Amsterdam by train. A skiff of snow on the ground as we pass through Düsseldorf and a half-dozen other towns on the way. Our VRBO is on a canal just a few doors away from the Ann Frank house. Unfortunately, the House is booked into the middle of next week. We did go to the Tulip Museum just up the street. And best of all, there’s a pancake house just beyond Ann Frank’s for lunch. Dinner was crackers and cheese brought back by Doug and Judy.
Saturday, January 3, 2026
I’m sick, having contracted Doug’s cold (he’s recovered now). His was in his head, mine in my lungs. Judy and I found the Amsterdam Tourist Clinic a 20 minute Uber ride away. The doc said I’m running a fever and had something bad sounding in my right lung. Prescribe an antibiotic and I picked up a cough syrup. The whole adventure took a little over and hour, $150 for the doctor visit, $50 for the meds and $40 for the Uber rides. Uber insisted in picking us in Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District. Eyes forward!
The cough medicine seems to have quieted the cough a bit. We’ll see how the antibiotic does in a couple of days.
No pictures today unless Judy or Doug has some to share.
Sunday, January 4, 2026
A quiet day. I’m staying inside. Doug and my Judy went to our neighborhood pancake joint and brought back take-out for Judith and me. It’s been occasionally sunny with periods of rain and snow today. I gave Doug the daily photo assignment. He took a walk to view the Vondelkerk, a church ravaged by fire New Year’s Eve https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/world/europe/amsterdam-fire-church-new-years.html It’s near the former home of the son of our friends Dave and Ellen.
I’m showing signs of progress; the drugs seem to be working. Judy has a cold but it’s in her head, not lungs.
And true confession time: I broke curfew and went out through the snow for our second farewell dinner - a nice place just down the street. A beautiful moonlit night. Doug and Judith return, one day late - this morning’s flight was canceled.
Monday, January 45, 2026
Doug and Judith were off at 6 AM for their rebooked flight to Detroit via Atlanta. Today proved to be one of the worst weather days for Amsterdam in a long while. Over 450 flights were canceled. Their flight, delayed two hours, was rerouted to JFK. They won’t arrive there until 5 PM EST, long after the last flight to Detroit. Transfer to LGA? Stay overnight?
Time to spare? Go by air.
We’ve been pretty quiet, watching it snow on the canal and streets outside our window, being lazy. We did go for a one hour canal boat ride (see the pictures) and Judy was able to tour the Ann Frank House next door. She bought us some cheese and a flat bread deal for supper.
So tomorrow we roll the dice on our 1 PM departure to Philadelphia, with a three-hour layover to Tampa. Forecast says the snow will be done by then, so fingers crossed.
