Trekking Through Amsterdam 1.
Where in the world can an opera house have the bronze sculpture
of a violinist sinking into the floor? Not a clue? Well, a clog
is a hint. I mean the wooden clogs people wear; not that they do
anymore. The answer is of course Amsterdam.
I suspect the violinist was sinking because the city is below
water level. There is a water column in the city hall showing
how far under the water the city would be if they hadn't built
the dikes and canals and hadn't taken other measures.
Yet, water makes this city. Amsterdam consists of 90 islands
connected by more than a 1000 bridges. Alongside with water come
the greenery and a myriad of flowers. Don't think tulips only
but all the flowers, due to the rather mild climate though
somewhat unpredictable.
At the time I was there the whole country was going crazy over
sunflowers. The flowers were everywhere, in markets, in parks,
and around the elegantly gabled houses leaning over the water as
if to catch their own glimpses.
Buildings, hundreds of years old, have been beautifully restored
and preserved in Amsterdam. Their lean and narrow structures
lean at odd angles against each other, making their view even
more picturesque. Inside, they have low ceilings and steep
winding staircases.
Westelijke Elianden (Western Islands), a part of Amsterdam, has
the most wondrous waterside views with some inimitable fa