NFL Sunday, except I'm not in the US. My usual routine is to get ready for Bronce and the family to come over, brings some fix-ins and spend the day watching the Lions (my team) and Chargers (Bronce's Team). Huh, what to do, what to do. Then I remember, the Lions are playing in London...yeah like in England, against the Falcons and they will be on about noon here in Amsterdam. I google NFL, sports bar and Amsterdam. Lo and behold, just like in Rio last week, I find a place just up the street in the red light district called Belushi's. I skip my regular breakfast stop, will they miss me? I walk to sports bar, but I have to pass through the main red light district. And yes, those ladies in the red light Superman booths are there is full force...on a Sunday morning...trying to entice me to stop by. Don't they know its NFL Sunday?
I find the "nicely styled" cafe with old car hubcaps on the walls, that serves also as a sports bar and I find a stool by a large TV screen. Its 11:30 AM and no one is a patron in this place except me. I walk over to the bar area and there is a lady that is at least 6" 3" and ask her about the NFL game. I try to translate what Im trying to accomplish with the TV and I help her find the station, SKY Sports NFL, there it is! I spend the next 15 minutes talking to this tall blue eyed amazon like lady. I find out she was once on the Netherlands Olympic Volleyball Team at the Atlanta Olympics.
Its about game time and I order a baked potato with chili con carne...yeah I know full of carbs, but I do order a lite beer! Two for One! Lions are down 21-0 at halftime...well this has been worth it! I almost walked out, but I had ordered another round so I have another 2:1 sitting on my table. Second half starts and its looking a little better. It gets down to the final play and all the Lions need is a field goal to win...kicks up...NO GOOD. Damn, wait.. a flag, Lions delay of game which is an automatic penalty. So they get to try and kick another field goal of about 48 yards again, but 5 yards further back due to the penalty. Kicks up...its GOOD, Lions win. I'm yelling and I look around, and I'm the only one watching this game. While across the way seats about 30 people watching a "real football game" (soccer) between Something DAM vs. Someone else DAM. I slither over to my tall friend behind the bar, pay my bill and I'm out of there. I pass my friends in the glass booths and make my way back to my "home square".
When I arrive the square is loaded with people again, but this time its filled with booths with crafts, art and antiques. Seems Sundays they change hats from the Farmers Market to Crafts Market. I find myself strolling around here for a few hours. There are some typical things for the tourists, but I'm really interested in all the antiques. There are several booths with hundreds of pictures taken during World War II. I remember that the Netherlands, like the surrounding countries of Belgium and France, were invaded by the Nazi's. The pictures were of soldiers, families, destroyed buildings...its was really interesting...I know my brother Phil would have loved this stuff. I didn't buy anything, just felt weird buying pictures of Nazi's and people's misery. I found another booth that had black and white/color pictures of celebrities hanging out in the "coffee-shops". There were a few I didn't recognize, probably some European celebrities, but there were a few I knew, Marlon Brando, Mick Jagger with Keith Richards (big surprise), Marilyn Monroe, Tootie Fields (if you are under 50 you won't know her), Truman Capote...and a few more. I was amazed these pictures existed. They were big dollar prices...the MM picture was $880E, over $1K US. Pass, but it was interesting. There were other booths with antique traditional Dutch pottery, dishes, art, knic-knacs, etc. I ended buying a couple of things, but I won't disclose because someone reading this might end up with them.
Most of the stores are closed on Sundays, so I decided to walk to the several parks in the area. I found a couple of beautiful parks with grass as soft as carpet. The grass is starting to turn brown and there aren't as many flowers, but I bet in the Spring time this place is just gorgeous. I hang out for a few hours, taking a few stills. I walk the perimeter of the Old Town and I'm still impressed with the beauty of the building architecture and the many canals.
I find a traditional Dutch restaurant, but I have to wait in line for 30 minutes...tourist trap. The food has a real German ring to it with spitzzel, snitzzel and sour kraut. I order breaded beef stroginoff with melted gouda cheese that seems to have a vinegary taste. Different, but good. Well this dinner has taken over two hours between waiting for a table, ordering, getting served and paying the bill. I've noticed people take their time eating in Amsterdam and enjoying the company that are usually accompanying them. The wait people do not drop the bill on the table until you ask for it. I found that to be the case when I lived in Australia. The similarity is that there is no required tipping. The restaurant employees work for a salary, so no big push to get the table turned.
Back to the square and the apartment, I check one more time at the Green House...still nada. I give up.
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