* five nights on a houseboat in Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM

We were two days in Paris before taking the train to Amsterdam, and two more days after returning to Paris. I’ll include those days later, making one Paris post for 2014.

Our houseboat was located on the Prinsengracht canal next to the Noordermarkt in the Jordann district of Amsterdam, a perfect spot to enjoy the casual sophistication of a great city. Inside it was larger and more comfortable than I had expected. But the main joy was the porch along the water side, perfect for reading and watching the boats go by.

On our first morning in Amsterdam, we walked to the fabulous Rijksmuseum. This is a small sampling of the great masterworks to be found there …

Amsterdam is a great walking city, with exquisite views in every direction (well, most directions), and many fine restaurants. We had tapas during the World Cup final, cottage pie in an Irish pub, and a really splendid meal in an Italian restaurant. Here are a few shots just walking around, including our houseboat from the other side of the canal and the window-washer-in-a-boat.

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