Pics: Amsterdam, My New Favorite Place

[Catmom]

Just back from my first visit to Amsterdam and I have to say that I love it! The city is beautiful with water and flowers everywhere you look and the architecture is amazing. Plus where else can you take diamond tours? But more on that later.

We stayed in the Hilton Amsterdam and had a room with a huge balcony. Here is one of the views from our balcony........

 

[Catmom]

If you didn''t know, the city is built on canals sorta like Venice, so there is water everywhere.

 

[Catmom]

And along the canals are the most gorgeous row houses........

 

[Catmom]

With the most gorgeous architecture......

 

[Catmom]

Even the McDonalds was something to behold.....

 

[Catmom]

This was one of my favorite shots, it looks like this pretty much everywhere.....

 

[Catmom]

This is the Rijks Museum where all the Rembrandts are.........

 

[ChargerGrrl]

AWESOME pics, Catmom!

DH and I were in Amsterdam 3 years ago this September. We fell in love with it. Did you go on a bike tour? That was one of our highlights...

 

[D2B]

Beautiful, I also love amsterdam.

all the bicycles everywhere are amazing.

Your photos made me want to go back for a holdiay.

thanks for sharing
d2b

 

[HeadOverHeels4James]

MORE PICS PLEASE!!!

 

[Catmom]

But I''m sure you''d rather hear about those diamond tours..........hubby and I went on several [of course!] but the most fun was at Gassan Diamonds and the Diamond Museum. At Gassan Diamonds we had a individual tour of how diamonds are cut and polished and then afterwards we were taken to a private room where we got to see lots of sparkly goodies. I wish I could have taken pictures there because eventually our guide started bringing out "the good stuff". Oh Dee Jay, you should have seen the 7.64 carat FY cushion. It was gorgeous! Here is a picture of the Gassan 121 cut. My hubby fell in love with this cut and was strongly eyeing a 1.62ct H SI1 stone that was amazing. I do have to admit the the scintillation and fire from these diamonds were amazing!

 

[littlelysser]

DH is from Holland...I love the Netherlands...Amsterdam is just so lovely! As is the Hague. I like the whole country!!

Lovely pictures!

 

[Catmom]

Some sparkly goodies.....

 

[Catmom]

More sparkly goodies.........

 

[Catmom]

I wanted this.....

 

[Catmom]

Hubby got a little pale when I told him I wanted a Gassan cut in just this size.........

 

[HeadOverHeels4James]

YUMMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[vintagecushion]

Love this thread....

Catmom, such a cute user name. How many cats do you have?

 

[Catmom]

At the diamond museum we had a tour by a cutter that had been in the cutting business for 60 years. It was so much fun to talk to him about everything and of course he believes that only the diamonds he cuts are the most perfect ones!

 

[Catmom]

More row houses.......

 

[Catmom]

Our favorite stall at the flower market. We have 100 tulip bulbs being shipped to us in October. Now I just have to find a place to plant them.....

 

[Catmom]

This was my favorite building by the flower market. Maybe it was because the bottom floor was a jewelry store and I bought a watch there?

 

[Catmom]

The tile work on this building is amazing.........

 

[Catmom]

Ok, last one.......my favorite.......

 

[sna77]

I spent a week in Amsetrdam one night.

 

[Lorelei]

What great pics CM, thank you for posting them! I see the weather could have been pants in Amsterdam too, of course it isn''t that far from me!

 

[Catmom]

Date: 7/17/2008 4:21:57 PM
Author: ChargerGrrl
AWESOME pics, Catmom!

DH and I were in Amsterdam 3 years ago this September. We fell in love with it. Did you go on a bike tour? That was one of our highlights...

Thanks! We love it too. We didn''t go on a bike tour as I''m still recouperating from some health issues. I thought all the walking was going to do me in and by the end we were hopping trolleys everywhere. My mantra became "save my steps."

 

[Catmom]

Thanks D2B and HOH4J. I definitely want to go back too.

 

[Catmom]

Date: 7/17/2008 4:27:11 PM
Author: littlelysser
DH is from Holland...I love the Netherlands...Amsterdam is just so lovely! As is the Hague. I like the whole country!!

Lovely pictures!

I think I like it the most because I feel short there[5''7"], LOL. We were going to take a day trip to other places but I just wasn''t up to that yet. Next time though, watch out!

 

[Catmom]

Date: 7/17/2008 4:33:55 PM
Author: vintagecushion
Love this thread....

Catmom, such a cute user name. How many cats do you have?

Thanks vintagecushion. I have 5 indoor cats of my own and a feral cat colony that I am the caretaker. Cat hair anyone??