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Our four weeks in Amsterdam are finished. We’ve moved on to France, but we have so much more to share from Amsterdam. We’ll do a couple more Amsterdam posts as series of photos, since they say more than we can say with writing. In this post, we give a taste of living and shopping in Amsterdam, then take a peek inside Amsterdam museums and memorials.  We’ll wrap up Amsterdam in one more post to come.

Living and shopping in Amsterdam

Open air markets can be found every day of the week. They sell anything and everything, from clothes to food to souvenirs.

Open air markets can be found every day of the week. They sell anything and everything, from clothes to food to souvenirs.

Magna Plaza is a massive complex of shops- an elaborate shopping mall.

Magna Plaza is a massive complex of shops- an elaborate shopping mall.

The interior of the Magna Plaza shopping center looks like an Escher print.

The interior of the Magna Plaza shopping center looks like an Escher print.

The Dutch word for shop or store is "winkel."

The Dutch word for shop or store is “winkel.”

We found a thrift store had a wide variety of gently used products for sale.

“Rataplan” is a huge thrift store with a wide variety of gently used products for sale. Recognize “The Major Award”?

Shopping for everyday things is a good way to begin to learn the language. Can you identify each of these products?

Shopping for everyday things is a good way to begin to learn the language. Can you identify each of these products?

With some products, it's easy to figure out what's in the bottle! Apparently, "Mr. Clean" is not an appropriate name in Dutch.

With some products, it’s easy to figure out what’s in the bottle! Apparently, “Mr. Clean” is not an appropriate name in Dutch.

We take ice for granted but it is not a common thing in Europe. Before we bought our own ice trays, we used a flexible muffin pan to make "Ice Muffins."

We take ice for granted but it is not a common thing in Europe. Before we bought our own ice trays, we used a flexible muffin pan to make “Ice Muffins.”

 

Bicycles are used for everything in Amsterdam. Here, a young lady transports a sofa on sort of a bike trailer.

Bicycles are used for everything in Amsterdam. Here, a young lady transports a sofa on sort of a bike trailer.

 

Pedestrians must take care at all times. Bikes zoom silently by, their riders assuming that you will stay out of their lanes. These lanes, from foreground to background are: Pedestrian sidewalk, bikes left to right, pedestrian median, cars left to right, pedestrian median, cars right to left, pedestrian median, bikes right to left, pedestrian sidewalk.

Pedestrians must take care at all times. Bikes zoom silently by, their riders assuming that you will stay out of their lanes. These lanes, from foreground to background are: Pedestrian sidewalk, bikes left to right, pedestrian median, cars left to right, pedestrian median, cars right to left, pedestrian median, bikes right to left, pedestrian sidewalk.

More Amsterdam sights 

In the previous post we described the Rijks and the Van Gogh art museums. We also visited museums and sights dedicated to local history and culture.

The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center.

The Jewish Museum and Cultural Center.

Artifacts from the years of Nazi occupation are on display.

Artifacts from the years of Nazi occupation are on display.

Ordinary objects from many years of Jewish culture in Amsterdam are displayed. These are circumcision kits.

Ordinary objects from many years of Jewish culture in Amsterdam are displayed. These are circumcision kits.

Some of the artifacts tell the tragic stories of individuals whose lives were destroyed by the Nazis.

Some of the artifacts tell the tragic stories of individuals whose lives were destroyed by the Nazis.

A space for reflection in the Holocaust Memorial.

A space for reflection in the Holocaust Memorial.

Etched into a wall are the surnames of hundreds of Jewish families who were killed by Nazi brutality.

Etched into a wall are the surnames of hundreds of Jewish families who were killed by Nazi brutality.

Relatives of those killed can leave a flower and a note in remembrance of loved ones.

Relatives of those killed can leave a flower and a note in remembrance of loved ones.

The notes are poignant and touching. Many wish for peace.

The notes are poignant and touching. Many wish for peace.

The Resistance Museum tells the story of the choice the citizens of Amsterdam faced during the Nazi occupation: Adapt, collaborate, or resist.

The Resistance Museum tells the story of the choice the citizens of Amsterdam faced during the Nazi occupation: Adapt, collaborate, or resist.

This baby carriage was used to smuggle contraband used to fight the Nazis.

This baby carriage was used to smuggle contraband used to fight the Nazis.

A special exhibit tells the story of one group of children who were taken one day from their parents and sent to different resettlement and concentration camps. Each photo - or blank space if no photo was available - names one of children

A special exhibit tells the story of Amsterdam children who were taken one day from their parents and sent to different resettlement and concentration camps. Each photo — or blank space if no photo was available — names one of the children.

Objects which belonged to the children, such as this violin, are displayed.

Objects which belonged to the children, such as this violin, are displayed.

Bye for now!

Bye for now! – Charlie & Sarah