AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND - POST RIVER CRUISE #1

"I love Amsterdam. The city is vibrant and alive. It's fresh and so open. It's definitely one of my favorite places." - Stefon Harris

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND - APRIL 4, 2014 (Part 1)

Today We Disembarked From Viking Bragi. It Was Sad To Say Good-bye To Fellow Cruisers We Met. Also Sad To See The End Of Our River Cruise. After A Hearty Breakfast At The Viking Bragi, A Taxi Driver Picked Us At The Lobby. We Noticed That Taxi Drivers Here In Amsterdam Have A Formal Uniform. Very Neat and Slick. Soon We Were At Our Hotel Doorstep, Andaz Hotel Amsterdam (A Hyatt Hotel) Which Was Located At Prinsengracht, Right On The Canal In A Picturesque Neighborhood Away From The Busy And Noisy City.

At The Lobby Of Andaz. It Was A Very Modern Hotel Which Was On Top Of Every Techno Trend. You Will Not Find Your Usual Reception Desk But Simply Complete Your Checking In By iPad. The Andaz Lobby Married A Whimsical design W/ Outstanding Hospitality.

                                                          

         

As Soon As We Walked Through The Door The WOW Factor Hit Us. A Huge White Bell W/ Chandelier Attached Inside Was Hanging From the Top Of the Atrium Into the Reception At The Lobby.  

The Modern View Of Sculptural Lights With Blue And White Deft Wall Paper From The Elevator As We Ascended To Our Room.

Another View Of Modern Interior From The Elevator. The Building Used To Be a Library, Which Inspired The Decor. Very Modern W/ Traditional Dutch Touches.  

Sitting Among The Crimson Tulip Shaped Chairs In The Lobby.  This Place Screamed "Trendy!"

The Funky Decor And Chair Was Probably Not Everybody's Cup Of Tea But We Loved It.

Traditional Chandelier At The Lobby But W/ Modern Ebony Color. 

A Nice Curvy Nook Wall Papered In Blue & White Deft Design. Complimented W/ Two Trendy Black Chairs.

The Rooms Are Updated Amsterdam Chic. There Were References To Dutch History Throughout The Hotel. A Huge Blue Fish Dominated The Head Board Wall. All Rooms At The Andaz Were Individually Decorated And Designed By Marcel Wanders.

Inside Our Beautifully Designed Room. Extremely Modern Furnishings, W/ Yellow Trendy Chair And Curvy Modern Black Lamp. 

  What A Coincidence! My Outfit Matched Our Room Decor. Hurray!

Modern Shelving W/ Efficient European Design. No Wasted Space, Clean Lines Was In Effect And It Worked Really Well.

Extremely Modern Open Bathroom Concept  W/ Out Being Cold. Funky But Done So Very Well. The Vanity Was In The Middle Of The Room.

Beautifully Painted Blue Ceramic Sink. The Well Designed Bathroom And Powder/Wash Room Was Really Innovative.

The Toilet Was The Only Part Of The Bathroom That Was Private. It Also Had Different Wall Paper W/ Bits Of Amsterdam History. Reading The Stories On The Wall Kept You Busy While Doing Your Business In There. 

Enclosed Large Glass Shower As Viewed From The Vanity.

Pathway To the Hotel Garden. The Andaz Hotel Was Beautiful Inside And Outside.

Andaz Garden W/ Nicely Trimmed Topiaries.

Another Part Of The Garden W/ Black & White Modern Art. 

Rhod Posing Beside The Crazy Shirtless Screaming King Statues. The King Statues Were Everywhere Inside The Hotel And Garden.

Smiling During Our Relaxing Lunch At The Hotel's Restaurant. It Was Such A Treat To Be Able To Stay Here At Andaz For Three Nights. We Used Our Hyatt Points To Enjoy This Hotel. 
"We travel for romance, we travel fot architecture, and we travel to be lost." - Ray Bradbury