Of course markets are alike all over the world. Still …shopping in Amsterdam at the Albert Cuyp market is a nice experience and worth reporting on. Lots of food for very low prices. (I mean strawberries for € 1.50 in February? That is cheap.) Lots of flowers, fresh fish, olives, vegetables, cheese… you get the picture.
My companion of the day was Nicky, my stepdaughter:
Let’s start at the beginning… the train station of Haarlem, a Jugenstil/Art Nouveau station. 
Arriving in Amsterdam after 15 minutes and meeting Nicky. We had the choice of tram number 16 or 24 to the Albert Cuyp market. Piece of cake. Below: a view from the open tram door
Below: At the market. The Netherlands are famous for their flowers. Not only tulips but lots of different kinds. And they are quite cheap too, compared to other countries. The gentleman selling the flowers is your average typical market merchant. Lovely man.
Below: when I exclaimed: “a red bandana!!.. Janis Joplin”, my stepdaughter’s face was a question mark. But the guys in the stall knew exactly what I was talking about. So I played her “Me and Bobby McGee” on my iPhone. Picture this:… two middle aged men and one middle aged woman singing “I pulled my harpoon and in my dirty red bandana..I was playin’ soft while Bobby sang the blues…” hahaha. Nicky thought we had lost our marbles. No embarrassment with Amsterdam merchants nor with me.
Below: I liked these very lightweight bags (only € 2,-). Nicky thought they were hideous.
Below: here they are: first class strawberries for € 1,50. In February.
Below: artificial flowers. Depending on how you style them: tacky or tasteful.
Below: of course there is lots of jewellery at the market. At such prices that you wonder why you ever buy it anywhere else.
Below: waffles !!! Freshly baked. I kill for freshly baked waffles. Gone were all diet resolutions.
Below: not a pretty sight, but I enjoyed it so much… chocolate everywhere. So unladylike to eat in the street.
Below: of course lots of clothes. Fashionable in black and white.
Below: such a pity I didn’t buy this one. OMG in black sequins.
Below: strange art, which I really like. However… as always, bicycles spoiling the view.
Below: bags… hmm … how about that black and white one? Would be great with jeans. (If anyone is interested what it says on the sign…: “Much more in the shop behind the stall.”)
Below: turn your head to the left. Nicky spotted these signs. Hahaha, I thought they were quite funny. The dinner sign would be applicable to my appalling cooking.
Below: more jewellery.
Below: Nicky has fabulous hands, so she is hand model for some unusual (and large) rings. My husband Ron thinks they are very ugly. I like them.
Below: famous shop: Jan, the big small expert (it rhymes in Dutch). One of the few haberdashery stores left in Amsterdam. A dying breed. 
Below: ever since I saw those life size art cows on their travelling show through Europe, I love them. Here are some miniatures.
Below: now it is getting funny. We spotted this stall with bags in the shape of animals: cats, dogs, owls, hedegehog. And also a red mushroom. I so much wanted to buy one, but didn’t. I thought of Suzanne again (Suzanne Carillo Style Files) as she has an owl bag (very different from these ones, but still).
Below: When I saw this one, I sent a picture to Suzanne as she owns a pug.
Below: it seems that on each trip through Amsterdam I stumble upon some naughty underwear.
Below:… Nicky had me in stitches with her remark when she saw this sweater: …”aha, yes.. we like freedom of speech in The Netherlands”. 
Below: this store sells strange things, but also antiquities. It is called Albert Cuyp 156. They are closing shop after being there for ages. Selling all antiquities at reduced prices.
Below: we have the tea maker (the white thing at the right).
Below: Nicky wanted to buy some mangos but as a fool proof buyer, she squeezes them all first (they were too ripe).
Below: time for lunch? Lovely place but….
Below: …whoops…. we saw a clothes shop… Lunch will have to wait.
Below: we survived the clothes shop without buying anything (a miracle) and had a lovely lunch at De Duvel (1e van de Helststraat 59/61). 
Below: Nicky and me in poor indoor light.
We had long talks and didn’t shop anything else anymore.
Below: the sign on this cow says: “Don’t feed, No bicycles, Do not sit on it.” (Do I detect a bicycle behind it?)
Below: returning from Amsterdam Central Station. (Yes, Starbucks is everywhere.)
Greetje
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