Gah! This was the first time I laid eyes on the Herengracht canal near our hotel. In the 17th century, the wealthiest merchants and most influential mayors lived here.

Warped reality: chillin’ along the Herengracht on a dreamy day. (Pro tip: click on each photo in this post to enlarge, especially this one.)

Suspension of belief: my smile is saying, “Holy crap! We’re actually in Amsterdam!” (Did I mention the bikes?)

Quintessential Amsterdam: this image perfectly captures the vibe of “De Negen Straatjes” (The Nine Streets), a shopping area filled with art galleries, cafes, designer shops, etc. You’ve got hipsters, a man-bun, flower boxes, graffiti, and a bike.

Living the dream: charming houseboat parked near green foliage and orderly façades.

All is calm on the waterfront: view of the majestic Prinsengracht (Prince’s Canal). Btw, get used to these classic perspective shots cuz they’re right up Amsterdam’s alley.

Cultural touchstone: the gorgeous Rijksmuseum designed by Pierre Cuypers in 1885.

Pride of place: a security guard wearing his heart on his sleeve.

Ethereal fantasy: the “Shylights” installation, a mesmerizing mechanical ballet of silk flowers. Watch the Hyperlapse video below to get the full effect.

Honoring an innovator: the blockbuster “Late Rembrandt” exhibition showed that the Dutch master remained an inventive genius during what had previously been considered the waning years of his career.

This is colossal: massive crowds in front of “The Night Watch.” Rembrandt was the first artist to paint figures in a group portrait (in this case, a militia company) actually doing something versus being posed and static.

Small and sublime: “The Milkmaid” by Johannes Vermeer. This photo doesn’t come close to conveying its vibrant glow and vivid colors.

Exquisite composition: “Festoon of Fruit and Flowers” by Jan Davidsz de Heem. Out of all the Flemish still-lifes on display, this one caught my eye. The tradition lives on to this day in works by American photographer Sharon Core. (See my Pinterest link below.)

Slow burn: a dramatic sunset at 10 pm on the Prinsengracht.

Gilding the Herengracht: our canal cruise passed through the “Gouden Bocht” (Golden Bend), the most prestigious section of the canal boasting double-wide mansions and deep lots. (Life was good for the one-percenters during the Dutch Golden Age.) The YouTube video below is a Hyperlapse of houseboats earlier in the tour.

Leisure land: spectacular day at Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s version of Central Park where the lucky locals walk their dogs, run, bike, picnic, play, kiss, and more.

Naming rights: the park was originally named “Het Nieuwe Park” (the New Park) but once this statue of Joost van den Vondel, a prominent 17th century poet and playwright, was built in 1867, everyone started calling it, well, you know.

Outfit of the day: t-shirt and cardigan by J.Crew, AG Stilt jeans, Kate Spade crossbody bag, Nixon watch, and Nike Internationalist sneakers.

A soul singer pops up: hey, it’s Joss Stone! She was being interviewed before a concert at the Vondelpark Pavilion.

Scenic send-off: parting shot and parting thought.