Amsterdam March 2010

[Sundae]

Thought I'd best start my thread now, as I only have 34 days to go. Don't want to rush into it.

I've been poring over guidebooks from the library since last year, but I have my own now. So I've collated all the info into my own guide and am feeling very organised.

On the food and drink front, I've checked TripAdvisor for other tourists' opinions and come across this gem that isn't mentioned in any of the guides but is definitely on my list now:


I've also been plotting the sights on my map of the city, so I can see things in a reasonable order. I figure I have plenty of time to take in the major museums, churches and canal photo ops as well as walking, shopping and lazing about on a terrace watching the world go by. Weather permitting of course.

I plan to go on a walking tour of the Red Light District on my first night. I'll feel a lot more comfortable on an official tour, and see things I might hurry past if was on my own. There's one that runs every night at 20.00, so it will fit in well after a huge plate of ribs!

I wanted to go to the Hammam, but it is out of the city centre and it depends on my finances. Apparently they have one in London, so I might wait and maybe take Mum there for her birthday.

I still have to figure out what I want to do on my last day. I check out at 11.00, but my coach isn't until 19.30 (although I have to be there an hour in advance, so 18.30). I can leave my luggage in the B&B, so that's no issue. But I'll have to be occupied or the time will drag. I might leave the Rijksmuseum until that day. Then just find a convivial eetcafe...

I'm staying in the Hotel Brouwer on Singel, the first of the canals that girdle Amsterdam to the West. It looks like a good location and I expect to do a lot of walking. Amsterdam is small enough to walk across in 30 minutes, so although there are also good public transport links I'll be mainly on foot. Weather permitting again!

I'm ordering new luggage, because mine is falling apart. I'm just getting bags though - easier for me when travelling and certainly easier to get up the vertiginous stairs you find in all old canal-side houses. I'll take a pic when they arrive.

[skysidhe]

wow you should take over that guys job.

He annoys me as much as you enchant me.

[Sundae]

Bought myself a toothbrush holder today.
Stupid battery powered toothbrush won't fit into it!

Have decided to buy a cheap basic toothbrush for all future trips. Well, I have Amsterdam and Glasgow already planned. And now I have my passport again, who knows? Maybe someone will decide to whisk me away to an exotic location, requiring only that I don't bring a fuzzy-headed toothbrush with me.

I keep checking the weather forecast for the Dam. Brrrrr - chilly there at the moment. I do have a coat I can take... but it's big & bulky. Fingers crossed for balmier weather in four weeks time. YES - FOUR WEEKS!

I've transferred all my photos over to the computer, so I'll be starting with the full 1500 on my memory card. Mum said, "Don't take them all in Amsterdam, will you?" in a plaintive way. WHA?! Cheeky mare - I asked her when had I ever asked her to sit through my holiday snaps. Not since the days of film cameras anyway. Yet what do I have to look at twice a year? Not that I mind. And she doesn't either. But I'm afraid you'll be subjected to everything from a photo of the coach at Victoria Coach Station to the shot of me tired but happy back at home. I must look into getting myself on a photo sharing site before I go. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[glatt]

Good. Please fill the memory card with pictures. Always take lots of pictures.

[classicman]

Oh and what glatt said plus - don't forget to take pictures.

[monster]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Bought myself a toothbrush holder today.
Stupid battery powered toothbrush won't fit into it!

Have decided to buy a cheap basic toothbrush for all future trips.

Can you take it back and change it for one that fits? Or get a refund and buy some sandwich bags? It's horrible going back to non-electric. Plus only brushing the back of the tongue with the electric brush can get the sound required to say "canal" in Dutch.

[Sundae]

I stupidly started soaking the sticky labels off before I even thought to check it for size. So I'm stuck with it. It was only 49p after all.

I have plenty of sandiwch bags (I use them to remove "items" from Diz's litter tray) - I never thought of that. I will take it under consideration.

[Cyclefrance]

Hi Sundae. Best thing I ever did when in Amsterdam about (oh,my God!) 10 years back, was to hire a bike. It all came about because my secretary booked the wrong hotel making me the other side of town from where I needed to be. So I hired a bike for the four days I ws there, and with the aid of a decent map, worked my way across town following a series of minor canals, crossing as necessary. Great way to see Amsterdam.

Had done something similar the previous year to that trip when a project team I was in met up with our conterparts in a joint venture we were forming. Our opposites invited us out for the night, meeting us at our hotel, They informed us that our transport was waiting to take us to a few bars and then a local eaterie. 'Transport' turned out to be 14 bicycles which we all rode around town and between bars - what a night!

Watch out for te tramlines though - everyone gets caught sooner or later - I got my tyres stuck in the line groove second night I was there, cycling back to my hotel from a cocktail reception at a hotel about 20 mins ride away.

Van Gogh museum is a must to visit

[Sundae]

I've been mulling over the idea of a bike... But to be honest I'm never really all that comfortable around traffic on a bike. In a foreign city, where they drive on the wrong side of the road, with trams and all, I think it will stress me out more than it's worth.

I have my street map and can quite happily read that as I walk. After all, walking is my absolute favourite form of exercise (as I imagine cycling is for you). I have six entire days, so I'm not troubled by going any faster to fit everything in. And this way if I wear myself out walking down Albert Cuypstraat I can always get the tram home

I get three days free public transport on my iAmsterdam card - if I fancy cycling after that (when I'm more orientated) then maybe I will. If I could afford it I'd love to do a guided Segway tour... Maybe I just like people looking at me.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

In a foreign city, where they drive on the wrong side of the road, with trams and all, I think it will stress me out more than it's worth.

You know, for what it's worth, that was my whole point in the thread about the rising bollards. That some travelers get confused/flustered/stressed by the different driving conditions in each country.

[Sundae]

FTR, tourists are warned in no uncertain terms: do not bring vehicles into Amsterdam. It is set up to make it as uneconomical and difficult as possible. In fact watching live webcams of Amsterdam, you can see mostly trams and commercial vehicles. But far more pedestrians and bikes.

Do remember, many European cities were laid out when the horse was the fastest form of transport. Wonderfully picturesque for the tourists, but a work in progress for modern city councils.

One of the main blessings of Amsterdam is the canals of course. Nothing like as Venice, and although there are some comparisons it is a completely different city. Amsterdam stands on its own for the architecture, differing views and vibrancy (I've not been to the 'Dam yet, but beautiful as Venice is, it feels like a museum compared to Rome of Firenze)

Talking of canals, did I tell you I am on the Singel? First of the canals that girdle the city to the west. From my hotel they circle outwards in order of creation :
Herengracht: Gentlemen's canal
Keizersgracht: Emporer's canal
Prinsengracht: Princes' canal

Promise I will post a pic of my luggage, now I am excited again.

Oh! Almost forgot to add. Am meeting my Godfather in the day I leave London. Means a 12 hour journey becomes a 20 hour journey (we're meeting in London, but his parish concerns means we have to meet late afternoon). I do love him though, and it will be the profound before the profane

[Sundae]

Am trying to organise a visit with my bro on Tuesday too (LESS THAN A WEEK TO GO!) just to pass the time in London. I'm going so early so I can see Fr Peter. Ste works in London, so will potentially be available for after-work-time-wasting, I hope.

Mum said, "Maybe he can buy you a McDonalds!"
Yeah.
I've been dieting for two months. I have lost two and a half stone (29 pounds) - must get you a picture! Anyway. The idea of my Godfather buying me a pub lunch and then Stevo buying me fast food does not compute. My usual lunch is a WeightWatchers soup!

Been trialling all my bits & pieces. My messenger bag, my lovely stack heeled boots (premiered here) and all that and everything. And I have some great new (to me) clothes. Only fear is that they'll all be too big!! But hey, that's not the worst problem in the world - I do have some smaller clothes and can always sell the larger ones on eBay - which is where the majority of them from.

I have new underwear for the trip. Just for myself. But I might give you a sneaky peek.

[monster]

We need a weight loss pic! Congratulations! I lost 3lb overnight, but it's not a diet I'd recommend....

[squirell nutkin]

Originally Posted by monster

We need a weight loss pic! Congratulations! I lost 3lb overnight, but it's not a diet I'd recommend....

Aww c'mon, monny. Ya gotta stick with it. Did Karen Carpenter just give up?

[monster]

haha