There is more to Amsterdam than getting high
Written: Jan 28 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Amsterdam is a great city to explore.
Cons: December in Amsterdam is cold and windy!
The Bottom Line: There is a lot to do in Amsterdam. Explore a little.
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| azielinski's Full Review: Amsterdam |
I was supposed to travel with my good friend Cate in October of 2001. Because of the world events, that didn't quite come off but instead we decided to meet in Amsterdam between Christmas and New Year's because a) she had never been there b)I like the city and c) we could both get reasonably priced airfares to Amsterdam.
We only had about 72 hours in Amsterdam but, there is plenty to be done in that time.
First, get a hotel outside of the Dam Square/Damrak center of town. These are the most touristy areas in Amsterdam - in the worst sense of the word. The hotels and restaurants are extremely expensive. There are tons of tourists around this area and they all have one thing on their minds - getting high. If you are going to Amsterdam to get high (and nothing else) it is probably where you want to be but if you have anything else in mind - go elsewhere.
There are lots of very nice hotels that are outside of this center of town that are nice and suitable for luxury or the budget minded traveler. Try to find something that is close to a tram line and then take the trams. They are fun and very convenient.
We stayed out by the University - which was a 5-10 minute ride to everything we wanted to see. The Barbican Hotel was clean and safe and was about $40 per night for a room for two.
Second, get a tram pass. We got one that was good for three days for 15 guilders (I have no idea what that is in Euros). You buy it in the Tourist Information Center just outside the Central Station and you can ride trams to your hearts content. You need to get it stamped by the driver or the conductor when you get on the tram.
Third, take the train from the airport to Amsterdam's Central Station. It is the easiest way to get into town and from there you can get to your hotel very easily.
This was the second time I was in Amsterdam. We went to Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum (which I had seen before)and the Van Gogh Museum. We also wandered around the canals of the Jordan and took a canal boat tour. We went to the floating flower market and shopped for Delft too. We did also go to the Red light district but that is a completely separate epinion that I will have to write down.
In addition to these sites, there were several things we just couldn't fit in this time. You might be interested in them, so here is a quick listing for your study:
- Rembrandt House Museum (house where Rembrandt worked and
lived is a museum
- Ship Museum (museum on shipping with a wonderful wooden
ship docked along side - Holland was a major naval
power at one time)
- Church where the Separatists worshiped (when they headed
west across the Atlantic they were known as "Pilgrims")
- House museums showing typical living styles during
Holland's "Golden Age"
- Our Lord in the Attic - a church built in the attic of a
canal house when different religions couldn't be
practiced openly
This is just a sample of the types of places you can visit in Amsterdam.
Also, while the Netherlands aren't necessarily known for their cuisine, there are some nice things you might like to try.
The french fried potatoes in the mayonaise sauce are wonderful - perfect for warming up on a cold day. The other thing you might like to try are pofertjies - pancakes the size of a silver dollar that are covered with butter and powdered sugar.
When it comes to meal times - as opposed to snacks - you can find just about anything in Amsterdam. We had Italian food one night, Chinese food another and Peruvian food on another night. I have tried some of the other specialties of the country on other occasions and can recommend the pancakes filled with bacon and apples as well as the Indonisian food. Personally I am not fond of sausage based meals so I can offer no advice there.
Like I said at the start of this, it was a whirlwind trip through Amsterdam so I didn't get to do and try everything I wanted to but if you are thinking of going to Europe on your next vacation and never thought of Amsterdam because you thought it was only about drugs (and sex), there is alot more to it.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
azielinski
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Location: Boston, MA
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