What a fun trip report. You actually did great for a weekend in Amsterdam in the winter. I really need to write up some notes on visiting Holland. There is so much that I just take for granted like using the train system which is excellent and eating in Holland. We used to joke about if you want a good meal, you take the train to Belgium. But I do think it has improved recently.
Posts: 7487 | Location: Edmonds, WA | Registered: 25 October 2001
Verbazingwekkend! Schitterend! Wat? Is mijn Nederlands zo slecht?
I was bummed that there was no sex or drugs in your report Rebecca, but maybe someday you can go without the kid. There are some really good restaurants in Amsterdam, I think it is my favorite city in Europe, except for Venice of course (and even then.. it is a toss up.) It's like San Francisco on steroids. I'm glad you had a good time.
You may have walked through the Red Light district and not even known it, but it is a tiny sliver of a place.
As for the Dutch - was it just me or are they an exceptionally stunning people? I was getting a long neck from staring at them all(they all have long necks too. Hmmm. Is that from staring at each other for centuries?)
2004 is Spain's year but I am going to try to do a month in Amsterdam in 2005 and then you MUST come over, perhaps sans Gump and son.
Great trip report Rebecca. I too love Amsterdam. We spent a couple of weeks there in 1988 and a quick weekend in the late 90s. I have been thinking of making it our new "arrival city" to replace Zurich.
Next time check out the Vermeers - they are incredible. I agree that the Van Gogh museum is a perfect size - not too big or overwhelming.
And I agree with you Shannon - what beautiful people they are!!
Rebecca Just read your report but when exactly were you there? We were there December 3-8--wonder if we could have crossed paths? We had Casey with us.
Yes, you can accidently wander into the red light district--we did just that with Caaey. We were at the Old Church when suddenly I saw something in a window that I knew I did not want Casey to see. Then--we could not find our way out without going by more such visual delights. We kept Casey occupied by watching the ducks in the canal, the birds in the air, whatever worked, while trying to extricate ourselves. Finally, I asked the woman at a museum located in the district how we could remove ourselves. She sent us down an alley which she said was occupied by drug dealers and users but no fancy ladies. We successfully navigate to safer ground. I do disagree with Shannon as there is no way not to know where you are once you arrive!
We did go to an Indonesian restaurant--Casey ate the rice. It was fun to do and quite good. We had not gone to one of these restaurants last time we were there (winter, also) and so were determined to do so this time.
We were there December 5--the day St. Nicholas and his helpers stroll the streets and ride the canals. I don't know much about this tradition but it was fun. Here is a picture of Casey with them.
www.janeandken.com Reports and Photos for Italy 2001 and 2003, Spain, Tanzania, Peru, China, France
Posts: 4187 | Location: San Diego, CA | Registered: 26 June 2001
We should have Stephanie (Webfabbrica) up as well, as I gather that much of the charm of Amsterdam passed her by when she was there years ago. If you want to know what she was doing while all that charm was going unappreciated, why you'll just have to ask her.
Jane, you are probably right. Since I wasn't with a child (once I was with a friend who actually VISITED a lady, TWICE) I didn't really notice some of the things I probably would have noticed if I had been with a child.
The first time I visited though, we tried to find the Red Light District and couldn't. It is pretty small.
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