I leave for Amsterdam in 3 weeks Yahoo

[Heddi]

I can't wait! Hubby and I went there about 3 years ago, and going again during our break from school. Hope it's not Tooooo rainy.....but alas, I'm sure we can find SOME indoor activity to fill our days :)

Last time we went we went to these places:

Anne Frank House
Van Gogh Museum
Heineken Brewery
Alot of walking around
some street market
Went to Delft, Der Haague, Madurodam

Anyone else have any great things to do while we're there? We have some stuff lined up, but nothing set in stone. Any idears (besides getting high and renting a prostitute ha ha)

:D

[fizzgig]

1. rembrandt museum

i leave for germany in three weeks and am hoping to spend a night in amsterdam. i was there about four years ago and didn't do much but :smoke: so i'm going to see the sights this time

[emmajane67]

2. I am going there on Friday!

So excited.
I met some fan-tas-tic Dutch sisters in South America who I will stay with so I am hoping to get the "What the locals do" scoop on 'the dam' as well as the usual touristy things. Maybe a day trip to Rotterdam too, we'll see how it goes.
I will try to remember to restart this thread next week to let you know if there was anything else I did.

[Heddi]

13. Oh, do start a post

and tell me what you thought of it! I can't wait to go! I wish I could stay there permanently!!!

[China_cat]

3. Go to the train station

and ask if the 2006 Dag Tocht book is out. It used to be free, don't know if it still is or not. It will be exclusively in Dutch but there's enough pictures to be able to tell what's what. It lists just about all the attractions in the country along with package prices that include train, bus transfers, entry fees and a snack or lunch.

De Efteling at Katshoevel is a fun place to go. Sounds like you missed the cheese and flower markets at Alkmaar and Haarlem.

If I might make one small correction...it's Den Haag. You might enjoy the Peace Palace (seeing where the world court meets is impressive) there, Panorama Mesdag, the Mauritshuis, and the traditional markets.

If you have time, take a bus to Friesland, one that goes over the dike. Wild swans line the inner side of the dike to 25 or 30 thick at most times of the year. It's a magnificent sight. Friesland isn't quite like the rest of the country but it's great. Too early to recommend seeing some fjierlieppen, though. Take the ferry back across the Ijselmeer from Sneek (pronounced 'snake')

Have fun.

[Heddi]

4. Wow! Thanks

do you think the weather will be too terrible around March 14-21?

[China_cat]

6. Should be starting to be spring weather

but spring in Holland is close to winter here.

Right now the temps are running 30-34 (F). Warmer than normal but still not shorts weather. (Hell, I've seen Julys there that weren't shorts weather)

Mid-March should be starting show tulip fields. Take a jacket, some warm socks and enjoy.

[Heddi]

8. is it rainy?

I did a weather comparison between A'dam and SEattle and they were pretty much down-to-the-degree simliar in weather. But I couldn't find anything good about rain. Not that I mind rain. I'm used to it...it's seattle.

Thanks for all your info. I totally love Holland. I wish I knew dutch so I could work there as a nurse when I graduate in June. Most beautiful country ever and the ABSOLUTELY nicest people I've ever encountered. I fell in love with it as soon as I stepped off the plane and just fell more and more in love every 2 seconds we were there.

Oh and I see in your profile you're from Charleston--I was born there and spent the first 25 years of my life there until I moved to Seattle in 2001. We went back last year...my god how it's changed in just a few years. Changed, yet nothing has changed. All the up-n-coming neighborhoods around Spring Street where we lived are junky. I remember in 2001 these townhouses going for $350k and now they look no better than the shanties that stood in their place before they were built.

REally sad. And I'm totally sad about the Cooper River Bridge. Gah, I loved that thing, as frightening as it was.....

[China_cat]

17. You won't see as much rain

as Seattle but you'll probably get some. Prepare for wind more than rain.

(And, of course, now that I've said that I've probably jinxed you and it'll rain for your whole trip)

Yes, Charleston has changed muchly. You wouldn't realize how much unless you were here in the 60's and on up. The new bridge worries me. It was completed a whole year ahead of schedule and you have to wonder how many corners were cut to make that happen.

[Heddi]

19. re: bridge

I just don't like the bridge. It doesn't fit in. Charleston is trying to hard to be something it's not. I was so very sad when all of the independently owned botiques and stores on King & Meeting Sts were closed to make way for Saks 5th Ave, etc. I was most sad when they closed the Woolworth's on King St and made it into a Lady Footlocker---I used to sit at the lunch counter down there with my uncle and have ice cream sodas while he drank coffee and chatted it up with the lady working at the counter.

Oh! And closing the gourmatisserie for a(nother) fucking hotel? Beyond the pale. Everything in charleston is a chain hotel, or chain store, or chain restuarant. There are so few local places like there used to be. It's really sad. I love that town so much but, like they say, you can never go home again. It's turning into a Myrtle Beach for the affluent. ANd even Myrtle Beach isn't recognizable. My husband grew up there and it used to be gross, and now it's beyond gross.

There's not even a "tourist season" anymore. Tourist Season is Jan 1-Dec 31. Ugh. So much potential, and so much squandered at the sight of $$ and greed :(

[jonnyblitz]

5. check out the torture museum...

one of my sisters used to live in Amstelveen and one of the times I visited her we checked it out.
it's interesting.

http://www.torturemuseum.com/

also check out the dutch resistance (world war II) museum

http://www.amsterdam-museums.com/museums/resistance.html

or check out the cat houseboat (de poezenboot) that houses homeless kitties and make a donation if you are so inclined

http://www.pandemic.com/catboat/

I also recommend the tourist book "Get Lost, The cool guide to Amsterdam" which i noticed was available everywhere over there even though I bought a copy in a Borders here in CT. I *highly* recommend THIS particular tourist guide.
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/9076499012.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIlitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,32,-59_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9076499012/ref=sib_rdr_dp/102-7317459-4928923?%5Fencoding=UTF8&me=ATVPDKIKX0DER&no=283155&st=books&n=283155

[Heddi]

7. We do have the get lost book

we carried it with us EVERYWHERE when we went last time

we do have the cat houseboat on our list of things to see as well. Cats on a boat! How neat! :)

[jonnyblitz]

10. I am so envious of you. I was so sad when my sister moved

back to NH. It was great having a nice house 10 minutes by tram from downtown Amsterdam to stay in during my quite extended visits. I had a clique of friends there and everything. I miss it. It was ((heaven)) if you are a weed smokin gay guy like me.

Have fun anyways!

[Heddi]

12. Oh, don't be envious

I'll take pictures for you :0) Seriously, my husband and I are in nursing school and if we knew Dutch, we'd be Dutch nurses in a heartbeat. I've been around, so has he, and The Netherlands is the *BEST* place we've ever visited. There is just so much there, and the people are beyond friendly. I love the culture. I love the tolerance. I love the freaking bikes everywhere. I just love it there and so dearly wish I could move there.

How did your sister get to live there? Is she dutch, or was it job-related?

[jonnyblitz]

14. oh i have been around the world twice on navy ships..

from Australia, to Singapore , Israel, France, Italy, so I have been around BUT of all the places I have been i could live in Amsterdam forever and never come back to the states..

My sister's husband is like some big mucky muck in an international business (a utilities business, a complicated thing to explain, this particular one) and he was tasked with starting up the European Branch headquartered near the WTC area in Amsterdam. they footed the bill for everything, including this huge 3 story home plus her two kids enrollment in the "international school". They had two vehicles plus gas cards that the company paid for, too. I even drove around Amsterdam which was a trip having to drive thru all those rotaries and look out for the bicyclists on the bike paths and trams. they're living situation was a temporary thing there, about 2 years though it was supposed to be three. He still has to go back there for a few weeks every so often. They preferred to live in the states , my sister has horses and good friends in New Hampshire and she isn't a pot smoker. :shrug:

be sure to post pics when you get back. I will cry. :cry:

[China_cat]

18. Just knowing Dutch wouldn't get you very far

even with nursing credentials. Dutch nurses have to attend housekeeping school before nursing school. (Our niece who lives in Groningen is a physical therapist...had to go to housekeeping, nursing and then therapy schools)

[Heddi]

20. Why housekeeping?

you mean 'housekeeping' like as in how to clean up and stuff like that? That's bizarre, at least from my perspective.

Oh well. At least it's a dream, right? Guess I'll have to settle being a midwife in the scottish moors ha ha ha

[China_cat]

23. I'm not sure why but it is a requirement.

And yes, it's a year long course on how to clean, make beds, set tables, etc.

You might think about getting a nursing TEACHING credential. That would get you a foot in the door with being English speakers...teaching for the international patient.

[hfojvt]

9. I did not see a thing in Amsterdam

I spent most of my time trying to convert my money so I could buy a Coke. I should just paid that street vendor $5 for a half liter bottle and gotten to see more of Amsterdam. By the time I found a place to get Dutch money, except for the really, really, really slow line at the Bahnhof, it was about time to take the train to the schiphol. So much for a two or three hour lay-over. I almost had a better time in Portland, Or. But Amsterdam is the only place I got my passport stamped, so its the only place I can prove I was there, except for pictures. Well, I still have some pfennigs and swiss francs too.

I do not understand why you do not goto Frankfurt instead.

[Heddi]

11. Because Frankfurt cost about $1500 more to fly into and stay

same with Paris. Same with Berlin. I'm a budget traveler. I see no practical reason to spend $3500 for a week's vacation when I can spend a week in Amsterdam, including flight and hotel for just under $1900.

We do plan on taking the train out to see different places..but $3000 a week for Paris...no can do...not yet, at any rate...

We have been to Holland before, a few years ago. It was wonderful and found that we left with so much of our "to do" list untouched.

Finding Portland, OR more exciting than Amsterdam, NL?? I guess Portland is Okay---it's a "little Seattle", but nothing compared to Amsterdam, or any European city, imo

[jonnyblitz]

15. I took the Thalys train from Centraal Station to Paris just for the

day once by myself. I looked around for about 4 hours, zipped through the Louvre and came back the same day. :shrug:

[Heddi]

21. Mark, my husband, went to Paris when he was 17

we thought about taking the Thalys to Paris but not only was it about $200 euros (which isn't bad), I guess I really don't have a desire to see Paris. He wasn't very impressed when he went there, albeit nearly 15 years ago. I think we're definitely going to Brussels and possibly Antwerp. I wanna see a Windmill. I want some wooden shoes. I want I want I want!! I sound like Veruga Salk ha ha ha

[jonnyblitz]

24. I hear you. I am partial to Amsterdam.

that's all there is to it.

ALso, there is this cool movie theater in the Leidseplein area (http://www.amsterdam.info/theatres/stadsschouwburg)where we went to see the movie "Monster". it was like a museum or a palace. It was unbelievable. They also have go shows at the Melkweg, too, speaking of Leidseplein. I went to some art show/techno event there on one night and to see a jam band from the US (String Cheese Incident) another.

www.melkweg.nl

damn i am getting nostalgic. :(

[EstimatedProphet]

16. Go to the Waterlooplein markt

That's probably the street market you're thinking of. Very cool.

Nearby is The Greenhouse Namaste. Nuff said :smoke:

[Heddi]

22. Oh yeah! Last time we went to another market

that wasn't the Waterpoolein, so we're definitely making that a stop.

Can't wait for the coffeeshops. What a great country. Cheap Heineken and legal reefer. Talk about utopia ha ha

[jonnyblitz]

26. check out Cafe Chocolata for great "space cake" and hash filled

bon bons, and hash "milkshakes". the guys from the US who run the coffeeshop "the Grey Area" (which i recommend for cannibis cup winning weed) recommended this place to me for their baked goods.

http://www.coffeeshop.freeuk.com/Database/ShopsA/Chocolata.html

[Rowdyboy]

25. I envy you!

My day is coming though. Once my guy retires in June, we will finally have more freedom to travel.

[plcdude]

27. my wife and I were

there in November and did a museum tour that opened all the museums for one night. She did all those things you mention we also went to Rotterdam but the Hague was great. We also went to a chinese resturant that quite good out on the water I think near the naval museum. We stayed in Dam square which was a nice central location. Have fun and if you have questions just pm me.