"Amsterdam Redux" Amsterdam by chauncenetta

Amsterdam Travel Guide: 10,043 reviews and 20,825 photos

Leaving kids, jobs & various accoutrements & distractions at home in Cleveland my friend Lynn and I arrived in Amsterdam on a pleasantly chilly Friday morning. Fortified by Bailey's and cappucino from Pot au Feu near Central Station we navigated the tram to Prinsengracht Street, which I could never properly pronunce, and meandered our way to our hotel, a sweet canal house called Prinsenhof, luggage and jet lag in tow, exhilerated to be there and silliness compounded after a stop at Mellow Yellow, dissolving in giggles when confronted with the staircase at our lodging, steep and narrow as a ladder bringing us to blissful naps with down pillows and featherbeds and big fat snowflakes falling on the gabled roofs out the window.
Amsterdam is a place where you're immediately comfortable. Laid back intelligence and industrious creativity are the adjectives that come to mind. Manoflamantra treated us to his presence. We found him at the Hans Stinker Hostel and he had the good sense to upgrade to Hotel Nadia the next day. We spent hours walking the glorious streets dodging bicycles and the carnavale spectacle of the red-light district on a Saturday night, with a sojourn to Cassa Rossa "live sex show" and finding the primary entertainment to be the audience, comprised of drunken Brits, Japanese tourists who proved to be eager audience participants, sullen and studious young Muslim men, an American soldier pretending to be a spy and gnarly bouncers. Free mints provided by the establishment which tasted suspiciously like Rolaids.
The museums. Finally made it to Van Gogh, and glorious Nightwatch at Reichtmuseum (sp) although much of the museum closed as it's under an extensive renovation.

VT MEET February 20, 2005

Vincent, Marcel, Swanet, Rene, Pieter, Lynn & Dan

We spent a fantastic day walking and talking and looking and laughing. I LOVE my new Dutch friends. It was a perfect excursion that ended with a delightful and magical meal at Moeders.

Pieter, Swanet and Vincent

Pros and Cons

Pros:efficient, cerebral, visually stunning and historically spectacular
Cons:a tad expensive, being on the Euro and all

Last visit to Amsterdam: Feb 2005
Intro Updated Oct 24, 2005
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Reviews (8)

Clean, cozy and comfortable Hotels (1)

A pleasant place to stay. quiet, convenient and affordable. Our room had 3 twin sized beds, table and chairs, a sink... more travel advice

wildlife Warnings and Dangers (1)

Small dragons, Pieter calls them iguanas, are sometimes underfoot. I expect that when I return they will be full grown.... more travel advice

car Transportation (3)

If you must drive, then this is likely to be your fate. more travel advice

cars Transportation (3)

If you must drive, don't. But if you do, make sure your car is no bigger than this adorable little thing. more travel advice

Things to Do (2)
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Restaurants (1)
Eat at Mom's

Travelogues (3)

1 - 3 of 3

Comments (12)

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VincentJJ Jul 20, 2008 at 3:59 AM

Had another Amsterdam VTmeet yesterday! (see the link) SeeUsoon? greetings.
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nora_south_africa Apr 26, 2008 at 8:19 AM

good tips
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pieter_jan_v Apr 11, 2007 at 10:21 PM

Just keep me informed. Check my Schiphol page for the Amsterdam meeting we had last weekend. PJ
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Orkaena Jul 3, 2005 at 8:41 PM

reading your tips some bright shadows were moving inside of me, Amsterdam.. a city to come back for ever
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irisbe Mar 24, 2005 at 11:29 PM

I see you were in good hands :) VT meetings are always fun! Pieter didn't throw with any food I hope `-) wait till he reads this! `-) Restaurant looks really nice! Glad you had a great time there.
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Docu2001 Mar 30, 2004 at 6:33 PM

Thought you might be an inhaler ...
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chauncenetta Nov 21, 2003 at 2:39 AM

more frýes and more frýes and more frýes dan!
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ManOfLaMantra Nov 20, 2003 at 3:21 PM

Charlotte: do they have baskets of fries in Amsterdam?
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JennJenn Sep 24, 2003 at 3:36 PM

I'm so bummed, I can't read your page. It comes up as all gobbly-gook to me.
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eden_teuling Jul 19, 2003 at 11:55 AM

only 2 days you had! so sad, too sad, yes... Anne... my friend, did you use the links? skating on natural ice is great!! Feel welcome.....thanks for visiting, bes-elisabeth