it was a very short visiting Amsterdam, therefore we did not made an especial purposes - the main thing for us was to look city.. and just to try to feel its atmosphere..."the smell of marihuana" - first what we have found :) just because we start our visit from Central station...and DAMRAK street...our hotel was on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal street not far from DAM square...and that place is very nice...it was pleasant to wake up in the hotel under sounds of bells from the Dam square...
all our walks we have made by foot - we tried to see not tourist Amsterdam. Before the trip we have read about Amsterdam much, about its history, also maps and plans...so we were guided well...
I was amazed with the originality about lay-out of city, the organization of channels... and also architecture - narrow streets and falling walls...
last year was Rembrandt's anniversary, and there were many posters with his portrait and phrase: "400, moi?" :). We have visited Rijksmuseum. The main objective was the painting known as 'the Night Watch'. also we have visited Van Gogh's museum, and his famous yellow 'sunflowers seeds'. (as I known the same 'sunflowers' presented in London gallery...but I nevere was there).
People of Amsterdam are very pleasant, and it is shown not only in shops. We were in cafe where real inhabitants spend time often...It was unforgettable, friendly climate.. and when we floated on the tourist ferry on night canals, we saw an amusing picture: many people float on kayaks, parents with children. Also it was fun to see youngs mens singing songs or hymns in boats floating.
people of Amsterdam used bicycles almost everything or the majority...onece we meet a pregnant women on bicycle and womens with small children... healthy rhythm of the nation...and as I could to see...cars not a problem for bicycle - drivers manage politely with bicyclists.
Most of all we liked JORDAAN (there we saw very old houses kept with 17 centuries), also Southern and Northern canels. There we have not met any tourist...Barges are interesting feature of Amsterdam, and it is very a pity to me that we could not communicated with people who lives on the barge...Often there were no curtains at windows of houses...Certainly we did not break laws of a private life :) but we could see interesting interiors from streets...
one evening (2th of Septembre) we have sitting in a bar on Singel channel..I thumbed through a magazine where I have found the article about Madonna and her World tour...I did not understand sense of clause (because of language), but I have understood that - Madonna in Amsterdam with 'Confessions tour' 3rd and 4 of September...We have talked with employees of the bar - they are very lovely people, and they have told us, that all tickets are sold, but they have given us advice to try to buy tickets in the stadium before to the concert...also they have explained in detail how to get to the ArenaA stadium.
next day we have arrived to the ArenaA stadium for 2 hours before to the beginning. In ten minutes of searches we have found the person who has sold to us two tickets for real money (100 euros for everyone) He has very surprised - shocked having learned that we arrived from Russia, Krasnoyarsk...We thought that he has deceived us, because the ticket costs 96 euros...:) So, we have seen Madonna...and it's Confessions tour.
half year letter we have returned to Holland: this time we came to there special for tulips fields...we have taken a car..and driven from Essen (Germany)..but unfortunately we have found tulips - we was late...it was the beggining of May...( that's why we have a bad mood and didn't go to Amsterdam...now I'm pity about it...
So, sorry for my bad English..I don't have a good practic in writing...
you can see photo galleries of Amsterdam and Holland on my web site.
http://www.aleksrom.net/Eurotrip2006-Amsterdam.html
and photos: http://www.aleksrom.net/AmsterdamGall-1.html
Thanks.
