Well, the flight was just fine - some craziness with our seats but we are here so no worries. Our typical pattern of flying at the evening time and then arriving first thing in the morning works well for us - sleep on the plane, early arrival means easy baggage and customs and an uncrowned train to Centraal Station. From Passport control to the city having done customs and changed money in ess than one hour - brilliant!
Got to the Station at 9am; hired a locker for our bags since we didn't check into our flat until14:00. Makes for a lovely first day - we scout our flat - this one is genius; only maybe 250 square feet but intelligently laid out with separate bedroom, a great kitchen and excellent views. We are less than 5 minutes walk from Centraal Station at the conjuncture of Het Spui and Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal if that makes any reference for ya!
After the recon, we set out for a coffee and a sit and a better exchange rate - so first up Haarlemerstraat we went - our 'hood. Looks like Barneys may be gone! But we found the local Supermarket on the next block - excellent! Then to the Ghouse for a coffee and seat. After a lovely respite there, we knew we needed to eat something and hit the "good" exchange rate place, so to the Oudezijds we went. The exchange rate was good, so the comfort of the Oudezijds Ghouse beckoned so we had a seat - they've redone most of the interior with a new pebbled wall, but still great ambiance and location. The bouncer finally acknowledged me after 8 years, and only because he's become an old man! I used to think he could kick my ass in a heartbeat, now I wonder how long he'll keep wiping his own! Sad...
I digress! Time for a Tosti - kinda the Dutch Panini! Yummy! Then a walkabout where we took the scenic trip out to the Toren Munt and then up Kalverstraat to Nieuwezijds and finally to meet our landlord and check in!
A brief trip to the AH Supremarket, some vittles in the fridge and then a bit of a nap. Works great to force yourself to stay up til about 3 that first day, then nap for no more than three hours, then a reasonable evening and you're almost on track and over the lag.
Walked out to see if we could find a new place for Rijstaafel - Rice Table - an Indonesian experience with about 10 - 12 small dishes that range from sweet and cool to face-on-fire hot. For those who really know me, you may be surprised to know I eat everything with coconut milk they serve! It was fantastic - light years beyond our last Taafel. Oh, did I mention that we were geared to one place, better than the other place we ate prior (and the better place is where we had a Neve-Campbell-with-her-face-on-fire experience years ago), but the other better choice was closed! The place we ended up that was great was in our hood and recommended by the flat, so all in all, a great discovery.
A great meal, another walkabout and then we just turned in for the night!
We've been by Hoog en Droog, we've seen the stool store, we've not seen Ben, yet. What needs to be the same and comfy is - what could improve has! Today, Museumkaart (a one price pass gets you in 40+ museums,) and a trip around the Joordan. Some window shopping, Lycra skinny jeans rolled up is the look, and definitely some time in t'Arendt's Nest.
I'll keep you posted, this blog sucks for uploading pics and I'm doing all this on an iPad, so bear with me!
Tot ziens! Give thanks and praise.
Got to the Station at 9am; hired a locker for our bags since we didn't check into our flat until14:00. Makes for a lovely first day - we scout our flat - this one is genius; only maybe 250 square feet but intelligently laid out with separate bedroom, a great kitchen and excellent views. We are less than 5 minutes walk from Centraal Station at the conjuncture of Het Spui and Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal if that makes any reference for ya!
After the recon, we set out for a coffee and a sit and a better exchange rate - so first up Haarlemerstraat we went - our 'hood. Looks like Barneys may be gone! But we found the local Supermarket on the next block - excellent! Then to the Ghouse for a coffee and seat. After a lovely respite there, we knew we needed to eat something and hit the "good" exchange rate place, so to the Oudezijds we went. The exchange rate was good, so the comfort of the Oudezijds Ghouse beckoned so we had a seat - they've redone most of the interior with a new pebbled wall, but still great ambiance and location. The bouncer finally acknowledged me after 8 years, and only because he's become an old man! I used to think he could kick my ass in a heartbeat, now I wonder how long he'll keep wiping his own! Sad...
I digress! Time for a Tosti - kinda the Dutch Panini! Yummy! Then a walkabout where we took the scenic trip out to the Toren Munt and then up Kalverstraat to Nieuwezijds and finally to meet our landlord and check in!
A brief trip to the AH Supremarket, some vittles in the fridge and then a bit of a nap. Works great to force yourself to stay up til about 3 that first day, then nap for no more than three hours, then a reasonable evening and you're almost on track and over the lag.
Walked out to see if we could find a new place for Rijstaafel - Rice Table - an Indonesian experience with about 10 - 12 small dishes that range from sweet and cool to face-on-fire hot. For those who really know me, you may be surprised to know I eat everything with coconut milk they serve! It was fantastic - light years beyond our last Taafel. Oh, did I mention that we were geared to one place, better than the other place we ate prior (and the better place is where we had a Neve-Campbell-with-her-face-on-fire experience years ago), but the other better choice was closed! The place we ended up that was great was in our hood and recommended by the flat, so all in all, a great discovery.
A great meal, another walkabout and then we just turned in for the night!
We've been by Hoog en Droog, we've seen the stool store, we've not seen Ben, yet. What needs to be the same and comfy is - what could improve has! Today, Museumkaart (a one price pass gets you in 40+ museums,) and a trip around the Joordan. Some window shopping, Lycra skinny jeans rolled up is the look, and definitely some time in t'Arendt's Nest.
I'll keep you posted, this blog sucks for uploading pics and I'm doing all this on an iPad, so bear with me!
Tot ziens! Give thanks and praise.
