Tochi's Hut

Amsterdam was my first stop on E08 - a 5 hour layover in the city.  I had initially planned for a short escape to the area around the airport.  However, when I got there, I realized there was a 15 minutes train to downtown.

Lesson #1:  Bring your PIN for your VISA, M/C, A/E to Europe.  It’s the one you received but never used. 

I tried to buy a ticket from a kiosk.  Inserted my A/E and it asked for my PIN.  WTF.  Same thing with M/C.  How the heck am I gonna get my PIN?  Ended up getting my ticket with cash at a ticket counter with a 0.50 cents extra service charge.  PIN’s are commonly asked in Europe by automated systems to prevent fraud apparently.

Having never been to Amsterdam, I just know what the city is notoriously famous for – sex and weed.  However, as I stepped out of Amsterdam Centraal, first thing I noticed were the bicycles.  Lots and lots of them.  Quick mental check.  I was in Amsterdam, right?  Not Copenhagen?

Not to disappoint however, a block from the train station, my sights veered left, and I spotted the first signs of one of its famous trades.  I was actually surprised to stumble onto this so quickly.  Took a quick stroll through the red light district of Amsterdam.  I suspect given its close proximity to downtown that it is more or less a big tourism draw nowadays.

This trade seems to permeate everywhere you go in the city.  Saw many related shops, boutiques, theatres, sculptures and artifacts around town.  I remember Catnipped’s reaction to certain posters at PAX.  I wonder how she will react in Amsterdam. lol.

Amsterdam is known as the Venice of the North.  As you step outside the downtown core, you will inevitably run into the many canals that run around the city centre.  Unlike Venice, one-way streets mixed with both pedestrian and vehicular traffic clog up the sides of the canals.  Many instances, I saw delivery trucks with a train of cars behind them.  They’ll just stop, turn on their 4-way flashers to make a delivery. lol.  Sucks to be the follower.

I guess I should comment about the other famous trade in Amsterdam.  I did go and peer in several cafes to see if people were smoking joints.  I was not quite sure what to expect.  Perhaps I might see people smoking from bowls like in the Middle East.  Anyway, of the couple I visited, I did not see any such activity.  A bit disappointed.   I was told later that smoking in cafe is a touristy thing now.  People just do it at home. lol.

Overall, I had a very amused introduction to Amsterdam.  It was everything I expected from the city and so much more.  Definitely a place I want to visit again for a few days to truly experience.  And last but not least, this adorable little cow…

Next stop – Barcelona.