Is it Amsterdam yet?

[JBMoney]

The spring vacation saga continues. You may recall that I made a post some time ago about going to China this spring?

Around last September, one of Buffy's best friends said that they and another friend really wanted to go to China. So, even though, I didn't want to go to China and do exactly the same tour that I had already done, I worked on setting up a custom tour to do just that so the 'China virgins' could see the really important sites. It was a great tour with no 'shopping stops', just the 7 of us, and the company screwed up by quoting us the wrong price by about $300, yet they were going to honor the quote as long as everyone went. A great deal, as our custom tour with no shopping stops was actually going to be cheaper than the big 20+ buses that had to make all the stops. It literally took months of calls and emails to set it up (and one agent quit in the middle of setting up the trip).

Anyhow, the day after it was all settled and I had sent an email to everyone to book their trips... the person who was impetus for the whole trip cancelled out. There were reasons, but oddly enough those reasons seemed to dissipate in time for them to soon book a cruise in June. Meh... whatever.

After that, we changed course for Egypt. Another great 13-day tour... and then my Dad & stepmom cancelled out (for very good reason though).

And then, it was Edinburgh and Scotland for me and Buffy. But... seeing how we've both been there before, and how GOPS would likely kill me for touring distilleries without him, other options were still in play.

And now, I think we're pretty set for a few days in Amsterdam in April.

So, if you're going to be in Amsterdam, look me up. :hehe:

[DMS]

Great. Any questions let me know. :thumbsup:

[JBMoney]

Great. Any questions let me know. :thumbsup:

What is the average circumference of a minneola grapefruit?

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Seriously though, you have any recommendations of places to visit?
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[JBMoney]

Should I bring one of the t-shirts with the Mahaqmed cartoon on it, or do you think my two "Axis Of Evil World Tour" t-shirts will be enough?
http://bushworldtour.com/

[JBMoney]

What do you think is better, staying right next to Vondelpark or around the corner from Dam Square and the Royal Palace?

[DMS]

What do you think is better, staying right next to Vondelpark or around the corner from Dam Square and the Royal Palace? Around the corner from the Dam Square is smack dab in the middle of things. Great spot IMHO. Everything is close and most of the tramlines to everywhere in Amsterdam cross the dam. The tram is more fun than the subway, you'll see more of A'dam.
The Vondelpark is further from the "down town" area, but I mean really everything is downtown area because you can walk everywhere.

[DMS]

Should I bring one of the t-shirts with the Mahaqmed cartoon on it, or do you think my two "Axis Of Evil World Tour" t-shirts will be enough?
http://bushworldtour.com/
Yeah put on one of those shirts and go to the Slotervaart area. ..

[DMS]

why not also take the TGV train from Amsterdam to Paris for a day or so?

[JBMoney]

why not also take the TGV train from Amsterdam to Paris for a day or so?

Absolutely. Not all that interested in Paris (neither is Buffy), but I think a couple train trips will be on the schedule.

[JBMoney]

Duncan recommended Brugge for a day.

[d41]

Stay out of the pot bars.:D

[DMS]

You have to see the red light district at night. You can walk around there.

[brianw13a]

Duncan recommended Brugge for a day.
Brugge is worth the trip. If you have any interest in the Atlantic Wall, there is a museum in Oostende which is very close to Brugges.

[Spotter]

If you are going to take a train trip, go to Germany and check out some old castle towns like Heidelberg. Come down the Rhein valley. It is beautiful.

Das Heidelberger Schloss:

[JBMoney]

Looks like Buffy will be going straight from Amsterdam to Isreal, about 20 miles from Gaza.

http://www.intel.com/jobs/israel/sites/qiryat-gat.htm

[RicardoHead]

I just got back from AMS. I'd say it was about 15° with the wind chill factor.

[wrecker05]

I just got back from AMS. I'd say it was about 15° with the wind chill factor.


Yeah, but how were the brothels?:Poke: :laugh:

[RicardoHead]

Yeah, but how were the brothels?:Poke: :laugh:
I really can't say how warm they were, since I didn't enter any.

I always thought the ladies (or guys, some of whom looked like Marylin Manson) had to pull the curtains while doing the deed, but a crowd was gathering around one window with an open curtain so I pushed my way forward to watch the show. It wasn't a sex show per se, but the hooker was in her undies as was the guy, but the guy was on all fours and she was poking at him and lightly hitting him with a baton while yelling obscenities at him. I guess he was into public humiliation, so I started shouting out "ram the stick up his ass!" but the hooker didn't comply. In the end he got halfway dressed and she tossed him out calling him a "fucking UK wanker!" while he put his shirt on yelling "I paid 75 Euros for nothing!" I had to comment on what a bright move that was on his part.

Then I went around the corner to a place called The Bird for some thai food.

[robb]

When are you going?

Setting up a trip with adults is a pain in the ass. I miss the college days when you could set up a road trip in a couple of hours. Add kids into the mix and it's next to impossible.

[JBMoney]

When are you going?

Setting up a trip with adults is a pain in the ass. I miss the college days when you could set up a road trip in a couple of hours. Add kids into the mix and it's next to impossible.

No shit. As you know, Buffy and I take vacations separately half to most of the time. We just have different interests and schedules. She likes cruises and relaxing, I like historical sites and anything but relaxing (think I lost ten pounds on the one week Beijing trip). But the experience in trying to put together a trip for just 6-8 people this year may be enough that in the future it's strictly going to be a 'i'm going here on these dates, if anyone wants to come fine, if not... fine, but I'm still going.'

I will PM you with dates.

[DMS]

plenty of historical stuff to see in and around Amsterdam. Once you get there you'll see they offer bustours to these old castles, historical windmills :bore: and shit. You'll be up and down in and couple of hours.

btw if you're gonna be there (http://images.google.bs/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hotelprinsenhof.com/mokum/damrak.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hotelprinsenhof.com/mokum/kdag.html&h=392&w=300&sz=42&tbnid=JHCTN0nZIafcOM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=91&hl=en&start=3&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkoninginnedag%2Bamsterdam%26svnum%3D1 0%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN)around (http://images.google.bs/imgres?imgurl=http://mk31.image.pbase.com/u10/menno/small/42819089.DSC_0015_30pct_rand.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pbase.com/menno/queensday05&h=160&w=143&sz=8&tbnid=pWwz1a3Zcz1LXM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=82&hl=en&start=9&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkoninginnedag%2Bamsterdam%26svnum%3D1 0%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN) april (http://images.google.bs/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-42/pics/queensday.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ripe.net/ripe/meetings/ripe-42/&h=270&w=400&sz=157&tbnid=bJsEig3StUnTiM:&tbnh=81&tbnw=120&hl=en&start=2&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkoninginnedag%2Bamsterdam%26svnum%3D1 0%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN) 30 (http://www.schlijper.nl/portfolio/panoramas/amsterdam/040430.html)...
...

[RicardoHead]

Be sure when you go to the Netherlands to wear a combination of a lot of Red, Yellow-gold, and Black. The Dutch think that's totally cool. :thumbsup:

[DMS]

yeah or one of those black leather jackets with the furry collar and a big red star on the back

[Peckable]

Are you planning on doing rail travel? The Centraal Station is something else. We saw amateur bands playing out front of it the day we left (back a coupl'a decades mind you).

And we ate at the finest places.

PS: don't fergit to put your finger in a dyke :rolleyes:

[DMS]

Amsterdam is for fags ands students though. The real place to be is Rotterdam. :thumbsup:

[Peckable]

Hey, who you callin' "a student"? :nolike:

[RicardoHead]

AMS = hookers + drugs + bars.


The owners of our company are in Rotterdam, and although I've heard it's a great place, everyone I've met from the holding company based there is an arrogant fuckwit with a steel rod up his ass.

[DMS]

exactly. Not like those fakers in amsterdam :laugh: god I hate amsterdam people