How it is begin this journey... it's funny, all it started many years ago but, my story is not the subject of the blog, we have to do a jump forward about .... 10 years and meet us again around October \ November 2010 when I found my best friend in primary school, returned to the Netherlands' at the beginning of the medium school, which in the past ten years I had seen just one time.
So after we write each other, thanks to a social network, we also had the fortune to organize ourselves so I could go see her at the end of February 2011.. and now I am leaving for Amsterdam at the end of that month with the exam session behind and in front of a few days off.
Again, as usual wake up at 5.00 to catch the second morning flight . Thanks to the kindness of an Alitalia employee I resolved some problems and I've taken the Alitalia flight to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport of 8.45.
Subito scesa dall' aereo sono andata a fare i biglietti per il treno che potrete prendere proprio sotto l' aereoporto. Dall'aereoporto ho preso la metropolitana diretta a Science Park ( circa 3, 80 euro). Per fare i biglietti del treno ci sono delle macchinette, mi hanno anche insegnato ad usarle e alcune accettano soldi contanti altre le carte di credito. Sono impostate in inglese con la possibilità di scegliere altre lingue, ciò vi permetterà di capire da soli come fare, ma per qualunque problema ci sarà un impiegato pronto ad aiutarvi.Just dropped by 'airsplane I went to make tickets for the train that you can take right under the' airport. I took the subway from the airport direct to Science Park (about 3, 80 euros). To train tickets there are machines, an employee also teach me how to use them; some machines accept cash money other credit cards. Are set in English with a choice of other languages, this will allow you to understand everything, but if you have any problem you could ask to an employee to help.
La giornata anche se un pò nuvolosa non era particolarmente fredda, la zona dove mi trovavo era molto tranquilla e silenziosa, ma ben presto avrei scoperto che questa stazione è a davvero pochi minuti da tutto ciò di cui avevo bisogno.The day, even if a little cloud, was not particularly cold, the area where I was was very quiet, but soon I discovered that from this station you need just a few minutes to go everywhere.
Incontrata la mia amica è stato come se non fosse passato un giorno dall' ultima volta che ci eravamo viste, il che è stato davvero grandioso! I met my friend, it was as if it was pass just one day from the 'last time we had seen each other, which was great!
Just to give you an idea of the city, I can tell you that if you plan to go to Amsterdam exclusively for the usual things, like coffee shops and red light district, well my friends, you were making a mistake, you have, literally, wrong perspective, and you would be underestimating this beautiful city.
The post will not be very long and full of details 'cause, unfortunately, I had not many time to spent here and because I had been lucky enough to attend evenings with friends but I hope to be back soon and give you information on many beautiful places.
I had an excellent guide and received different advice on what to visit by many people, I was lucky, but you can also easily visit the site of the city and see the opportunities you will have during the days where you will be there.
The first thing we did (ok, ok the second because the first was eating a wonderful sandwich with peanut butter or pindacas) while chatting was going into town with the 'bus, it took very little time! Eating chips with mayonnaise made in a market, we went for a walk, as well as stalls selling a little of both exhibitors , there were fantastic shops, from fabrics for home (I wanted all) to tricks, bags, clothes and we could not avoid to go into an antique shop where I fell in love with several trinkets that I bought to bring them home.
Passare per questo bel quartiere, molto conosciuto, con la caratteristica delle case galleggianti è da non perdere.Go through this beautiful neighborhood, well known, with the characteristic of the houseboats is a must.
Spesso incontrerete insegne del genere e pur non sapendo leggere e tradurre dall' olandese all' italiano mi è stato spiegato che spesso per mantener la storicità del locale e \ o dell' edificio vengono lasciate le scritte risalenti alla prima apertura che tuttavia potrebbero non riguardare più gli attuali negozi, in questo caso vendevano oggettistica per la casa, ma l'insegna riguardava una vecchia macelleria.Often you will find signs like this and while not knowing how to read and translate from 'Dutch to' Italian, my friend told me that the signs are there to keep the history of the local and \ or of the building, they are the signs written at the first opening but it colud be completely different from the subject of existing stores. In this case selling household items, but the sign was about an old butcher shop.
Perdendomi tra negozi ricchi di fantastica musica, abbigliamento e parrucchieri a cui lasciare mano libera nel taglio dei capelli, eccoci a continuare la nostra giornata...Getting lost in shops full of fantastic music, clothing and hairshop where you can leave a free hand in cutting hair, we go on our day ...
fino ad arrivare a "the Old Bell" per un paio di birre, il locale è carinissimo e molto particolare, personale gentile, ci ritornerò di sicuro!!E' qui che ho assaggiato una birra molto particolare, rosata, una sorta di mix tra vino e birra, strano per me abituata al vino rosso e separatamente a bere la birra ma ancora mi pento di non essermi scritta il nome perchè l'ho trovato davvero piacevole!!
until we get to "the Old Bell" for a couple of beers, the place is cute and very special, friendly staff, we will come back for sure!
It's here that I tasted a very special beer, pink, a sort of mix between wine and beer, strange to me 'cause I used to separate red wine to drink beer but I still regret not having written the name because I found it really nice!
For any information visit the website, easy to use
Anche la sera la città è davvero bellissima e illuminata. Even at night the city is really beautiful and enlightened.
Another characteristic of the city, are these paintings in this "fake windows".
Entrate da H&M eccoci ritrovate davanti a un dj che suona dal vivo della buona musica e più volte capita che qualcuno si metta a ballare davanti alla postazione, davvero divertente ed il negozio ( uomo\donna) è fornitissimo!We went to H & M here we found in front of a DJ that plays good live music, and sometime it happens that someone dance in front of the Dj, really fun, and the shop (male \ female) is stocked!
Ask around and find the best waffle shops are incredibly good!
La sera sono andata ad una divertentissima festa a tema dove ho conosciuto tante, ma prorio tante persone è stato divertentissimo, tra buona musica e qualche partita a beer pong.In the evening I went to a fun theme party where I met many, many people it was fun, between good music and some beer pong match.
But now we have to go to the next morning.. :)
Tipiche di Amsterdam sono le nove stradine, caratterizzate dalla loro particolare atmosfera accogliente. Sono tutte vicine con nomi molto carini, i negozi sono caratterizzati da prodotti molto particolari, non facili da trovare.Typical are the nine streets of Amsterdam, characterized by their unique atmosphere. They are all close, with names very nice, the shops are characterized by very special products, not easy to find.
Even who are looking for 'cloth will not be disappointed, from vintage shops where you can find everything to amazing prices for men and women, boys and girls, it will be fun to look for pieces with a unique history.
In these shops always seem to be sitting in a 'home and it could be a nice idea stopping to drink a hot chocolate or eat something in the neighborhood.
An example of particular shop is Lady Day, in Hartenstraat, giving a 'look at the web page you can see the details:
Siete mai entrati in un negozio di bottoni? Oltre al gioco di parole dell' insegna, è davvero particolare e con molti oggetti, foulard e ovviamente bottoni di ogni genere!Have you ever seen a shop buttons? Is really special, with many items, scarves and of course all kinds of buttons!
You could go to Laura Dols (in Wolvenstraat) full of clothes and accessories for every occasion, elegant or fun, do not forget to visit the downstairs! For photos I have to thank the owner who allowed me to take the photos, even at the 'interior of the shop.
The site: http://www.lauradols.nl/index.cfm?404; http://www.lauradols.com:80/nl/_footer/over_ons/
Tra cupcake e case del pancake ( che ancora non ho provato ) avrete sicuramente scelta per fare merenda con simpatici dolcetti e molto altro.Among cupcake and pancake houses (which I have not tried it) you have a choise for a snack with a nice cakes and much more.
Caratteristica della città è avere l' impressione che le case siano più storte man mano che vanno verso l'alto, in effetti è proprio così!Characteristic of the city is to have the 'impression that the houses are more crooked as they go up, it's actually true!
During construction of the house there was widening from floor to floor, then getting this particular effect.
The hooks on top of the house instead, are there to bring in large home forniture.
Dopo aver mangiato una zuppa di noodles e una pizza particolare, siamo tornate verso casa per una bella serata a base di film e amici.After eating a soup with noodles and a particular pizza, we went back to the house for a nice evening with friends and movies.
The next morning I packed up and I headed toward the airport, although I remained for a short time I would miss the atmosphere that I had met in this city, the people so welcoming, things to see and then I had to tell.The fact is that you may be surprised on every traveling, but when you meet or find the right people is more fun, even now when I see the photos, I'm really happy to have had this opportunity and thanks to the people who help me to go so quickly on this little crazy trip that I will never forget.
